📖 Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 48

Chapter 48 of Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer

Verses: 21

Verses

Verse 1

רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בֶּן זַכַּאי פָּתַח: ״בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא כָּרַת ה' אֶת אַבְרָם בְּרִית לֵאמֹר״, אָמַר אַבְרָהָם לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, הֵן לִי לֹא נָתַתָּ זֶרַע, וְאַתָּה אוֹמֵר אֵלַי ״לְזַרְעֲךָ נָתַתִּי אֶת הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת״? בַּמֶּה אֵדַע כִּי אִירָשֶׁנָּה? אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: אַבְרָהָם, כָּל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ בִּדְבָרַי הוּא עוֹמֵד, וְאֵין אַתָּה מַאֲמִין בִּדְבָרַי? אֶלָּא אַתָּה אוֹמֵר ״בַּמֶּה אֵדַע כִּי אִירָשֶׁנָּה״? חַיֶּיךָ, שְׁנֵי פְּעָמִים יָדוֹעַ תֵּדַע, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיֹּאמֶר לְאַבְרָם יָדֹעַ תֵּדַע״.

THE EGYPTIAN BONDAGE RABBAN JOCHANAN, son of Ẓakkai, opened (his exposition with the text): "In that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates" (Gen. 15:18). Abram said before the Holy One, blessed be He, Sovereign of all the universe ! Thou hast not given me seed, yet dost Thou say, "Unto thy seed will I give || this land" (ibid.). He said: "Whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?" (Gen. 15:8). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Abram! The entire world stands by My word, and thou dost not believe in My word, but thou sayest, "Whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?" (ibid.). By thy life! In two ways shalt thou surely know, as it is said, "And he said to Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land which is not theirs,… and they shall afflict them" (Gen. 15:18).

Verse 2

רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזַרְיָה אוֹמֵר: וַהֲלֹא לֹא יָשְׁבוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּמִצְרַיִם אֶלָּא מָאתַיִם וְעֶשֶׂר שָׁנִים? תֵּדַע לְךָ שֶׁהוּא כֵּן, בֹּא וּרְאֵה: כְּשֶׁיָּרַד יוֹסֵף לְמִצְרַיִם הָיָה בֶּן שְׁבַע עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה, וּבֶן שְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה עָמַד לִפְנֵי פַרְעֹה, וְשֶׁבַע שְׁנֵי שָׂבָע וּשְׁתֵּי שָׁנִים רָעָב עַד שֶׁלֹּא יָרַד יַעֲקֹב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי זֶה שְׁנָתַיִם הָרָעָב״. הֲרֵי תִּשְׁעָה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה. וְלֵוִי בֶּן יַעֲקֹב הָיָה גָּדוֹל מִיּוֹסֵף שֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים, וּבִירִידָתוֹ לְמִצְרַיִם הָיָה בֶּן חָמֵשׁ וְאַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה, וּשְׁנֵי חַיָּיו בְּמִצְרַיִם שְׁתַּיִם וְתִשְׁעִים שָׁנָה. הֲרֵי כֻּלָּם מֵאָה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים וָשֶׁבַע שָׁנָה. חַיֵּי לֵוִי הָיוּ שְׁלֹשִׁים וּמְאַת שָׁנָה, וּבִירִידָתוֹ לְמִצְרַיִם יָלְדָה לוֹ אִשְׁתּוֹ אֶת יוֹכֶבֶד בִּתּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְשֵׁם אֵשֶׁת עַמְרָם יוֹכֶבֶד בַּת לֵוִי״. וּבַת מֵאָה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה יָלְדָה אֶת מֹשֶׁה, וּמֹשֶׁה בֶּן שְׁמֹנִים שָׁנָה בְּעָמְדוֹ לִפְנֵי פַרְעֹה. הֲרֵי כֻּלָּם מָאתַיִם וְעֶשֶׂר שָׁנִים. וְכָאן הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״וַעֲבָדוּם וְעִנּוּ אֹתָם אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה״.

Rabbi Elazar, son of 'Azariah, said: Is it not so that the Israelites did not dwell in Egypt except for 210 years? But in order to teach thee, know that this is so, come and see; for when Joseph went down to Egypt he was seventeen years old, and when he stood before Pharaoh he was thirty years old, as it is said, "And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt" (Gen. 41:46). And the seven years of plenty, and the two years of famine, behold, they are nine-and-thirty years (in all). And Levi, the son of Jacob, was six years older than Joseph, and when he went down to Egypt he was forty-five years, and the years of his life in Egypt were ninety-two years; behold, all of them (amount to) 137 years, (as it is said,) "And the years of the life of Levi were an hundred thirty and seven years" (Ex. 6:16). On his going down to Egypt, his wife bare unto him Jochebed, his daughter, as it is said, "And the name of Amram's wife was Jochebed" (Num. 26:59), and she was 130 years when she bare Moses, (as it is said,) "And Moses was fourscore years old when he stood before Pharaoh" (Ex. 7:7). || Behold, (the total is) 210 years in all. And thus it says, "And they shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years" (Gen. 15:18).

