Beshalach (When He Sent)

(Sefer Shemot) Exodus 13:17-17:16

13:17- “And it came to pass when Pharaoh sent forth the people go, that Elohim led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for Elohim said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:
18- But Elohim led the people about through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Yisrael went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.
14:13- And Moshe said to the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of YHVH, which He will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them no more forever.
15- And YHVH said to Moshe, Why cry unto Me? Speak to the children of Yisrael that they go forward:
16- But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of
Yisrael shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
21- And Moshe stretched out his hand over the sea; and YHVH caused the sea to go back by a strong
east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
22- And the children of Yisrael went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters
were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
26- And YHVH said unto Moshe, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again
upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
31- And Yisrael saw that great work which YHVH did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared YHVH,
and believed YHVH, and His servant Moshe.
15:1- Then sang Moshe and the children of Yisrael this song unto YHVH, and spoke, saying, I will sing
unto YHVH, for He has triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider has He thrown into the sea.
2- Yah is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my Elohim, and I will prepare
Him an habitation; my father's Elohim, and I will exalt Him.
3- YHVH is a man of war: YHVH is His name.
6- Thy right hand, YHVH, is glorious in power: Thy right hand, YHVH, has dashed in pieces the enemy.
10- Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.
11- Who is like unto Thee, O YHVH, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in
praises, doing wonders?
12- Thou stretched out Thy right hand; the earth swallowed them.
13- Thou in Thy mercy has led forth the people which Thou has redeemed: Thou has guided them in
Thy strength unto Thy holy habitation.
16- Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of Thine arm they shall be as still as a stone;
till Thy people pass over, O YHVH, till the people pass over, which Thou hast purchased.
17- Thou shall bring them in and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, a fixed place for Thy
dwelling, which Thou has made, YHVH, a Sanctuary, O Adonai, which Thy hands have established.”

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shall stretch forth thine
hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.”
(Psalms 138:7)

“Then he remembered the days of old, Moshe, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought
them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? Where is he that put his Holy Spirit
within him? That led them by the right hand of Moshe with his glorious arm, dividing
the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?”
(Isaiah 63:11-12)
 

1 “Praise YHVH for the avenging of Yisrael, when the people willingly offered themselves. Hear, O kings; 2 give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto YHVH; I will sing praise to YHVH the Elohim of Yisrael.” (judges 5:2-3)
 

8 “Give thanks unto YHVH, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto 9 him, sing psalms unto him; talk of all his wondrous works.” (1 Chronicles 16:8-9)
 

“O sing unto YHVH a new song; for he has done marvelous things: his right hand, and his holy
arm, has gotten him the victory. YHVH has made known his salvation: his righteousness has he
openly shown in the sight of the heathen.” (Psalms 98:1-2)

Beshalach Summary:
1. Lifting up the Right Arm of His Strength:
In what is certainly considered one of the greatest moments in the history of Yisrael, parasha Beshalach presents the account of that mighty victory obtained by HaShem’s right hand. While the parting of the Red Sea is spectacular and worthy of our remembrance, more importantly we should be mindful of the lesson it offers. Even as the miraculous plagues in Egypt demonstrated Elohim’s superiority over their gods, likewise, does the opened waters of deliverance illustrate HaShem’s ultimate supremacy over all natural laws. This is True Authority, representative of His mighty right hand. To understand the significance of Elohim’s right hand is to see Him as King, and it is in the words of King David that this connection is confirmed. Psalms 110:1 epitomizes the reality of this Authority with the declaration of the established seat of King Mashiach, as it is written:
“YHVH said unto my Adon, Sit thou at My right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”
Contrary to Pharaoh who looked to his own earthly throne for strength, King David declares Psalms 20:6-7, confiding in that same right hand of Authority of which Moshe, himself, realized thus:
“Now know I that YHVH saves His anointed; He will hear him from His holy heaven with the
saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will
remember the name of YHVH our Elohim.”
By magnifying the Absolute Power found at HaShem’s Throne, King David understands the victory to be had as one “lifts up” the right hand of Elohim. For even as Moshe’s arms did foretell this principle during the battle with the armies of Amalek, as it is written in Exodus 17:11,
“And it came to pass, when Moshe held up his hand, that Yisrael prevailed: and when he let
down his hand, Amalek prevailed,”
so too, would Yisrael’s great psalmist convey the auspiciousness which comes with the lifting of our hands to HaShem deferring to His ultimate Authority, as Psalms 28:2 exhorts us in this manner:
“Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto Thee, when I lift up my hands toward Thy
Holy Sanctuary.”

2. The Way of Salvation Brings Us to Singing:
Though the many struggles we face seem unnecessary, bringing heartache to the spirit rather than healing to the soul, the remediation of this suffering is two-fold: 1) That the delusion of self-sufficiency might be eradicated, and 2) That we would become aware of HaShem’s saving power. As concerning Yisrael’s Deliverance from the perils of Egypt, Psalms 106:7-8 humbly reminds us:
“Our fathers understood not Thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of Thy
mercies, but provoked Him at the sea, even at the Red sea. Nevertheless He saved them for
His name's sake that He might make His mighty power to be known.”
The Exodus exhortation is to “stand still and see the Salvation of HaShem.” Psalms 40:1-3 records:
“I waited patiently for YHVH; and He inclined unto me and heard my cry...He has put a new
song in my mouth, even praise to our Elohim: many shall see it and fear and trust in YHVH.”
Learning from righteous souls who preceded us, we too are left with a hope. May He fill our mouths with song, indicative of people appreciative of His ways. Isaiah 51:10-11 melodiously assures:
“Are Thou not He which has dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that has made the
depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over? Therefore the redeemed of YHVH
shall return and come with singing unto Tzion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head...”