The Erev Rav: Who Stood At Sinai?

(37) The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Sukkot, about six hundred thousand fighting adults on foot, aside from noncombatants. (38) Moreover, a mixed multitude went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds.

"hamushim they went up from the land of Egypt" — one out of five (['hamishah'] who had been there).... many of the Jews having died in Egypt.

(5) Nubia, Put, and Lud, and all the mixed populations, and Cub, and the inhabitants of the allied countries shall fall by the sword with them.

(1) אף חובב עמים, also members of the gentile nations, such as the mixed multitude whom Moses had accepted as converts at the time of the Exodus, and who had done so in order to receive the Torah, G’d became fond of and accepted them so that they too were included in the camp which Shekhinah, benevolent presence, rested over the people.

These are [the] ten plagues that the Holy One, blessed be He, brought on the Egyptians in Egypt and they are: Blood,

Frogs

Lice

[The Mixture of] Wild Animals

Pestilence

Boils

Hail

Locusts

Darkness

Slaying of [the] Firstborn

(5) In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight, there shall be a passover offering to ה',

But isn’t it written: “And they shall stumble one upon another” (Leviticus 26:37)? This verse is homiletically interpreted to mean that they shall stumble spiritually, one due to the iniquity of another, which teaches that the entire Jewish people are considered guarantors for one another.

When the Israelites stood to receive the Torah, HaShem said to them: ‘Bring Me good guarantors that you will observe it, and I will give it to you.’ They said ‘Source of the universe, our ancestors are guaranteeing for us.’ The Blessed Holy One said to them: ‘I have [claims against] your ancestors. Abraham, I have [a claim] against him, as he said: “How will I know” (Genesis 15:8). Isaac, I have [a claim] against him, as he loved Esau, and I hated him, as it is stated: “And Esau I hated” (Malachi 1:3); Jacob, who said: “My way is hidden from the Lord” (Isaiah 40:27). Rather, bring me effective guarantors and I will give it to you.’

They said before HaShem: ‘Source of the universe, our prophets will be guarantors for us.’ HaShem said to them: ‘I have [claims] against them, as it is stated: “And the shepherds were disloyal to me [and the prophets prophesied to the Baal]” (Jeremiah 2:8). And it is written: “Like foxes among the ruins, so are your prophets, Israel” (Ezekiel 13:4). But bring me effective guarantors and I will give it to you.’

They said: ‘Our children are guaranteeing for us.’ The Blessed Holy One said: ‘They are certainly good guarantors, I will give it to you on their account.’ That is what is written: “From the mouths of infants and sucklings You founded strength” (Psalms 8:3), and strength means only Torah, as it is stated: “HaShem will give strength to the people (Psalms 29:11).

HaShem our God, make the words of Your Torah pleasant in our mouths and in the mouths of Your people Israel. And may we and our descendants [and the descendants of our descendants] and the descendants of Your people the House of Israel, all know Your Name and be students of Your Torah for its own sake.