<b>In the third month (Exod. 19:1).</b> Scripture says elsewhere in reference to this verse: <i>He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright, He is a shield to them that walk in integrity</i> (Prov. 2:7). R. Levi stated in the name of R. Samuel the son of Nahman: The Holy One, blessed be He, allowed nine hundred and eighty generations to pass by before giving the rite of circumcision to Abraham. (This was discussed previously in the portion Get thee out of the land.)<sup class="footnote-marker">13</sup><i class="footnote">See Tanhuma, Lech Lecha 11.</i> R. Jonathan stated in the name of R. Yosé the Galilean: The Holy One, blessed be He, had permitted nine hundred and seventy-four generations to pass by before giving the law to the generation of the wilderness. The law was given to the generation of the wilderness because it was upright. Three months after they had departed from Egypt He gave them the Torah, as it is said: <i>In the third month</i>. Therefore, <i>He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright</i> (Prov. 2:7).