Daily Chumash & Rashi – Parshas Beshalach Sheiyni: Bnei Yisrael realize they are under attack by the Egyptian army (Monday,85th Shevat)

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Sheiyni

  1. Bnei Yisrael realize they are under attack by the Egyptian army:
  • The Egyptians gave chase after the Jewish people and caught up with them by Pi Hachiros near the sea.
  • The reaction of the Jewish people: The Jewish people looked up in fright seeing Pharaoh and his army coming in on them. The Jewish people cried out to Hashem. They said to Moshe “Were there not enough graves in Egypt for you to take us out to die in the desert? Why did you take us out of Egypt? Did we not already tell you that we would rather continue in slavery than to die in the desert?
  • Moshe’s response: Moshe said to the nation: “Do not fear, stand fast and you will see the salvation of G-d that he will do for you today. You will never see Egypt again. Hashem will fight for you and you shall remain silent.”

Q&A on Rashi

Q1: Why does the Torah say “וּפַרְעֹה הִקְרִיב” (Pharaoh brought forward) instead of “וּפַרְעֹה קָרַב” (Pharaoh came near)?

A: Rashi explains that “הִקְרִיב” means Pharaoh actively brought himself forward with boldness. He went ahead of his army, fulfilling his promise to lead them personally.

Q2: Why is the word “נֹסֵעַ” (advancing) in singular form when referring to the Egyptians?

A: Rashi says this indicates unity—the Egyptians were “with one heart,” united in hatred against Israel, acting as if they were one person. Another interpretation: the Israelites saw Egypt’s guardian angel coming to assist them.

Q3: What does “וַיִּצְעֲקוּ” (they cried out) teach us about the Israelites?

A: Rashi notes that they adopted the practice of their forefathers—prayer in times of distress. Abraham prayed at a set place, Isaac prayed in the field, and Jacob prayed at the place where he encountered God.

Q4: What is the meaning of “הֲמִבְּלִי אֵֽין־קְבָרִים” (Was it for lack of graves in Egypt)?

A: Rashi explains this as sarcasm: Egypt had plenty of graves, so why take us out to die in the desert? He even cites Old French: “si pour faillance de non fosses” (if for lack of graves).

Q5: Why does Rashi comment on the vocalization of “מִמֻּתֵנוּ”?

A: Because the vowel changes the meaning. With shuruk (מִמֻּתֵנוּ), it means “that we die,” not “than our death.” Rashi compares this to similar expressions like “מִי יִתֵּן מוּתִי” (If only I would die).

Q6: What does “כִּי אֲשֶׁר־רְאִיתֶם אֶת־מִצְרַיִם” mean according to Rashi?

A: It means: the Egyptians you see today—you will never see again. Their presence is temporary; after today, they will disappear.

Q7: How does Rashi interpret “יִלָּחֵם לָכֶם” (God will fight for you)?

A: It means God Himself will wage war on your behalf. Rashi cites similar phrases elsewhere in Scripture, like “כִּי ה׳ נִלְחָם לָהֶם” (for God is fighting for them).

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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