Saadia's Tafsir on Shemot 14 (Parashat Beshalach)

Shemot 14:1

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר

Then God spoke to Moses directly.

Shemot 14:2

דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיָשֻׁבוּ וְיַחֲנוּ לִפְנֵי פִּי הַחִירֹת בֵּין מִגְדֹּל וּבֵין הַיָּם לִפְנֵי בַּעַל צְפֹן נִכְחוֹ תַחֲנוּ עַל-הַיָּם

. . . . .

Command the sons of Israel that they turn back and encamp before the mouth of the Hiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal-Zephon — opposite it you shall encamp by the sea.

Shemot 14:3

וְאָמַר פַּרְעֹה לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל נְבֻכִים הֵם בָּאָרֶץ סָגַר עֲלֵיהֶם הַמִּדְבָּר

. .

So that Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel that they are bewildered in the land, and that the open country has been closed upon them.

Shemot 14:4

וְחִזַּקְתִּי אֶת-לֵב-פַּרְעֹה וְרָדַף אַחֲרֵיהֶם וְאִכָּבְדָה בְּפַרְעֹה וּבְכָל-חֵילוֹ וְיָדְעוּ מִצְרַיִם כִּי-אֲנִי יְהוָה וַיַּעֲשׂוּ-כֵן

. . .

And I shall harden the heart of Pharaoh and he shall pursue them; and I shall make Myself great through Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am God. And so they did.

Shemot 14:5

וַיֻּגַּד לְמֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם כִּי בָרַח הָעָם וַיֵּהָפֵךְ לְבַב פַּרְעֹה וַעֲבָדָיו אֶל-הָעָם וַיֹּאמְרוּ מַה-זֹּאת עָשִׂינוּ כִּי-שִׁלַּחְנוּ אֶת-יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵעָבְדֵנוּ

. . . .

And the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled; and the heart of he and his officers turned against them, and they said: 'What have we done, since we released the sons of Israel from our service?'

Shemot 14:6

וַיֶּאְסֹר אֶת-רִכְבּוֹ וְאֶת-עַמּוֹ לָקַח עִמּוֹ

.

And he readied his chariot, and took his people with him.

Shemot 14:7

וַיִּקַּח שֵׁשׁ-מֵאוֹת רֶכֶב בָּחוּר וְכֹל רֶכֶב מִצְרָיִם וְשָׁלִשִׁם עַל-כֻּלּוֹ

. .

And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and the rest of the chariots of the Egyptians who were likewise, and officers over all of them.

Shemot 14:8

וַיְחַזֵּק יְהוָה אֶת-לֵב פַּרְעֹה מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם וַיִּרְדֹּף אַחֲרֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יֹצְאִים בְּיָד רָמָה

. . . .

And God hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the sons of Israel — and the sons of Israel were going forth with a raised hand.

Shemot 14:9

וַיִּרְדְּפוּ מִצְרַיִם אַחֲרֵיהֶם וַיַּשִּׂיגוּ אוֹתָם חֹנִים עַל-הַיָּם כָּל-סוּס רֶכֶב פַּרְעֹה וּפָרָשָׁיו וְחֵילוֹ--עַל-פִּי הַחִירֹת לִפְנֵי בַּעַל צְפֹן

. . . . .

And the Egyptians pursued them and overtook them encamped by the sea — all the horses of the chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his host — at the mouth of the Hiroth, before Baal-Zephon.

Shemot 14:10

וּפַרְעֹה הִקְרִיב וַיִּשְׂאוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת-עֵינֵיהֶם וְהִנֵּה מִצְרַיִם נֹסֵעַ אַחֲרֵיהֶם וַיִּירְאוּ מְאֹד וַיִּצְעֲקוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל-יְהוָה

. . . .

And when Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel lifted up their eyes — and behold, the Egyptians were journeying after them — and they feared greatly, and they cried out to God.

Shemot 14:11

וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל-מֹשֶׁה הֲמִבְּלִי אֵין-קְבָרִים בְּמִצְרַיִם לְקַחְתָּנוּ לָמוּת בַּמִּדְבָּר מַה-זֹּאת עָשִׂיתָ לָּנוּ לְהוֹצִיאָנוּ מִמִּצְרָיִם

. . . .

They said to Moses: 'Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you took us to die in the open country? What have you done to us, since you brought us out of Egypt?'