Verse 3

אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲרָךְ: לֹא אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְאַבְרָהָם אֶלָּא מִשָּׁעָה שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ זֶרַע, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״כִּי גֵר יִהְיֶה זַרְעֲךָ בְּאֶרֶץ לֹא לָהֶם״, וּכְתִיב ״כִּי בְיִצְחָק יִקָּרֵא לְךָ זָרַע״. וּמִשֶּׁנּוֹלַד יִצְחָק עַד שֶׁיָּצְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה. אָמַר לוֹ: וַהֲרֵי כָּתוּב ״וּמוֹשַׁב בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת וּשְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה״. שֶׁיָּשְׁבוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּמִצְרַיִם חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים קוֹדֶם שֶׁבָּא יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ לְמִצְרַיִם נוֹלְדוּ לוֹ לְיוֹסֵף שְׁנֵי שְׁבָטִים מְנַשֶּׁה וְאֶפְרַיִם, וְהֵם מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל וְיָרְדוּ בְּמִצְרַיִם. הֲרֵי מָאתַיִם וַחֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה יָמִים וְלֵילוֹת אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת וּשְׁלֹשִׁים, שֶׁדִּלֵּג הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הַקֵּץ בִּזְכוּת אָבוֹת שְׁלֹשָׁה שֶׁהֵם עַמּוּדֵי עוֹלָם וּבִזְכוּת אִמָּהוֹת שֶׁהֵם גִּבְעוֹת עוֹלָם. וַעֲלֵיהֶם הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר: ״קוֹל דּוֹדִי הִנֵּה זֶה בָּא מְדַלֵּג עַל הֶהָרִים מְקַפֵּץ עַל הַגְּבָעוֹת״.

Rabbi Elazar, son of 'Arakh, said to them: The Holy One, blessed be He, said this to Abraham only at the hour when he had seed, as it is said, "Thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs" (ibid.). From the time when Isaac was born until Israel went forth from Egypt 400 years (elapsed). (Rabban Jochanan, son of Ẓakkai) said to him: Verily it is written, "Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, which they sojourned in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years" (Ex. 12:40). He answered him, saying: 210 years Israel abode in Egypt, and five years before Jacob came to Egypt there were born unto Joseph(the fathers of) two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim, and they belonged to the Israelites. Behold, (we have) 215 years of days and nights, (this equals) 430 years; for the Holy One, blessed be He, reduced the time for the sake of the merit of the Patriarchs, for they are the mountains of the world, and for the sake of the merit of the Mothers, for they are the hills of the world, and concerning them the Scripture says, "The voice of my beloved ! Behold, he cometh, leaping upon the mountains, skipping over the hills" (Cant. 2:8).

Verse 4

רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: כָּל אוֹתָן הַשָּׁנִים שֶׁיָּשְׁבוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּמִצְרַיִם יָשְׁבוּ בֶּטַח וְשַׁאֲנָן וְשָׁלֵו עַד שֶׁבָּא יָגְנוֹן מִבְּנֵי בָנָיו שֶׁל אֶפְרַיִם וְאָמַר לָהֶם ״נִגְלָה לִי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְהוֹצִיא אֶתְכֶם מִמִּצְרַיִם״. בְּנֵי אֶפְרַיִם בְּגֵאוּת לִבָּם שֶׁהֵם מִזֶּרַע הַמַּלְכוּת וְגִבּוֹרֵי כֹּחַ בַּמִּלְחָמָה, לָקְחוּ אֶת נְשֵׁיהֶם וְאֶת בְּנֵיהֶם וְיָצְאוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם, וְרָדְפוּ הַמִּצְרִיִּים אַחֲרֵיהֶם וְהָרְגוּ מֵהֶם מָאתַיִם אֶלֶף כֻּלָּם גִּבּוֹרִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״בְּנֵי אֶפְרַיִם״ וְכוּ'.

Rabbi Eliezer said: During all those years, when the Israelites abode in Egypt, they dwelt securely and peacefully at ease until Ganoon, one of the grandchildren of Ephraim, came and said to them, The Holy One, blessed be He, has revealed Himself to me, to lead you out of Egypt. The children of Ephraim, in the pride of their heart, for they were of the royal seed, and mighty men in battle, took their wives and their sons, || and they went forth from Egypt. The Egyptians pursued after them, and slew of them 200,000, all of them mighty men, as it is said, "The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle" (Ps. 78:9).

