(Numb. 25:1:) WHILE ISRAEL WAS STAYING AT SHITTIM, THE PEOPLE BEGAN TO GO WHORING. Let our master instruct us: By virtue of how many things was Israel redeemed from Egypt?¹⁰⁴., Numb. 7:16; Numb. R. 20:22. Thus have our masters taught: Israel was redeemed from Egypt by virtue of four things: (1) that they did not change their name, (2) that they did not change their language, (3) that they did not disclose their secrets,¹⁰⁵ and (4) they were not unbridled in unchastity.¹⁰⁶ 11:6; M. Pss. 114:4; also Mekhilta de Rabbi Ishmael, Pisha 5; Exod. R. 1:28.

footnotes: ¹⁰⁴ Tanh ¹⁰⁵ Gk. and Lat.: mysteria. ¹⁰⁶ Lev. R. 32:5; Cant. R. 4:12:1; PRK

That they did not change their name. Thus Reuben and Simeon went down (to Egypt), and Reuben and Simeon (with no name change) came up (from Egypt).

And they did not change their language, as stated (in Gen. 45:12): THAT IT IS MY MOUTH (i.e., MY LANGUAGE) WHICH IS SPEAKING UNTO YOU. Thus they were talking in the sacred tongue.

That they did not reveal their secrets, when Moses said to them (in Exod. 3:22): BUT EACH WOMAN SHALL BORROW OBJECTS OF SILVER, OBJECTS OF GOLD, AND CLOTHING FROM HER NEIGHBOR AND FROM THE WOMAN WHO SOJOURNS IN HER HOUSE. Now the command was entrusted to them for twelve months, but they never revealed it to the Egyptians.

And they were not unbridled in unchastity, as stated (in Cant. 4:12): A LOCKED GARDEN IS MY SISTER, MY BRIDE, A LOCKED FOUNTAIN,¹⁰⁷ The word can also mean “door” and the midrash may well have this meaning in mind. A SEALED SPRING. (ibid.:) A LOCKED GARDEN. These are the males. A LOCKED FOUNTAIN, A SEALED SPRING. These are the females. You yourself know that it is so, since there was but one exception and Scripture aired her case (in Lev. 24:10–11): NOW THERE WENT OUT THE SON OF AN ISRAELITE WOMAN, WHOSE FATHER WAS AN EGYPTIAN […. AND THE NAME OF HIS MOTHER WAS SHELOMITH BAT DIBRI OF THE TRIBE OF DAN.]¹⁰⁸ Now in all those forty years that they were in the desert, they never committed the sin of unchastity, until they came to Shittim. It is therefore stated (in Numb. 25:1): WHILE ISRAEL WAS STAYING AT SHITTIM, THE PEOPLE BEGAN TO GO WHORING. AT SHITTIM, because they had committed folly (shetut),¹⁰⁹ as stated (in Prov. 6:32): ONE WHO COMMITS ADULTERY WITH A WOMAN HAS NO SENSE.

footnotes: ¹⁰⁷ Gal. ¹⁰⁸ If he were not a bastard, his father’s name would have been given. ¹⁰⁹ The word can also mean “idolatry.”