Another interpretation (of Exod. 13:17): ALAS (WY), WOE (HY),¹⁴ WHEN PHARAOH HAD LET THE PEOPLE GO. Who cried ALAS (WY)? The Canaanites [cried: ALAS (WY)]. To what is the matter comparable? To a king who had a small son. He also had an ousia {i.e., an orchard}.¹⁵ Now he wanted to go away overseas, so he told a certain tenant to take care of it and eat of its fruit until his son became mature.¹⁶ to Deut. 32:9 (312); Mark 12:1–9 and parallels. When the king's son grew up, he sought the ousia. The tenant immediately began to cry: ALAS (WY). Similarly, while Israel was in Egypt, the Canaanites dwelt in and took care of the land of Israel. They also ate of its fruits. As soon as they heard that Israel had left Egypt they began yelling: ALAS (WY). (Exod. 13:17:) ALAS (WY), WOE (HY), WHEN PHARAOH HAD LET THE PEOPLE GO.

footnotes: ¹⁴ See above, note 10. ¹⁵ Among other things the Greek word means “real property” or “real estate.” ¹⁶ Cf. Sifre