Verse 5

רַבִּי יַנַּאי אוֹמֵר: לֹא הֶעֱבִידוּ מִצְרַיִם אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶלָּא שָׁעָה אַחַת מִיּוֹמוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שְׁמוֹנִים וְשָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים וּשְׁלִישׁ שָׁנָה קֹדֶם שֶׁנּוֹלַד מֹשֶׁה, שֶׁאָמְרוּ הַחַרְטוּמִּים אֶל פַּרְעֹה: ״עָתִיד אֶחָד לְהִוָּלֵד וְהוּא מוֹשִׁיעַ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם״. וְחָשַׁב פַּרְעֹה וְאָמַר: ״הַשְׁלִיכוּ אֶת כָּל הַיְּלוּדִים הַזְּכוּרִים לַיְּאוֹרָה, וְהוּא מֻשְׁלָךְ עִמָּהֶם וְנִמְצָא הַדָּבָר בָּטֵל״. לְפִיכָךְ הִשְׁלִיכוּ כָּל הַיְּלוּדִים לַיְּאוֹרָה.

Rabbi Jannai said: The Egyptians did not enslave the Israelites but for one hour of the day of the Holy One, blessed be He, (that is to say, for) 83⅓ years. Whilst yet Moses was not born, the magicians said to Pharaoh: In the future a child will be born, and he will take Israel out of Egypt. Pharaoh thought, and said: Cast ye all the male children into the river, and he will be thrown in with them, and thereby the word (of the magicians) will be frustrated; therefore they cast all the (male) children into the river.

Verse 6

שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים קֹדֶם שֶׁנּוֹלַד מֹשֶׁה. וּלְאַחַר שֶׁנּוֹלַד אָמְרוּ: ״הִנֵּה נוֹלַד וְהוּא כָּמוּס מֵעֵינֵינוּ״. אָמַר לָהֶם: ״הוֹאִיל וְנוֹלַד, מִכָּאן וְאֵילָךְ אַל תַּשְׁלִיכוּ הַיְּלוּדִים לַיְּאוֹרָה, אֶלָּא תְּנוּ עֲלֵיהֶם עֹל קָשֶׁה לְמָרֵר חַיֵּי אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם בַּעֲבוֹדָה קָשָׁה״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְמָרְרוּ אֶת חַיֵּיהֶם״ וְכוּ'.

Three years (elapsed) until the birth of Moses. When Moses was born they said (to Pharaoh): Behold, he is born, and he is hidden from our vision. (Pharaoh) said to them: Since he is born, henceforth ye shall not cast the male children into the river, but put upon them a hard yoke to embitter the years of their lives with hard labour, as it is said, "And they made their lives bitter" (Ex. 1:14).

Verse 7

רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: רָאוּ אֲבוֹתָיו שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה אֶת הַנַּעַר, תָּאֳרוֹ כְּמַלְאַךְ אֱלֹהִים, וּמָלוּ אוֹתוֹ לִשְׁמוֹנָה יָמִים וְקָרְאוּ אֶת שְׁמוֹ יְקוּתִיאֵל.

Rabbi Nathaniel said: The parents of Moses saw the child, (for) his form was like that of an angel of God. They circumcised him on the eighth day, and they called his name Jekuthiel.

Verse 8

רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: ״טוֹב״ קָרְאוּ אוֹתוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַתֵּרֶא אֹתוֹ כִּי טוֹב הוּא״. וְהֶחְבִּיאוּהוּ בַּבַּיִת שְׁלֹשָׁה חֳדָשִׁים, וּלְאַחַר שְׁלֹשָׁה נָתְנוּ אוֹתוֹ בְּתֵבַת גֹּמֶא וְהִשְׁלִיכוּהוּ עַל שְׂפַת הַיְאוֹר. וְהַכֹּל צָפוּי לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וְהָיְתָה בַּת פַּרְעֹה מְנֻגַּעַת בִּנְגָעִים קָשִׁים וְלֹא הָיְתָה יְכוֹלָה לִרְחֹץ בְּחַמִּין. בָּאָה לִרְחֹץ בַּיְאוֹרָה וְרָאֲתָה אֶת הַנַּעַר בּוֹכֶה, וְשָׁלְחָה יָדָהּ וְהֶחֱזִיקָה בּוֹ וְנִתְרַפְּאָה. אָמְרָה: ״הַנַּעַר הַזֶּה צַדִּיק הוּא״, וְקִיְּמַתּוּ לְחַיִּים. וְכָל הַמְקַיֵּם נֶפֶשׁ אַחַת כְּאִלּוּ קִיֵּם עוֹלָם מָלֵא, וְכָל מְאַבֵּד נֶפֶשׁ אַחַת כְּאִלּוּ מְאַבֵּד עוֹלָם מָלֵא. לְפִיכָךְ זָכְתָה לְחַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וּלְחַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא.