Shemot 14:12

הֲלֹא-זֶה הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְנוּ אֵלֶיךָ בְמִצְרַיִם לֵאמֹר חֲדַל מִמֶּנּוּ וְנַעַבְדָה אֶת-מִצְרָיִם כִּי טוֹב לָנוּ עֲבֹד אֶת-מִצְרַיִם מִמֻּתֵנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר

. . . .

Is this not the very word which we said to you in Egypt, saying: Leave us that we may serve the Egyptians — for our service to them is better for us than our death in the open country?'

Shemot 14:13

וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל-הָעָם אַל-תִּירָאוּ--הִתְיַצְּבוּ וּרְאוּ אֶת-יְשׁוּעַת יְהוָה אֲשֶׁר-יַעֲשֶׂה לָכֶם הַיּוֹם כִּי אֲשֶׁר רְאִיתֶם אֶת-מִצְרַיִם הַיּוֹם--לֹא תֹסִפוּ לִרְאֹתָם עוֹד עַד-עוֹלָם

. . . .

Moses said to the people: 'Do not fear — stand still and behold the salvation of God which He shall work for you today; for as you have seen the Egyptians today, you shall never again see them, forever.'

Shemot 14:14

יְהוָה יִלָּחֵם לָכֶם וְאַתֶּם תַּחֲרִשׁוּן

.

'God shall fight on your behalf — and as for you, be still.'

Shemot 14:15

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה מַה-תִּצְעַק אֵלָי דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיִסָּעוּ

. .

Then God said to Moses: 'Why do you cry out to Me? Command the sons of Israel that they set out.'

Shemot 14:16

וְאַתָּה הָרֵם אֶת-מַטְּךָ וּנְטֵה אֶת-יָדְךָ עַל-הַיָּם--וּבְקָעֵהוּ וְיָבֹאוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּתוֹךְ הַיָּם בַּיַּבָּשָׁה

. . . .

'And you — lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and split it; and the sons of Israel shall enter into the midst of it upon dry land.'

Shemot 14:17

וַאֲנִי הִנְנִי מְחַזֵּק אֶת-לֵב מִצְרַיִם וְיָבֹאוּ אַחֲרֵיהֶם וְאִכָּבְדָה בְּפַרְעֹה וּבְכָל-חֵילוֹ בְּרִכְבּוֹ וּבְפָרָשָׁיו

. .

'And I am hardening the heart of the Egyptians, and they shall enter after them; and I shall make Myself great through Pharaoh and all his host and his chariots and his horsemen.'

Shemot 14:18

וְיָדְעוּ מִצְרַיִם כִּי-אֲנִי יְהוָה בְּהִכָּבְדִי בְּפַרְעֹה בְּרִכְבּוֹ וּבְפָרָשָׁיו

. .

'And the Egyptians shall know that I am God, when I have made Myself great through Pharaoh, and his chariots, and his horsemen.'

Shemot 14:19

וַיִּסַּע מַלְאַךְ הָאֱלֹהִים הַהֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵי מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֵּלֶךְ מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶם וַיִּסַּע עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן מִפְּנֵיהֶם וַיַּעֲמֹד מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶם

. . . .

And the angel of God, who was going before the camp of the sons of Israel, set out and moved behind them; and the pillar of cloud set out from before them and stood behind them.

Shemot 14:20

וַיָּבֹא בֵּין מַחֲנֵה מִצְרַיִם וּבֵין מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיְהִי הֶעָנָן וְהַחֹשֶׁךְ וַיָּאֶר אֶת-הַלָּיְלָה וְלֹא-קָרַב זֶה אֶל-זֶה כָּל-הַלָּיְלָה

. . . . .

And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of the Israelites; and there were the cloud and the darkness — yet it lit up the night — and neither one drew near the other throughout the night.

Shemot 14:21

וַיֵּט מֹשֶׁה אֶת-יָדוֹ עַל-הַיָּם וַיּוֹלֶךְ יְהוָה אֶת-הַיָּם בְּרוּחַ קָדִים עַזָּה כָּל-הַלַּיְלָה וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת-הַיָּם לֶחָרָבָה וַיִּבָּקְעוּ הַמָּיִם

. . . .

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and God drove the sea back with a strong qibla-wind throughout the night, until He made it dry, after the water had split apart.

