Parashat Beshalach
Parashas Beshalach is the fourth parsha in the Book of Shemos and the 4th week of Shovavim. It contains 116 pesukim. For the Haftora; Ashkenazim read the 'story' and the 'song of Devorah', while Sepharadim only read the 'song'.
Contents |
Exodus from Egypt
Hashem leads the Jews towards Eret Yisroel through the desert rather then the short path through the land of the Plishtim to prevent a retreat to Egypt in case they regret their exodus. Moshe takes the bones of Yosef with him and the Jewish camp is lead by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
The Long Way
Hashem chooses to lead the Jewish Nation to Eretz Yisroel through a long windy path in the desert as apposed to the short route. This was to prevent the Jews from retreating back to Egypt when they encounter opposition such as the war of Amelek and Canaan. This concern proved itself valid as during the 'incident of the spies', where the Jews discussed appointing a new leader and heading back to Egypt. Had the path been short and simple they would have immediately started retreating.
Armed and Quintaned
Only a fifth of the original Jewish population meditated to lave Egypt, the remainder having died during a three day period in midst of the 'plague of darkness'. The Jews took weapons along with them, these were later used to fight in the battles of Amalek, Sichon, Og and Midyon.
Coffin of Yosef
Moshe takes the coffin of Yosef with him to fulfill the oath Yosef bound his brothers with forcing them to in turn bind their descendants with an oath to carry his coffin to Eretz Yisroel when they are redeemed. Unlike Yaakov whose son held the powerful position of viceroy allowing him to be transferred to Eretz Yisroel immediately, Yosef realized that his brothers would be prevented by the Egyptian government from doing the same to him. The Jews also brought with them the bodies of all the Shivatim and of Bilah and Yocheved.
Start of the Journey
On the first day the Jews travel from Ramses to Sukkot. On the second day they travel from Sukkot and camp in Essum. Hashem travels in front of them leading them with a pillar of cloud during the daytime and a pillar of fire at night.
Hashem commands the Jews to revert and return to Pi Hachirot and camp in front of the surviving deity Baal Tzaphone. This will lead Pharaoh to believe the Jews have become confused and lost in the desert and cause him to chase after them.
Splitting of the Sea
The Egyptians chase the Jews, cornering them at Pi Hachiros. The Jews cry to Hashem out of fear but are reassured by Moshe of an emanate salvation. Hashem commands the Jews to move forward and the pillar of cloud goes behind them separating them from the Egyptians. Moshe split the sea and the waters surround them like a fortress. The Egyptians follow the Jews into the split sea but Hashem confounds them burning off the wheels of their chariots. Moshe returns the sea to its former state drowning all the Egyptians and the Jews recognize their great salvation.
Pharaoh had sent spies amongst the Erev Rav who joined the Jews. They now informed him that the Jews had no intention of returning to Egypt and planned on escaping for good.
Pharaoh and his ministers have a change of heart and they decide to chase after the Jews. They gather all their cavalry and warriors and set out, let by six hundred elite chariots and a consignment of generals.
The Egyptians confront the Jews as they camp near the sea by Pi Hachiros in front of Baal Tzaphone. Pharaoh races ahead of his army. The Jews see the Egyptians chasing after them, they are very frightened and scream to Hashem. They then complain to Moshe for taking them out and ask him "were there not enough graves in Egypt that you have taken us out to die in the desert?". They remind him that they had already mentioned this to him while they were still in Egypt, that it was better to remain there then to leave and die in the desert. Moshe replies that they should not fear and will soon see the great salvation that Hashem will perform for them. He then adds that after that day the Egyptians will never be seen the same. All they have to do is remain silent and Hashem will fight for them.
Moshe starts to pray. Hashem tells him to stop yelling and tell the Jews to advance. He then tells Moshe to lift his hand over the sea and split it into two so the Jews can pass through on dry land.
Both the angel and the pillar of cloud that normally traveled in front of the Jewish camp, now relocate to the back of the camp, dividing them form the Egyptians for the entire night.
Moshe raises his arm over the sea and Hashem brings a strong wind the entire night that splits the sea, paving a path of dry land. The Jews enter the sea and the water is frozen like a barricade on their right and left.
The Egyptians chase the Jews following them into the sea. At dawn Hashem confounds the Egyptian army, removing the wheels of their chariots and thrusting them with great heaviness. Seeing that Hashem is fighting for the Jews, the Egyptians decide to evacuate.
Hashem tells Moshe to raise his hand over the sea and let the water return to its former position. Just as the morning is about to arrive, Moshe raises his arm and the water crashes down, drowning every last one of the Egyptians with the exception of Pharaoh.
Song of the Sea
The Jews seeing the great miracle performed for them, experience a state of great belief in Hashem and his tzadik Moshe. They then proceed to sing the 'Song of the Sea' which in essence is composed of the following elements...
- Praise of Hashem.
- Description and details of the Egyptians drowning in the sea.
- Description of the fear that descended upon the nations of the world.
- Prophesy regarding the building of the Beis Hamikdash.
- Statements of Hashem's eternal rulership.
Song of the Women
Miriam, followed by all the women take out timbrels and begin to dance and play their instruments. Miriam proceeds to sing a song of thanks to Hashem.
The Bitter Waters
The Jews reach Marah and fail to pass the test of requesting water respectfully. Moshe sweetens the bitter waters for them and gives over some laws from the Torah.
Moshe leads the Jews from Yam Suf through a three day trip in the 'Wilderness of Shur', during which they do not have any water to drink. They reach Marah and finally discover a source of water but it is undrinkable due to its bitterness. The Jews complains to Moshe who in turn screams to Hashem. He is instructed to throw a tree into the water. This sweetens the water and the Jews are able to drink. In Marah the Jews are given a few commandments. They are informed that if they listen to all the laws of Hashem and do what is good in His eyes, they would be spared from all the illness that they had seen Hashem afflict the Egyptians with.