Rabbi Simeon said: They called him Ṭob (good), as it is said, "And when she saw him that he was good" (Ex. 2:2). They concealed him in a house || of the earth for three months. After three months she put him in an ark of bulrushes, and she cast him upon the bank of the river. All things are revealed before the Holy One, blessed be He. Now Bithyah, the daughter of Pharaoh, was smitten sorely with leprosy and she was not able to bathe in hot water, and she came to bathe in the river, and she saw the crying child. She put forth her hand and took hold of him, and she was healed. She said: This child is righteous, and I will preserve his life. Whosoever preserves a life is as though he had kept alive the whole world. Therefore was she worthy to (inherit) the life in this world and the life in the world to come.

Verse 9

וְכָל בְּנֵי פַּלְטֵרִין שֶׁל פַּרְעֹה הָיוּ מְגַדְּלִין אוֹתוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְהִי בַיָּמִים הָהֵם וַיִּגְדַּל מֹשֶׁה וַיֵּצֵא אֶל אֶחָיו״. יָצָא מִשָּׁם אֶל מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל וְרָאָה אֶחָד מִנּוֹגְשֵׂי פַּרְעֹה מַכֶּה אֶת אֶחָד מִבְּנֵי הַקְּהָתִי הַלְוִיִּם שֶׁהֵם מֵאֶחָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיַּרְא אִישׁ מִצְרִי מַכֶּה אִישׁ עִבְרִי״. הִתְחִיל מְקַלְּלוֹ בְּחֶרֶב שְׂפָתָיו וּטְמָנוֹ בְּתוֹךְ הַמַּחֲנֶה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיַּךְ אֶת הַמִּצְרִי וַיִּטְמְנֵהוּ בַּחוֹל״. וְאֵין חוֹל אֶלָּא יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהָיָה מִסְפַּר בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּחוֹל הַיָּם״.

All the household of Pharaoh's palace were (helping) to educate (Moses), as it is said, "And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown up, that he went out unto his brethren" (Ex. 2:11). Moses went into the camp of Israel, and saw one of the taskmasters of Pharaoh smiting one of the sons of Kohath, the Levites, for they were his brethren, as it is said, "And he saw an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren" (ibid.). He began to rebuke him with the sword of his lips, and he slew him, and buried him in the midst of the camp, as it is said, "And he smote the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand" (Ex. 2:12). The word Chôl (sand) signifies (here) Israel only, as it is said, "Yet the number of children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea" (Hos. 1:10).

Verse 10

יָצָא בַּיּוֹם הַשֵּׁנִי וְרָאָה שְׁנֵי אֲנָשִׁים עִבְרִים נִצִּים, וַיֹּאמֶר לָרָשָׁע: ״לָמָּה תַכֶּה רֵעֶךָ?״ אָמַר לוֹ דָּתָן: ״מָה אַתָּה מְבַקֵּשׁ? בַּחֶרֶב שֶׁבְּפִיךָ אַתָּה מְבַקֵּשׁ לְהָרְגֵנִי כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהָרַגְתָּ אֶת הַמִּצְרִי?״ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הַלְהָרְגֵנִי אַתָּה אוֹמֵר״. ״אַתָּה מְבַקֵּשׁ״ אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא ״אַתָּה אוֹמֵר״.

He went forth on the second day, and saw two Hebrew men striving. Who were they? || Dathan and Abiram, as it is said, "And he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?" (Ex. 2:18). Dathan said to him: What! Dost thou wish to kill me with the sword of thy mouth as thou didst kill the Egyptian yesterday, as it is said, "Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? Speakest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian?" (Ex. 2:14). "Seekest thou to kill me" is not written (in the Scripture) here, but "Speakest thou to kill me."

Verse 11

וּכְשֶׁבָּאוּ מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן אֶל פַּרְעֹה וְאָמְרוּ לוֹ: ״כֹּה אָמַר ה' אֱלֹהֵי הָעִבְרִים, שַׁלַּח עַמִּי וְיַעַבְדֻנִי״, אָמַר לָהֶם: ״מִי ה' אֲשֶׁר אֶשְׁמַע בְּקוֹלוֹ? לֹא יָדַעְתִּי אֶת ה'״. הִשְׁלִיךְ אַהֲרֹן אֶת מַטֵּהוּ וְנַעֲשָׂה נָחָשׁ שָׂרָף, וְגַם הִשְׁלִיכוּ אֶת מַטֵּיהֶם וְנַעֲשׂוּ נְחָשִׁים, וְרָץ מַטֵּה אַהֲרֹן וּבָלַע אֶת מַטּוֹתָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּבְלַע מַטֵּה אַהֲרֹן אֶת מַטֹּתָם״.

When Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh, they said to him: "Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, Let my people go" (Ex. 5:1), that they may serve Me. He said: I know not the Lord. "Who is the Lord, that I should hearken unto his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, and moreover I will not let Israel go" (Ex. 5:2). Aaron cast down his rod, and it became a fiery serpent. The magicians also cast down their rods, and they became fiery serpents. The rod of Aaron ran and swallowed them up with their rods, as it is said, "And Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods" (Ex. 7:12).

