General Overview
- Q: How many pesukim are in Parshas Beshalach?
A: 116 pesukim. - Q: What is the siman (mnemonic) for Parshas Beshalach?
A: יד אמונה (Yad Emunah). - Q: How many mitzvos are in Parshas Beshalach?
A: One mitzvah. - Q: Is the mitzvah positive or negative?
A: It is a negative commandment. - Q: What is the negative commandment in this parsha?
A: Not to leave the Techum/border on Shabbos (Mitzvah 24/Negative 13). - Q: What is the Haftorah for Parshas Beshalach?
A: Shoftim 4:4–5:31.
Leaving Egypt & Pharaoh’s Pursuit
- Q: Why did Hashem take the Jewish people on a roundabout route through the desert of the Sea of Reeds instead of the shorter route through the land of the Philistines?
A: Hashem feared that the people might turn back if taken by the short route. - Q: What did Moshe take with him out of Egypt?
A: Moshe took Yosef’s bones out of Egypt, as Yosef made the Jewish people swear to take them when they left. - Q: How did Hashem guide the Jewish people during their journey?
A: Hashem went before the Jewish people in a pillar of cloud to guide them by day and in a pillar of fire to shine for them by night. - Q: What was Pharaoh’s reaction when he realized the Jewish people had fled?
A: Pharaoh and his servants regretted having sent the Jewish people out, so he harnessed his chariot and took his people with him to chase after them. - Q: How many select chariots did Pharaoh take?
A: 600 select chariots. - Q: Who hardened Pharaoh’s heart to chase Bnei Yisrael?
A: Hashem. - Q: How did the Jewish people react when they saw Pharaoh and his army approaching?
A: The Jewish people looked up in fright, cried out to Hashem, and questioned Moshe about taking them out of Egypt to die in the desert. - Q: What did Moshe tell the people when they panicked?
A: “Do not fear, stand fast and you will see Hashem’s salvation.”
Splitting of the Sea
- Q: What did Hashem instruct Moshe to do to split the sea?
A: Hashem told Moshe to raise his staff over the sea and split it, allowing the Jewish people to enter the sea on dry land. - Q: How did Hashem protect the Jewish people from the Egyptian army during the night?
A: The pillar of Hashem moved behind the Jewish people, causing darkness for Egypt but giving light to the Jewish people, preventing the two camps from meeting the entire night. - Q: How did the sea split?
A: Hashem sent a strong east wind all night, turning the sea into dry land. - Q: What happened to the Egyptian army when they followed the Jewish people into the sea?
A: Hashem caused the Egyptian army to enter into disarray, and the sea returned to its normal course, drowning the entire Egyptian army. - Q: How many Egyptians survived?
A: None. - Q: What did Bnei Yisrael see on the shore after crossing?
A: The corpses of the Egyptian army. - Q: What was their reaction after seeing this?
A: They feared Hashem and believed in Him and Moshe His servant.
Song of Praise
- Q: What song did Moshe and the Jewish people sing after crossing the sea?
A: Moshe and the Jewish people sang the song of Az Yashir to Hashem, praising Him for all that He had done. - Q: Who led the women in song and dance?
A: Miriam the prophetess. - Q: What instrument did Miriam take?
A: A tambourine.
Marah & Elim
- Q: How did Moshe sweeten the bitter water at Marah?
A: Moshe cried to Hashem, who provided him with a stick to throw into the water, making it sweet. - Q: What laws were given at Marah?
A: Laws about obeying Hashem and avoiding Egypt’s illnesses. - Q: What did the Jewish people find when they traveled to Elim?
A: They found 12 springs of water and seventy date palm trees, and they encamped there.
Complaints & Mun
- Q: What was the reaction of the Jewish people when they were hungry in the desert?
A: The entire Jewish people complained against Moshe and Aaron, saying they would rather have died in Egypt while enjoying pots of meat and bread than to die in the desert in starvation. - Q: How did Hashem respond to the complaints about hunger?
A: Hashem promised to rain bread from heaven, and the nation would gather bread each day for that day. On Friday, they would receive a double portion. - Q: What fell in the evening before the Mun?
A: Slav (quail). - Q: What was the name of the bread that fell from heaven?
A: The bread was called Mun. It was like a coriander seed and had the taste of a wafer fried in honey. - Q: How much Mun was each person to take?
A: One Omer per person. - Q: What happened if they left Mun overnight?
A: It became wormy and spoiled. - Q: What was different about Friday’s portion?
A: It was double for Shabbos. - Q: Did Mun fall on Shabbos?
A: No. - Q: How long did the Jewish people eat the Mun?
A: The Jewish people ate the Mun for 40 years, until they arrived at the border of the land of Canaan. - Q: What special command was given about the Mun for future generations?
A: An Omer of Mun was placed in a jar before Hashem as a reminder for all generations.
Refidim & Amalek
- Q: What did Moshe do when the people complained about having no water at Refidim?
A: Hashem instructed Moshe to take his staff and hit the rock that He would be standing near. Once the rock was hit, water streamed out, and the nation could drink. - Q: What was the name given to the place where Moshe hit the rock?
A: Maaseh U’Merivah. - Q: Who waged war against the Jewish people in Refidim?
A: Amalek came and waged a war against the Jewish people in Refidim. - Q: Who led the battle against Amalek?
A: Yehoshua. - Q: How did Moshe help the Jewish people during the battle with Amalek?
A: Moshe stood on top of a hill with his staff in his hand. Whenever Moshe raised his hands, the Jewish people gained the upper hand in the battle. - Q: What happened when Moshe’s hands became heavy?
A: Aaron and Chur supported his hands, one on each side. - Q: What was the result of the war with Amalek?
A: Yehoshua weakened Amalek with the sword. - Q: What did Hashem promise regarding Amalek?
A: Hashem promised to obliterate the memory of Amalek from under the heavens. - Q: What did Moshe build after the war?
A: An altar called Hashem Nisi. - Q: What did Moshe declare about Amalek?
A: “Hashem is at war with Amalek for all generations.”
Additional Details
- Q: What date did Bnei Yisrael arrive in the desert of Sin?
A: On the 15th of the second month after leaving Egypt (Iyar). - Q: What was the taste of the Mun compared to?
A: A wafer fried in honey. - Q: What was the miracle regarding the amount of Mun each person collected?
A: Even if someone took more or less, they ended up with exactly one Omer per person.