Elim
From Marah the Jews travel to Elim. There they find twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees.
The Mun
The Jews complain about the lack of food. Hashem informs Moshe about the manna. At night quails descend on the camp providing flesh and in the morning the manna rains down. The Jews collect the manna as instructed only to find that both those that collected a lot and those that collected little are left with the same amount per individual. Moshe commands not to leave any manna overnight and sure enough what was left over rots. On Friday the Jews collect manna for two days and Moshe tells them no manna will come down on Shabbot. Some people go out to search for manna on Shabbos morning but do not find any. Moshe teaches the prohibition of walking past civilized boundaries on Shabbos. Aharon stores manna in a jar as a testimony for future generations. The Jews eat the manaa until they enter Eretz Yisroel The measurement of each portion of manna is a tenth of an Epha.
The Complaint
From Elim the Jews journey into the 'Wilderness of Sin', arriving on the 15th of Iyar. There the Jews complain to Moshe and Aharon about the lack of food and express their wishes to have at least died in Egypt where they had access to constant flesh and plentiful bread.
Hashem tells Moshe that he will rain mun from the sky, which the Jews can gather and eat each day. On Fridays they would receive a double portion. Moshe rebukes the Jews for their complaint and says during the night they will receive flesh and bread during the day. Moshe instruct Aaron to gather the Jews in front of the 'cloud pillar'. As Aharon is speaking the glory of Hashem descends into the cloud.
That night quails came and covered the camp. In the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew evaporated a fine layer of small round beads remained on the ground. Not knowing what this was, the Jews question one another. Moshe informs them that this was the 'bread' Hashem gave them and commands them in His name to gather an omer worth of mun for each member of their households. Some Jews gather more then the instructed measurement and some gather less. Despite this, upon measuring their stockpiles they realized that they had miraculously re-sized to the allotted portions of an omer per individual.
Moshe warns the Jews not leave any mun over for the next day. Dassan and Aviram test this rule, resulting in their mun rotting and breading worms. Moshe was upset at them.
Each morning the Jews would gather the mun after which the remainder would melt from the sun.
On Friday the Jews were surprised to find their gathered portions totaling the amount of two omer per individual, double the regular volume. Their leaders approached Moshe to insure what was occurring. Moshe informs them of the prophesy he had previously been given that each Friday they would receive a double portion, the remainder of which would be saved for Shabbat, since no mun would descend on that day. They left the mun for the morning and it did not rot or breed worms.
Dassan and Aviram try to prove Moshe wrong by distributing their mun on the ground but when they go out, followed by a group of Jews on Shabbat morning to search for mun, they find it had vanished. Hashem rebukes Moshe and the Jews for desecrating the Shabbos at the same time alluding to the laws of Eruv Techumin and the Rabbinical transgression of walking 2000 amous on Shabbos beyond civilized areas.
The Jews name this spiritual food Manna. It was shaped like coriander seed but unlike its black color, the Manna was white. It tasted like wafers made with honey.
Hshem tells Moshe to gather an omerful of Manna and preserve it as a remembrance for later generations. Aharon at the comandment of Moshe, fills a jar with an omerful of Manna and stores it front of the Ark.
The Jews eat the Manna for forty years until they arive at the edge of Canaan. An omer is the tenth part of an ephah.
Thirst of Refidim
The Nation thrsts for water in Refidim and quarrel with Moshe. Moshe hits a rock with his rod in front of the elders, producing a stream of water and names the location Massah and Merivah after this incident.
Thirst
From the 'wilderness of Sin' the Jews journey and encamped in Rephidim, where there was no water to drink. The Jews quarrel with Moshe who questions them why they are testing Hashem. Once again they complain why to Moshe why he took them out from Egypt to have them, their children and livestock die from thirst. Moshe cries out to Hashem saying they are almost ready to stone him. Hashem instructs him to pass before the Jews and to take with him the elders of Yisroel and the rod with which he smote the river. Acting upon Hashem's instructions, Moshe hits a rock in front of the elders, producing a stream of water. Moshe names the location Massah and Merivah after the quarrel of the Jews and their test to see if Hashem was among them or not.
Battle of Amalek
Amalek comes to battle the Jews and is attacked by Yehoshua and a select army. Moshe sits on an overlooking hill, holding his arms up, supported by Aharon and Chur. When his arms are up the Jews prevail and when down Amalek prevails. Hashem commands Moshe to write the story of the battle in a book and promises to obliterate the remembrance of Amalek. Moshe builds and alter and Hashem swears to wage a constant battle against Amalek until they are destroyed.
The Battle
Amalek comes and fights with the Jews in Rephidim. Moshe commands Yehoshua to choose men and go out and fight Amalek. Durin the battle he will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of Hashem in his hand. Yehoshua goes out as instructed and battles Amalek. Moshe, Aharon and Chur go to the top of the overlooking hill. When Moshe lifted his hands the Jews prevailed, when he let down his hands Amalek prevailed. Moshe's hands became heavy, Aharon and Chur brought him a stone to sit on and each one then stood on his side and supported one of his arms, holding his hands steady until the setting of the sun. Yehoshua defeats Amalek, weakening them with the sword.
Hashem tells Moshe that he will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven and instructs him to write this for a memorial in the book, and rehearse it in the ears of Yehoshua. Moshe builds and altar and names it Amoni-Nissi. He then declares that by the hand upon the throne of the Hashem: Hashem will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.