Verse 12

הִכְנִיס יָדוֹ לְחֵיקוֹ וְהוֹצִיאָהּ מְצֹרַעַת. הִכְנִיסוּ יָדָם לְחֵיקָם וְהוֹצִיאוּם מְצֹרָעוֹת, וְלֹא נִתְרַפְּאוּ עַד יוֹם מוֹתָם. וְכָל מַכָּ�� וּמַכָּה שֶׁהֵבִיא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּמִצְרַיִם, הֵם הָיוּ מוֹסִיפִים מַכָּה עַל מַכָּה, עַד שֶׁהֵבִיא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עֲלֵיהֶם אֶת הַשְּׁחִין, וְלֹא יָכְלוּ לַעֲמֹד וְלַעֲשׂוֹת כֵּן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְלֹא יָכְלוּ הַחַרְטֻמִּים״.

(Moses) put his hand into his bosom, and brought it forth leprous like snow, and the magicians also put their hands in their bosoms, and brought them forth leprous like snow. But they were not healed till the day of their death. Every plague which the Holy One, blessed be He, brought upon them, they also produced every plague until He brought upon them the boils, and they were not able to stand and to do likewise, as it is said, "And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils" (Ex. 9:11).

Verse 13

רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר: אִסְפַּלָאטוֹרִים שֶׁל פַּרְעֹה הָיוּ מַחֲנִיקִין אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּקִּירוֹת שֶׁל בָּתִּים וּבֵין הַלְּבֵנִים, וְהָיוּ צוֹעֲקִים מִתּוֹךְ קִירוֹת הַבַּיִת, וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שׁוֹמֵעַ צַעֲקָתָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּשְׁמַע אֱלֹהִים אֶת צַעֲקָתָם״. וְעוֹד, שֶׁהָיוּ שׂוֹרְפִים אֶת בְּנֵיהֶם הַבְּכוֹרִים בְּכוּר הָאֵשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְאֶתְכֶם לָקַח ה' וַיּוֹצִא אֶתְכֶם מִכּוּר הַבַּרְזֶל״, וּמָדַד לָהֶם בְּאוֹתָהּ מִדָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לְמַכֵּה מִצְרַיִם בִּבְכוֹרֵיהֶם״.

Rabbi 'Aḳiba said: The executioners of Pharaoh used to strangle the Israelites in the walls of the houses, || and the Holy One, blessed be He, heard their cry, as it is said, "And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob" (Ex. 2:24). Further, they burnt their children in the furnace of fire, as it is said, "But the Lord hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt" (Deut. 4:20).

Verse 14

וּכְשֶׁיָּצְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם, מָה עָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא? הִשְׁלִיךְ כָּל צַלְמֵי תּוֹעֲבוֹתֵיהֶם וְנִשְׁתַּבְּרוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּבֵאלֹהֵיהֶם עָשָׂה ה' שְׁפָטִים״.

When Israel went forth, what did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He cast down all the idols of their abominations, and they were broken, as it is said, "Upon their gods also the Lord executed judgments" (Num. 33:4).

Verse 15

רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: הַמִּצְרִיִּים הָיוּ מְטַמְּאִין אֶת כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלִנְשֵׁיהֶם עִמָּם. כִּידָיָיה בְּנוֹ שֶׁל דָּן נָשָׂא אִשָּׁה מִשִּׁבְטוֹ, שְׁלוֹמִית בַּת דִּבְרִי, וּבְאוֹתָהּ הַלַּיְלָה בָּאוּ עָלָיו נוֹגֵשׂ פַּרְעֹה וַהֲרָגוּ אוֹתוֹ וּבָאוּ עַל אִשְׁתּוֹ, וְהָרָתָה וְיָלְדָה בֵּן. וְהַכֹּל הוֹלֵךְ אַחַר הַזֶּרַע: אִם מָתוֹק לְמָתוֹק, אִם מַר לְמַר. וּכְשֶׁיָּצְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם, הִתְחִיל מְחָרֵף וּמְגַדֵּף בְּשֵׁם אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּקֹּב בֶּן הָאִשָּׁה הַיִּשְׂרְאֵלִית אֶת הַשֵּׁם״.

Rabbi Joseph said: The Egyptians defiled the Israelites and their wives with them. Bedijah, the grandson of Dan, married a wife from his tribe, Shelomith, daughter of Dibri, and in that night the taskmasters of Pharaoh came in unto her, for they slew him and came in unto her, and she conceived and bare a son. In every case the offspring follows the (nature of) the seed: if it be sweet, it will be due to the sweet (seed); if it be bitter, it will be due to the bitter (seed). And when Israel went forth from Egypt, he began to blaspheme and revile the Name of the God of Israel, as it is said, "And the son of the Israelitish woman blasphemed the Name, and cursed" (Lev. 24:11).

