The Israelites certainly did in Egypt. But even in the darkest of times, hope can blossom. And it often arrives in unexpected ways.
Our story begins, as so many do, with a word from God. In (Exodus 12:1-2), God speaks to Moses and Aaron, declaring, "This month shall be for you the first of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you." It seems simple enough. A new calendar! But as the Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, reveals, there's so much more going on beneath the surface.
The midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary), that beautiful, uniquely Jewish way of interpreting scripture, draws a parallel to the Song of Songs, that passionate love poem. "The voice of my beloved, behold, he is coming!" (Song of Songs 2:8), the midrash quotes, connecting it to God's call to Moses. It's as if God is saying, "What are you doing in this impure place, 'whose flesh is the flesh of donkeys, and whose issue is like the issue of horses'?" (Ezekiel 23:20). "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and go" (Song of Songs 2:10).
But Moses raises a valid point. "Master of the universe," he argues, "You said that we would be enslaved four hundred years, but they have not yet been completed!" This refers to (Genesis 15:13), where God tells Abraham his descendants will be slaves for four centuries.
God reassures him, "They have already been completed, as it is stated: 'For behold, the winter has passed'" (Song of Songs 2:11). Immediately, the righteous uncovered their heads, which they'd covered in mourning. The midrash continues with more verses from Song of Songs. “The blossoms have appeared in the land” (Song of Songs 2:12) – these are the tribe of Levi, or perhaps the priests, or even the kings. It's a beautiful image of renewal and hope springing forth. Even when the timeline seems off, even when things look bleak, God sees the bigger picture.
The midrash offers another layer. “The time of the songbird has come” (Song of Songs 2:12) – the time has arrived for the Levites to sing! Or perhaps it’s when God heard Israel reciting the song – maybe the Song of the Sea after the Exodus, or the psalms sung during the Passover meal. And "The sound of the turtledove is heard in our land" (Song of Songs 2:12) – that's God hearing Israel's voice because of Abraham's merit. Remember that story in Genesis 15, when Abraham sacrificed a turtledove and a young pigeon? It all connects.
"The fig tree has formed its unripe figs" (Song of Songs 2:13) – these are the righteous. "The vines in blossom give scent" (Song of Songs 2:13) – these are the middling who repented. From that point on: "Arise my love, my fair one, and go" (Song of Songs 2:13).
God tells the Israelites, "You have no other month that is greater than this one; it is therefore called first." It's not just about a calendar. It's about a new beginning, a chance to redefine themselves.
And finally, the midrash takes us to a truly profound place. "It shall be the first [month of the year] for you" – as it were, the Holy One, blessed be He, is called first, as it is stated: "I am first and I am last" (Isaiah 44:6). Zion is called first. Esau is called first. Even the messiah is called first!
The midrash concludes with a powerful vision: May God, who is called first, build the Temple that is called first, and exact retribution from Esau, who is called first; and let the messiah, who is called first, come during the first month. A complete redemption, starting with this very month.
So, what does this mean for us today? This passage from Shemot Rabbah reminds us that even in the midst of hardship, new beginnings are possible. It urges us to see the connections between our past, present, and future. And it invites us to embrace the potential for redemption that lies within each new "first." What "first" are you waiting for?
“The Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying: This month shall be for you the first of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you” (Exodus 12:1–2). “The Lord spoke to Moses.… This month shall be for you the first of months” – that is what is written: “The voice of my beloved, behold, he is coming” (Song of Songs 2:8),1In standard editions of Shemot Rabba, there is an obscure reference inserted here into the text. There are in fact similar midrashim to what follows in Pesikta deRav Kahana, Pesikta Rabbati, and Shir HaShirim Rabba. as it is stated: “My beloved spoke and said to me” (Song of Songs 2:10): ‘What are you doing here in the place of the impure, “whose flesh is the flesh of donkeys, and whose issue is like the issue of horses”’ (Ezekiel 23:20)? “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and go” (Song of Songs 2:10). He [Moses] said to Him: ‘Master of the universe, You said that we would be enslaved four hundred years,2A reference to Genesis 15:13, where God informs Abraham that his descendants will be slaves in a land not theirs for four hundred years. but they have not yet been completed.’ He said to him: ‘They have already been completed, as it is stated: “For behold, the winter has passed”’ (Song of Songs 2:11); immediately, the righteous uncovered their heads, which had been covered,3They were covered as a sign of mourning. as it is stated: “The blossoms have appeared in the land” (Song of Songs 2:12) – these are the [members of the] tribe of Levi, all of whom were righteous. Alternatively, “the blossoms [hanitzanim]” – these are the priests, “the sons of Aaron, Elazar his son, Pinḥas his son” (I Chronicles 6:35).4The reference is to the High Priests, who wear the sacred diadem [tzitz]. Alternatively, “the blossoms” – these are the kings: David, Solomon, Reḥavam, Asa, Aviya. Alternatively, these are the Levites: “Asaf the leader and his deputy Zekharia” (I Chronicles 16:5). Once the Holy One blessed be He saw that it was so, He said: “The time of the songbird has come” (Song of Songs 2:12) – the time has arrived for the Levites to recite songs and psalms before Me. Another matter: “The time of the songbird has come” – when the Holy One blessed be He heard Israel reciting the song,5I.e., the Song of the Sea, Exodus 15:1–18. Alternatively, the psalms said while eating the paschal lamb. He said: “The sound of the turtledove is heard in our land” (Song of Songs 2:12) – that He heard the voice of Israel due to the merit of Abraham, who sacrificed a turtledove and a young pigeon.6See Genesis 15:9–10. What is written thereafter? “The fig tree has formed its unripe figs” (Song of Songs 2:13) – these are the righteous and the upright. “The vines in blossom give scent” (Song of Songs 2:13) – these are the middling who repented. From that point on: “Arise my love, my fair one, and go” (Song of Songs 2:13). When the children of Israel left Egypt, the Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘You have no other month that is greater than this one; it is therefore called first, as it is stated: “The first of months.”’ Another interpretation: “It shall be the first [month of the year] for you” – as it were, the Holy One blessed be He is called first, as it is stated: “I am first and I am last” (Isaiah 44:6). Zion is called first, as it is stated: “Throne of glory, exalted from the first, the place of our Temple” (Jeremiah 17:12). Esau is called first, as it is stated: “The first emerged…” (Genesis 25:25). The messiah is called first, as it is stated: “The first to Zion, behold they are here” (Isaiah 41:27). May the Holy One blessed be He, who is called first, come and build the Temple that is called first, and exact retribution from Esau, who is called first; and let the messiah, who is called first, come during the first month, as it is stated: “This month shall be for you the first of months…”
