Daily Chumash & Rashi – Parshas Beshalach Revi’i: The sea returns to normal course, annihilating the Egyptian army (Wednesday, 10th Shevat, )

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 Revi’i

  1. The sea returns to normal course, annihilating the Egyptian army:
    • Hashem told Moshe to stretch his staff over the sea, and its waters shall return, and drown the Egyptian army. Moshe did as he was told, and sure enough towards morning the sea returned to its normal course, with the Egyptians fleeing towards it. Hashem shook the Egyptians within the water. The water drowned the entire army, leaving not even one survivor.
    • The Jewish people walked through the dry land within the sea and Hashem saved them from the Egyptians. They saw the corpses of the Egyptian army on the sea shore. They saw the great hand of G-d over Egypt, and they feared Hashem and believed in Hashem and Moshe His servant.

 

  1. The song of Az Yashir:
  • Moshe and the Jewish people then sang the song of Az Yashir to Hashem, praising Hashem for all that He has done. They said: “I will sing to Hashem, for He is exalted. The horse and rider he plunged into the sea. G-d’s strength and power has been to me a salvation. This is my G-d and I will beautify Him, the G-d of my fathers and I will exalt Him. Hashem is the master of war, Hashem is His name. He cast Pharaoh’s chariots and army into the sea, and his best officers were drowned. The depths of the waters covered them, and they descended like stone. Your right-hand Hashem is majestically powerful and crushes the enemy. You devastate your opponents, consuming them like straw with Your wrath. With the breath of Your nostrils you caused the water to pile up, and to stand like a wall. You froze water in the depths of the sea. The enemy stated that he will chase and overtake us and then distribute the plunder. You blew Your wind and the sea covered them. They sank like led. Who is like You Hashem, among the powerful and holy. You are too awesome to praise, Doer of wonders. You stretch Your right hand and the earth would swallow them. With kindness you led this people to Your holy abode. People heard and they trembled, the people of Philistia were struck with terror. The heads of the Edomites and Moabites were shocked and shivered. The inhabitants of Canaan melted. May they remain in fear until this nation passes through. You will bring the nation to Your dwelling place, to Your sanctuary. Hashem will reign forever.”

 

  1. Miriam sings:
  • Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the tambourine, and all the women followed her with tambourines and dancing. Miriam and the women also sang a song to Hashem.

 

  1. Bnei Yisrael travel to Marah and find no water to drink:
  • Bitter water: Moshe led the Jewish people in travel towards the desert of Shur. They traveled for three days and could find no water. They arrived at Marah, and could still not drink water, for the water that was there was bitter, thus lending it its name.
  • Moshe sweetens the water: The nation complained to Moshe asking what they are to drink. Moshe cried to Hashem and Hashem provided him with a stick which he threw into the water, and sure enough, the water became sweet.
  • Laws are given: In that area Moshe taught the Jewish people a number of laws. He told them that if they obey the commands of Hashem, the illnesses of Egypt will never befall them.

Shemot 14:26–31 — Q&A

Q1: What does “וְיָשֻׁבוּ הַמָּיִם” mean (14:26)?

A: The water that had been standing upright like a wall would return to its natural place and cover the Egyptians.

 

Q2: What does “לִפְנוֹת בֹּקֶר” mean (14:27)?

A: “At the time the morning was turning to come”—the earliest beginning of morning.

 

Q3: Why does the verse say the Egyptians were “fleeing toward it” (נָסִים לִקְרָאתוֹ)?

A: They were confused and frantic, running toward the water instead of escaping.

 

Q4: What does “וַיְנַעֵר ה׳” mean?

A: “God churned them”—like shaking a pot so the contents flip up and down.
God kept them alive so they experienced maximum justice.

 

Q5: Why mention “וַיְכַסּוּ אֶת־הָרֶכֶב…” with the extra ל prefix (14:28)?

A: Sometimes the Torah adds a ל for stylistic reasons. It carries no change in meaning.

 

Q6: Why did the bodies wash up on shore (14:30)?

A: So Israel wouldn’t think Egyptians escaped from another part of the sea to pursue them.

 

Q7: What is “הַיָּד הַגְּדֹלָה”?

A: The mighty power of God’s Hand—adapted to each context in the Torah.

 

Shemot 15:1–21 — Q&A on Shirat HaYam

Q8: Why does “אָז יָשִׁיר” use a future tense?

A:
Simple meaning: It means “then Moses intended to sing”—the future tense can denote intent.
Midrash: An allusion to techiyat hameitim, the resurrection of the dead: Moses will sing again in the future.

 

Q9: What does “כִּי־גָאֹה גָאָה” mean (15:1)?

A: God is exalted above all exalted beings—He performs acts impossible for humans, such as hurling horse and rider together into the sea.

 

Q10: Why is “עָזִּי וְזִמְרַת יָהּ” phrased this way?

A:

  • “עָזִּי” here is a noun (“Strength”).
  • “וְזִמְרַת” means “the power to cut down or prune,” i.e., God’s power to destroy the wicked.
    Meaning: “The strength and cutting‑power of God was my salvation.”

 

Q11: What does “זֶה אֵלִי” teach us?

A: God revealed Himself so clearly that even a maidservant at the sea saw what prophets did not.
Israel literally pointed with their fingers and said, “This is my God!”

 

Q12: Why is Miriam called “the prophetess, sister of Aaron” (15:20)?

A:
Because she prophesied when she was only Aaron’s sister—before Moses was born, foretelling that her mother would bear a redeemer.

 

Q13: Why did the women have timbrels?

A: Righteous women were so confident God would perform miracles that they brought instruments out of Egypt in anticipation.

 

Q14: What does “וַתַּעַן לָהֶם מִרְיָם” mean (15:21)?

A: Miriam led the women in responsive singing, just as Moses led the men phrase-by‑phrase.

 

Shemot 15:22–26 — Q&A: Marah and the First Mitzvot

Q15: Why did Moses need to force Israel away from the sea (15:22)?

A: The Egyptians’ horses were adorned with gold and jewels; the Israelites were so busy collecting spoils that Moses had to compel them to travel.

 

Q16: Why is the place called “Marah” (15:23)?

A: “Marah” means “bitter.” The water was bitter and undrinkable.

Rashi also explains the grammar: the hei of “Marah” becomes a tav when attached to a suffix.

 

Q17: What laws were given at Marah (15:25)?

A:
Rashi: God gave them three mitzvot to study:

  1. Shabbat
  2. Parah Adumah (Red Heifer)
  3. Civil laws (monetary justice)

And God “tested” them—observing their reaction and patience.

 

Q18: What does “If you diligently heed…” mean (15:26)?

A:

  • “If you diligently heed” – accept God’s word
  • “Do” – fulfill the commandments
  • “Listen closely” – pay attention to the details
  • “His rules” – statutes without obvious rationale (shatnez, pork, Parah Adumah)

 

Q19: What does “I will not place the illnesses of Egypt upon you” mean?

A:
Midrash: Even if God must bring illness, it will be as if He didn’t, because He is your healer.
Peshat: Torah is like the doctor’s warning—following mitzvot protects your health.

Daily Chumash & Rashi Parshas Ki Sisa – Rishon: The Machatzis Hashekel and census counting; The Kiyor, The Shemen Hamishcha, The Ketores, Appointment of Betzalel, Keeping Shabbos (Sunday, 12th Adar)

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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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