Verse 16

רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר: חֲמִשָּׁה אֶצְבָּעוֹת שֶׁל יַד יְמִינוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כֻּלָּם יְסוֹד גְּאֻלּוֹת. אֶצְבַּע קְטַנָּה הֶרְאָה לְנֹחַ מַה לַּעֲשׂוֹת בַּתֵּבָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וְזֶה אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה אֹתָהּ״. אֶצְבַּע שְׁנִיָּה לַקְּטַנָּה בָּהּ הִכָּה אֶת מִצְרַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיֹּאמְרוּ הַחַרְטֻמִּים אֶל פַּרְעֹה אֶצְבַּע אֱלֹהִים הִיא״. וְכַמָּה לָקוּ בָּאֶצְבַּע? עֶשֶׂר. אֶצְבַּע שְׁלִישִׁית לַקְּטַנָּה בָּהּ כָּתַב אֶת הַלּוּחוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״לֻחֹת אֶבֶן כְּתוּבִים בְּאֶצְבַּע אֱלֹהִים״. אֶצְבַּע רְבִיעִית שֶׁהִיא שְׁנִיָּה לַבֹּהֶן בָּהּ הֶרְאָה לְמֹשֶׁה מַה יִּתְּנוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל פִּדְיוֹן נַפְשָׁם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״זֶה יִתְּנוּ״. הַבֹּהֶן וְכָל הַיָּד כֻּלָּהּ עָתִיד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְהַכּוֹת בָּהֶם אֶת בְּנֵי עֵשָׂו שֶׁהֵם צָרָיו וְאֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׁמָעֵאל שֶׁהֵם אוֹיְבָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״תָּרֹם יָדְךָ עַל צָרֶיךָ וְכָל אֹיְבֶיךָ יִכָּרֵתוּ״.

Rabbi Ishmael said: The five fingers of the right hand of the Holy One, blessed be He, all of them appertain to the mystery of the Redemption. He showed the little finger of the hand to Noah, (pointing out) how to make the ark, as it is said, "And this is how thou shalt make it" (Gen. 6:15). With the second finger, which is next to the little one, He smote the firstborn of the Egyptians, as it is said, "The magicians said unto Pharaoh, || This is the finger of God" (Ex. 8:19). With how many (plagues) were they smitten with the finger? With ten plagues. With the third finger, which is the third (starting from) the little finger, He wrote the tables (of the Law), as it is said, "And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him… tables of stone, written with the finger of God" (Ex. 31:18). With the fourth finger, which is next to the thumb, the Holy One, blessed be He, showed to Moses what the children of Israel should give for the redemption of their souls, as it is said, "This they shall give… half a shekel for an offering to the Lord" (Ex. 30:18). With the thumb and all the hand the Holy One, blessed be He, will smite in the future all the children of Esau, for they are His foes, and likewise (will He smite) the children of Ishmael, for they are His enemies, as it is said, "Let thine hand be lifted up above thine adversaries, and let all thine enemies be cut off" (Mic. 5:9).

Verse 17

רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: חֲמִשָּׁה אוֹתִיּוֹת שֶׁנִּכְפְּלוּ בְּכָל הָאוֹתִיּוֹת שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה כֻּלָּם לְסוֹד גְּאֻלּוֹת. כָּ״ף כָּ״ף – אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ נִגְאַל מֵאוּר כַּשְׂדִּים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לֶךְ לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ״. מֵ״ם מֵ״ם – נִגְאַל בּוֹ יִצְחָק אָבִינוּ מִיַּד פְּלִשְׁתִּים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לֵךְ מֵעִמָּנוּ״. נוּ״ן נוּ״ן – נִגְאַל בּוֹ יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הַצִּילֵנִי נָא מִיַּד אָחִי״. פֵּ״א פֵּ״א – בּוֹ נִגְאֲלוּ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״פָּקֹד פָּקַדְתִּי״. צָדִ״י צָדִ״י – בּוֹ עָתִיד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִגְאֹל אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִשִּׁעְבּוּד אַרְבַּע מַלְכֻיּוֹת וְלֹאמַר לָהֶם: ״צֶמַח צִמַּחְתִּי לָכֶם״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְאָמַרְתָּ אֵלָיו כֹּה אָמַר ה' צְבָאוֹת לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה אִישׁ צֶמַח שְׁמוֹ וּמִתַּחְתָּיו יִצְמָח״. וְכֻלָּם לֹא נִמְסְרוּ אֶלָּא לְאַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ, וְאַבְרָהָם מְסָרָן לְיִצְחָק, וְיִצְחָק מְסָרָן לְיַעֲקֹב, וְיַעֲקֹב מָסַר סוֹד הַגְּאֻלָּה לְיוֹסֵף, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וֵאלֹהִים פָּקֹד יִפְקֹד אֶתְכֶם״. וְיוֹסֵף בְּנוֹ מָסַר סוֹד הַגְּאֻלָּה לְאֶחָיו וְאָמַר לָהֶם: ״פָּקֹד יִפְקֹד אֱלֹהִים אֶתְכֶם״. וַאֲשֶׁר מָסַר סוֹד הַגְּאֻלָּה לְסֶרַח בִּתּוֹ. וּכְשֶׁבָּאוּ מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן אֵצֶל זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְעָשׂוּ הָאוֹתוֹת לְעֵינֵיהֶם, הָלְכוּ אֵצֶל סֶרַח בַּת אָשֵׁר. אָמְרוּ לָהּ: בָּא אָדָם אֶחָד אֶצְלֵנוּ וְעָשָׂה אוֹתוֹת לְעֵינֵינוּ כָּךְ וְכָךְ. אָמְרָה לָהֶם: אֵין בָּאוֹתוֹת הָאֵלּוּ מַמָּשׁ. אָמְרוּ לָהּ: וַהֲרֵי אָמַר ״פָּקֹד יִפְקֹד אֱלֹהִים אֶתְכֶם״. אָמְרָה לָהֶם: הוּא הָאִישׁ הֶעָתִיד לִגְאֹל אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם, שֶׁכֵּן שָׁמַעְתִּי מֵאַבָּא פֵּ״ה וּפֵּ״ה – ״פָּקֹד פָּקַדְתִּי״. מִיָּד הֶאֱמִינוּ הָעָם בֵּאלֹהֵיהֶם וּבִשְׁלוּחוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיַּאֲמֵן הָעָם וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ כִּי פָקַד ה' אֶת עַמּוֹ״.