Shemot 14:22

וַיָּבֹאוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּתוֹךְ הַיָּם בַּיַּבָּשָׁה וְהַמַּיִם לָהֶם חוֹמָה מִימִינָם וּמִשְּׂמֹאלָם

. .

And the sons of Israel entered into the midst of the sea upon dry land; and the water was walls for them, on their right and on their left.

Shemot 14:23

וַיִּרְדְּפוּ מִצְרַיִם וַיָּבֹאוּ אַחֲרֵיהֶם--כֹּל סוּס פַּרְעֹה רִכְבּוֹ וּפָרָשָׁיו אֶל-תּוֹךְ הַיָּם

. . .

And the Egyptians pursued them and entered after them — all the horses of Pharaoh, and his chariots and his horsemen — into the midst of the sea.

Shemot 14:24

וַיְהִי בְּאַשְׁמֹרֶת הַבֹּקֶר וַיַּשְׁקֵף יְהוָה אֶל-מַחֲנֵה מִצְרַיִם בְּעַמּוּד אֵשׁ וְעָנָן וַיָּהָם אֵת מַחֲנֵה מִצְרָיִם

. . .

And when it was at the turn of the morning watch, God looked out over the camp of the Egyptians through a pillar of fire and cloud, and He threw it into confusion.

Shemot 14:25

וַיָּסַר אֵת אֹפַן מַרְכְּבֹתָיו וַיְנַהֲגֵהוּ בִּכְבֵדֻת וַיֹּאמֶר מִצְרַיִם אָנוּסָה מִפְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל--כִּי יְהוָה נִלְחָם לָהֶם בְּמִצְרָיִם

. . . .

And He removed the wheels of their chariots and drove them with force, so that the Egyptians said: 'Let us flee from before the sons of Israel, for God is fighting against the Egyptians on their behalf.'

Shemot 14:26

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה נְטֵה אֶת-יָדְךָ עַל-הַיָּם וְיָשֻׁבוּ הַמַּיִם עַל-מִצְרַיִם עַל-רִכְבּוֹ וְעַל-פָּרָשָׁיו

. . .

And God said to Moses: 'Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may return upon the Egyptians, and upon their chariots and their horsemen.'

Shemot 14:27

וַיֵּט מֹשֶׁה אֶת-יָדוֹ עַל-הַיָּם וַיָּשָׁב הַיָּם לִפְנוֹת בֹּקֶר לְאֵיתָנוֹ וּמִצְרַיִם נָסִים לִקְרָאתוֹ וַיְנַעֵר יְהוָה אֶת-מִצְרַיִם בְּתוֹךְ הַיָּם

. . . .

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and it returned, at the approach of morning, to its strength — while they were fleeing toward it — and God drowned them in its midst.

Shemot 14:28

וַיָּשֻׁבוּ הַמַּיִם וַיְכַסּוּ אֶת-הָרֶכֶב וְאֶת-הַפָּרָשִׁים לְכֹל חֵיל פַּרְעֹה הַבָּאִים אַחֲרֵיהֶם בַּיָּם לֹא-נִשְׁאַר בָּהֶם עַד-אֶחָד

. . . .

In that the water returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, and the rest of the hosts of Pharaoh who had entered after them into the sea — there did not remain among them even one.

Shemot 14:29

וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הָלְכוּ בַיַּבָּשָׁה בְּתוֹךְ הַיָּם וְהַמַּיִם לָהֶם חֹמָה מִימִינָם וּמִשְּׂמֹאלָם

. . .

And the sons of Israel walked upon the dry land in the midst of the sea; and the water was walls for them, on their right and on their left.

Shemot 14:30

וַיּוֹשַׁע יְהוָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא אֶת-יִשְׂרָאֵל--מִיַּד מִצְרָיִם וַיַּרְא יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת-מִצְרַיִם מֵת עַל-שְׂפַת הַיָּם

. . .

And God saved, on that day, the sons of Israel from the hand of the Egyptians; and the sons of Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the shore of the sea.

Shemot 14:31

וַיַּרְא יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת-הַיָּד הַגְּדֹלָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה יְהוָה בְּמִצְרַיִם וַיִּירְאוּ הָעָם אֶת-יְהוָה וַיַּאֲמִינוּ בַּיהוָה וּבְמֹשֶׁה עַבְדּוֹ

]] . . . .

And the sons of Israel saw the great plague which God had brought upon the Egyptians; and the people feared God, and believed in God and in Moses His messenger.