Our story today comes from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. Specifically, we're diving into section 15, which grapples with the meaning of the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of months" (Exodus 12:2). What's so special about this month – the month of Nissan, when Passover occurs – that it gets to be the head honcho of all months?
The midrash, or interpretive story, answers with a truly epic creation myth. Imagine God trying to build the world, but every time He lays the foundation, the waters rise up and destroy it. What’s a Creator to do? It's like a cosmic game of whack-a-mole, but with oceans.
The text paints a vivid picture: "The Omnipresent initially sought to establish the world, but was unsuccessful until the patriarchs arose." It’s analogous to a king trying to build a city, as the midrash says. He searches for a place, lays the foundation, but water keeps rising from the depths. He tries again and again, but the water overturns everything.
Why this watery resistance? The midrash tells us that the wickedness of early generations prevented the world from taking root. Think about the generation of Enosh. Genesis 4:26 tells us, "Then invoking the name of the Lord began," but Bereshit Rabbah sees this not as a positive development, but as the beginning of human disrespect for the Divine. As a result, water rose and inundated them, as Job 9:9 describes: "Who made Ash, Kesil and Kima…" These are constellations, sometimes linked to legends about God flooding the earth.
Then there's the generation of the Flood, who said to God, "Leave us" (Job 22:17). And what happened? "Their foundation poured like a river" (Job 22:16), and "all the fountains of the great depths were breached" (Genesis 7:11). Sound familiar?
So, what changed? Enter the patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. According to this midrash, their righteousness finally provided a solid foundation. God says, "Upon these I will establish the world," as it is stated in I Samuel 2:8: "For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and He set the world upon them." It was their merit that allowed creation to finally take hold. That's why Numbers 23:9 says, "For from the top of the rocks I see him" - these rocks are the patriarchs.
But the midrash doesn't stop there. It goes on to interpret the phrase "Behold, a people that will dwell alone" (Numbers 23:9). The Hebrew word for "behold" is hen (הן). The text cleverly analyzes the numerical values of the Hebrew letters. Each letter of the Hebrew alphabet has a numerical value. Alef is 1, Bet is 2, and so on. The midrash points out that, with a bit of rearranging, almost all the letters in the Hebrew alphabet can be paired up to make the number 10 – except for heh and nun, the letters that make up the word hen.
"Just as these letters cannot be paired with other letters, but are by themselves, so too, Israel cannot cleave to all the ancient worshippers of stars and constellations; rather, they are by themselves." Even when faced with persecution and decrees against their most sacred practices, they remain distinct. They are killed rather than assimilate. This steadfastness, this refusal to compromise their identity, is what makes them special.
And what about those who seek to harm them? "I will kill him," God declares, as it is stated: "Behold, a people that will rise like a lion" (Numbers 23:24). The midrash then provides examples of enemies like Amalek and Sisera, who were ultimately defeated.
This brings us back to the original question: Why is this month the first of months? Because during this month, God performed miracles for the Israelites, protecting them as they remained separate from the Egyptians. As Exodus 12:22-23 says, "And you shall not emerge [each from the entrance of his house until morning]... the Lord will pass to smite Egypt."
So, what can we take away from this? It's a powerful reminder that true foundations are built not on shifting sands, but on the solid ground of principle and unwavering faith. Even when the world seems determined to wash us away, it is our commitment to our values that allows us to stand firm. And maybe, just maybe, even help build a more stable world for generations to come.