Rabbi Eliezer said: The five letters of the Torah, which alone of all the letters in the Torah are of double (shape), all appertain to the mystery of the Redemption. With "Khaph" "Khaph" our father Abraham was redeemed from Ur of the Chaldees, as it is said, (Lekh Lekha) "Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred… unto the land that I will shew thee" (Gen. 12:1). With "Mem" "Mem" our father Isaac was redeemed from the land of the Philistines, as it is said, "Go from us: for thou art much mightier (Memennu M'ôd) than we" (Gen. 26:16). With "Nun" "Nun" our father Jacob was redeemed from the hand of Esau, as it is said, "Deliver me, I pray thee, (Hazilêne na) from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau" (Gen. 32:11). With "Pê" "Pê" Israel was redeemed from Egypt, as it is said, "I have surely visited you, (Paḳôd Paḳadti) and (seen) that which is done to you in Egypt, and I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt" (Ex. 3:16, 17). With "Zaddi" "Zaddi" the Holy One, blessed be He, in the future will redeem Israel from the oppression of the kingdoms, and He will say to them, I have caused a branch to spring forth for you, as it is said, "Behold, the man whose name is (Zemach) the Branch; and he shall grow up (yizmach) || out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord" (Zech. 6:12). These letters were delivered only to our father Abraham. Our father Abraham delivered them to Isaac, and Isaac (delivered them) to Jacob, and Jacob delivered the mystery of the Redemption to Joseph, as it is said, "But God will surely visit (Paḳôd yiphḳôd) you" (Gen. 50. 24). Joseph his son delivered the secret of the Redemption to his brethren. Asher, the son of Jacob, delivered the mystery of the Redemption to Serach his daughter. When Moses and Aaron came to the elders of Israel and performed the signs in their sight, the elders of Israel went to Serach, the daughter of Asher, and they said to her: A certain man has come, and he has performed signs in our sight, thus and thus. She said to them: There is no reality in the signs. They said to her: He said "Paḳôd yiphḳôd"—"God will surely visit you" (ibid.). She said to them: He is the man who will redeem Israel in the future from Egypt, for thus did I hear, ("Paḳôd Paḳadti") "I have surely visited you" (Ex. 3:16). Forthwith the people believed in their God and in His messenger, as it is said, "And the people believed, and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel" (Ex. 4:31).

