As Moses had said, all the firstborn Egyptian males died precisely at midnight. The Egyptians urged the Jews to leave, showering them with silver, gold, and clothing. The Jewish women, confident that G-d would perform miracles for them, also brought timbrels to celebrate with.
Faith in the Redemption
וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל . . . וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם כְּלֵי כֶסֶף וּכְלֵי זָהָב וּשְׂמָלֹת:
(שמות יב:לה)
The Israelites . . . requested silver and gold utensils and clothing from the Egyptians.
Exodus 12:35
By also bringing along timbrels, the women demonstrated more
faith and trust in G‑d than did the men. The women of our generation, too, can
lead the way by demonstrating their faith that the final Redemption is
imminent. To be sure, until the moment of redemption arrives, we should all
feel the bitterness of the exile and pray fervently that G‑d bring it to an
end. But at the same time, our unshakable confidence that G‑d will fulfill His
promise of redemption should fill us with overflowing joy. Women, on the
strength of their innately more deep-seated faith, can already begin
celebrating the Redemption – even with music and dance – and this will inspire
the men to follow suit.1
