The wine cup is put down and the matzot are uncovered.

צֵא וּלְמַד GO [to the verse] AND LEARN what Laban the Aramean sought to do to our father Jacob: Pharaoh condemned only the boys to death, but Laban sought to uproot everything, as it is written: “AN ARAMEAN SOUGHT MY FATHER'S DEATH, AND HE WENT DOWN TO EGYPT AND RESIDED THERE, JUST A HANDFUL OF SOULS; AND THERE HE BECAME A NATION – LARGE, MIGHTY, AND GREAT.”

“AND HE WENT DOWN TO EGYPT” – Compelled by what had been spoken. “AND RESIDED THERE” – From this, learn that our father Jacob went down not to be absorbed into Egypt, but only to reside there for a time. As it is said: “They said to Pharaoh, ‘We have come to reside in this land, for there is no pasture for your servants’ flocks, for the famine is heavy in the land of Canaan; and now, if you please, let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.’”

“JUST A HANDFUL OF SOULS” – As it is said: “Your ancestors were but seventy souls when they went down to Egypt – and now the LORD has made you as many as the sky has stars.”

“AND THERE HE BECAME A NATION” – From this, learn that Israel was distinct there. “LARGE, MIGHTY” – As it is said: “And the children of Israel were fertile, and they swarmed, and grew more and more numerous and strong, and the land was filled with them.”

“AND GREAT” – As it is said: “I let you grow wild like meadow plants, and you grew and matured and came forth in all your glory, your breasts full and your hair grown, and you were naked and exposed.” Some add: “And I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your own blood – and I said to you, ‘In your blood, live!’ and I said, ‘In your blood, live!’”

“AND THE EGYPTIANS DEALT CRUELLY WITH US AND OPPRESSED US, AND IMPOSED HARD LABOR ON US.” “THE EGYPTIANS DEALT CRUELLY WITH US” – As it is said: “We must act wisely against [this people], in case it grows great, and when we are called to war they may join our enemies, fight against us, and rise up to leave the land.”

“AND OPPRESSED US” – As it is said: “They placed taskmasters over [the people] to oppress them under their burdens; they built store cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Raamses.”

“AND IMPOSED HARD LABOR ON us” – As it is said: “The Egyptians enslaved the children of Israel with heavy labor.”

“AND WE CRIED OUT TO THE LORD, GOD OF OUR ANCESTORS, AND THE LORD HEARD OUR VOICE, AND HE SAW OUR OPPRESSION AND OUR LABOR AND SLAVERY.”

“AND WE CRIED OUT TO THE LORD, GOD OF OUR ANCESTORS” – As it is said: “It came to be, as a long time passed, that the king of Egypt died, and the children of Israel groaned under the burden of work, and they cried out, and their plea rose to God from amid the work.”

“AND THE LORD HEARD OUR VOICE” – As it is said: “And God heard their groans, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

“AND HE SAW OUR OPPRESSION” – The separation of husband from wife, as it is said: “And God saw the children of Israel, and God knew.”

“AND OUR LABOR” – [The killing of] the sons, as it is said: “Throw every boy who is born into the river, and the girls let live.”

“AND SLAVERY” – The forced labor that was pressed down on them, as it is said: “I have seen the slavery that Egypt forced upon you.”

“AND THE LORD BROUGHT US OUT OF EGYPT WITH A STRONG HAND AND AN OUTSTRETCHED ARM, IN AN AWESOME HAPPENING, WITH SIGNS AND WITH WONDERS.”

“AND THE LORD BROUGHT US OUT OF EGYPT” – Not through an angel, not through a seraph, not through any emissary. No, it was the Holy One, His glory, His own presence. As it is said: “I shall pass through the land of Egypt on that night; I shall kill every firstborn son in the land of Egypt, man and beast, and I shall pass judgment on all the gods of Egypt: I am the LORD.”

“I shall pass through the land of Egypt on that night” – I and no angel. “I shall kill every firstborn son in the land of Egypt” – I and no seraph. “And I shall pass judgment on all the gods of Egypt” – I and no emissary. “I am the LORD” – It is I and no other.

“WITH A STRONG HAND” – This refers to the pestilence, as it is said: “You shall see the hand of the LORD among your cattle in the field, among your horses and donkeys and camels, in the herd and in the flock, bringing harsh, heavy pestilence.”

“AND AN OUTSTRETCHED ARM” – This refers to the sword, as it is said: “And His sword was drawn in His hand, stretched out over Jerusalem.”

“IN AN AWESOME HAPPENING” – This refers to the revelation of His Presence, as it is said: “Has any god ever tried to come and take a nation out of the midst of another, with trials and with signs and wonders, in war and with a strong hand, with an outstretched arm, inspiring great awe, as the LORD your God has done all this for you in Egypt, before your eyes?”

“WITH SIGNS” – This refers to the staff, as it is said: “Take this staff in your hand, and with it you shall perform the signs.”

“AND WITH WONDERS” – This refers to the blood, as it is said: “I shall make wonders in the sky and on the earth –