Verse 18

רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר: נוֹגְשֵׂי פַּרְעֹה הָיוּ מַכִּין לְיִשְׂרָאֵל לַעֲשׂוֹת תֹּכֶן לְבֵנִים בְּכֶפֶל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְאֶת מַתְכֹּנֶת הַלְּבֵנִים אֲשֶׁר הֵם עוֹשִׂים תְּמוֹל שִׁלְשׁוֹם״. וְהַמִּצְרִים לֹא הָיוּ נוֹתְנִים תֶּבֶן לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״תֶּבֶן אֵין נִתָּן לַעֲבָדֶיךָ״. וְהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מְקוֹשְׁשִׁין אֶת הַקַּשׁ בַּמִּדְבָּר, וְהָיוּ עוֹמְסִין אוֹתוֹ בַּחֲמוֹרֵיהֶם וּנְשֵׁיהֶם וּבְנֵיהֶם וּבְנֵי בְנֵיהֶם וּבְנוֹתֵיהֶם. וְהַקַּשׁ שֶׁל מִדְבָּר הָיָה נוֹקֵב אֶת עֲקֵבֵיהֶם, וְהַדָּם הָיָה יוֹצֵא וּמִתְבּוֹסֵס בַּחֹמֶר. רָחֵל בַּת בְּנוֹ שֶׁל מְתוּשֶׁלַח הָיְתָה הָרָה לָלֶדֶת, וְרָמְסָה בַחֹמֶר עִם בַּעְלָהּ. וְיָצָא הַוָּלָד מִתּוֹךְ מֵעֶיהָ וְנִתְעָרֵב בְּתוֹךְ הַחֹמֶר, וְעָלְתָה צַעֲקָתָהּ לִפְנֵי כִּסֵּא הַכָּבוֹד. וּבְאוֹתָהּ הַלַּיְלָה יָרַד מִיכָאֵל הַמַּלְאָךְ וְהֶעֱלָהוּ לִפְנֵי כִּסֵּא הַכָּבוֹד. וְאוֹתוֹ הַלַּיְלָה יָרַד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְהִכָּה בְּכוֹרֵי מִצְרַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְהִי בַּחֲצִי הַלַּיְלָה וַה' הִכָּה כָל בְּכוֹר״.

Rabbi 'Aḳiba said: The taskmasters of Pharaoh were beating the Israelites in order that they should make the tale of bricks, and it is said, "And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them" (Ex. 5:8). The Israelites were gathering the straw of the wilderness, and they were carrying it on their asses and (also on) their wives, and their sons. The straw of the wilderness pierced their heels, and the blood was mingled with the mortar. Rachel, the granddaughter || of Shuthelach, was near childbirth, and with her husband she was treading the mortar, and the child was born (there) and became entangled in the brick mould. Her cry ascended before the Throne of Glory. The angel Michael descended and took the brick mould with its clay, and brought it up before the Throne of Glory. That night the Holy One, blessed be He, descended, and smote the firstborn of the Egyptians, as it is said, "And it came to pass at midnight that the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt" (Ex. 12:29).

Verse 19

רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: כָּל אוֹתוֹ הַלַּיְלָה הָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹכְלִין וְשׁוֹתִין וּשְׂמֵחִין וּמְהַלְּלִין לֵאלֹהֵיהֶם בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל, וְהַמִּצְרִיִּים צוֹעֲקִים בְּמַר נֶפֶשׁ עַל הַמַּגֵּפָה שֶׁבָּאָת עֲלֵיהֶם פִּתְאוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי אֵין בַּיִת אֲשֶׁר אֵין שָׁם מֵת״.

Rabbi José said: All that night the Israelites were eating and drinking, rejoicing and taking wine and praising their God with a loud voice, whilst the Egyptians were crying with a bitter soul, because of the plague which came upon them suddenly, as it is said, "And there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead" (Ex. 12:80).

Verse 20

אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: אִם אֲנִי מוֹצִיא אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּלַּיְלָה, יֹאמְרוּ ״עַכְשָׁו בַּלַּיְלָה עָשָׂה מַעֲשָׂיו״. אֶלָּא הֲרֵינִי מוֹצִיאָם בַּחֲצִי הַיּוֹם וּבִגְבוּרַת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְהִי בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה הוֹצִיא ה' אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל״.

The Holy One, blessed be He, said: If I bring forth the Israelites by night, they will say, He has done His deeds like a thief. Therefore, behold, I will bring them forth when the sun is in his zenith at midday.

Verse 21

וּבִזְכוּת שְׁלֹשָׁה דְבָרִים יָצְאוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם: לֹא הֶחֱלִיפוּ לְשׁוֹנָם, וְלֹא הִלְשִׁינוּ אִישׁ רֵעֵהוּ וּבְיִחוּד הַשֵּׁם. וַיֵּצְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם מְלֵאִים כָּל טוּב מִמִּין בְּרָכוֹת, בְּזָכְרוֹ אֶת הַדָּבָר שֶׁאָמַר לְאָבִינוּ אַבְרָהָם ״וְגַם אֶת הַגּוֹי אֲשֶׁר יַעֲבֹדוּ דָּן אָנֹכִי וְאַחֲרֵי כֵן יֵצְאוּ בִּרְכֻשׁ גָּדוֹל״.

By the merit of three things Israel went forth from Egypt: (1) They did not change their language; (2) they did not change their names; (3) and they did not slander one another. In the unity of (God's) Name Israel went forth from Egypt full of all good things, comprising (all) blessings, because He remembered the word which He spake to our father Abraham, as it is said, "And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge, and afterwards shall they come out with great substance" (Gen. 15:14).