Another interpretation (of Exod. 12:2): THIS MONTH. This text is related (to Job. 6:11–12): WHAT IS MY STRENGTH THAT I SHOULD WAIT? WHAT IS MY END THAT I SHOULD BE PATIENT? IS MY STRENGTH THE STRENGTH OF STONES? {AND} IS MY FLESH BRONZE? Israel said to the Holy One, Sovereign of the World, is our strength the strength of stones? And is our flesh of bronze? WHAT IS MY STRENGTH THAT I SHOULD WAIT? The Holy One said to them: As you live, {however} [whatever you hoped for while] you were enslaved, in THIS MONTH you are being redeemed.

What is written above (in Exod. 11:9) on the matter? NOW THE LORD HAD SAID UNTO MOSES: PHARAOH WILL NOT HEARKEN UNTO YOU…. R. Judah and R. Nehemiah disagree. R. Judah says: This parashah says at the beginning of the plagues (in Exod. 7:4): PHARAOH WILL NOT HEARKEN UNTO YOU. But R. Nehemiah says: The warning is stated in its present place (in Exod. 11:9, which continues): IN ORDER THAT MY WONDERS MAY BE MULTIPLIED IN THE LAND OF EGYPT, in the sea more than in Egypt. (Exod. 11:10) SO MOSES AND AARON PERFORMED ALL THESE WONDERS…. The Holy one wished to credit this parashah to Moses alone.³⁷. 34, which gives the following marginal addition: R. Jacob said: A defense (Gk.: synegoria) was entered before the Holy One. It said to him: Sovereign of the Universe, (according to Exod. 11:10) MOSES AND AARON PERFORMED….; yet you wish to credit this parashah to Moses alone! The Holy One said to it: You have taught well. As you (Moses and Aaron) live, I am crediting it to both of you. Thus it is stated (in Exod. 12:1): THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES AND UNTO AARON …

footnotes: ³⁷ See Codex Vaticanus Ebr

(Exod. 12:2:) THIS NEW EXPERIENCE (HDSh)³⁸ 5:11; PR 15:17. IS FOR YOU. In the land of Egypt the Holy One was revealed to them. This is one of the places where the Pure One was revealed in an impure place. And why was all this? Because of Israel. THIS NEW EXPERIENCE IS FOR YOU. From the time that I created my world, I have never yet redeemed a people from the midst of another people; but FOR YOU I am innovating (rt.: HDSh) this very thing.

footnotes: ³⁸ The Hebrew word can be voweled to mean either “month” or “something new.” For a similar interpretation of the verse, see PRK

Another interpretation (of Exod. 12:2): THIS MONTH SHALL BE TO YOU THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTHS…. The Holy One said: From the time that I created my world, I bore the burden of calculating [the computations] of the months. From now on it is being given over to you. (Exod. 12:2:) TO YOU it is being given over, but you are not being given over into its hands.

A story about R. Hiyya the Great: Once when the moon had arisen on the eve of the New Year (i.e. when there was supposed to be a new moon), the cattle drovers traveled in its light for a distance of three miles.³⁹, i.e., “a thousand paces.” When R. Hiyya saw that moon, he took pebbles and dust and threw them at it. He said: Tomorrow we were intending to revive (rt.: HDSh) you (as a new moon), but now you have risen on your own. Immediately it was swallowed up in its place. Why? Because it was under his authority.⁴⁰

footnotes: ³⁹ Lat.: mille ⁴⁰ Because Hiyya had authority to calculate the calendar, he also had authority over the moon and the time at which the new moon should first appear.