📖 Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 42

״וַיְהִי בְּשַׁלַּח פַּרְעֹה אֶת הָעָם״, זֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב ״שְׁלָחַיִךְ פַּרְדֵּס רִמּוֹנִים״. מָה הַפַּרְדֵּס הַזֶּה מָלֵא מִין עֵץ אִילָן עוֹשֶׂה פְּרִי, כָּךְ יָצְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם מְלֵאִים כָּל טוּב, מִין בְּרָכוֹת. לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר ״שְׁלָחַיִךְ פַּרְדֵּס רִמּוֹנִים״.

THE EXODUS "AND it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go" (Ex. 13:17). This is what the Scripture says, "Thy shoots are a garden of pomegranates" (Cant. 4:13). Just as this garden is full of (various) kinds of trees, each one bearing according to its kind, so the Israelites, when they went forth from Egypt, were full of all good, (endowed with) the various kinds of blessings, as it is said, "Thy shoots are (like) a garden of pomegranates" (ibid.).

רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר: הַמִּצְרִיִּים רָדְפוּ אַחֲרֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל עַד יַם סוּף וְחָנוּ אַחֲרֵיהֶם. הָאוֹיְבִים מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶם וְהַיָּם מִלִּפְנֵיהֶם, וְרָאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל הַמִּצְרִיִּים וְנִתְיָּרְאוּ הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד. וְשָׁם הִשְׁלִיכוּ כָּל תּוֹעֲבוֹת מִצְרַיִם מֵעֲלֵיהֶם וְעָשׂוּ תְּשׁוּבָה גְּדוֹלָה וְקָרְאוּ לֵאלֹהֵיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּפַרְעֹה הִקְרִיב וַיִּשְׂאוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת עֵינֵיהֶם״. רָאָה מֹשֶׁה בְּצָרָתָם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, עָמַד לְהִתְפַּלֵּל עֲלֵיהֶם. אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״מַה תִּצְעַק אֵלָי? דַּבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיִסָּעוּ״.

Rabban Gamaliel said: The Egyptians pursued after the children of Israel as far as the Reed Sea, and encamped behind them. The enemy was behind them and the sea || was in front of them. And the Israelites saw the Egyptians, and feared very greatly, and there they cast away from themselves all the Egyptian abominations, and they repented very sincerely, and called upon their God, as it is said, "And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes" (Ex. 14:10). Moses beheld the anguish of Israel, and arose to pray on their behalf. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: "Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward" (Ex. 14:15).

אָמַר מֹשֶׁה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, הָאוֹיְבִים אַחֲרֵיהֶם וְהַיָּם מִלִּפְנֵיהֶם, לְאֵי זֶה דֶּרֶךְ יִסְעוּ?״ מֶה עָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא? שָׁלַח לְמִיכָאֵל הַשַּׂר, וְנַעֲשָׂה חוֹמַת שֶׁל אֵשׁ בֵּין הַמִּצְרִיִּים לְיִשְׂרָאֵל. וְהַמִּצְרִיִּים הָיוּ רוֹצִין לָבֹא אַחַר יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא הָיוּ יְכוֹלִין לָבֹא מִפְּנֵי הָאֵשׁ. וְרָאוּ הָעֶלְיוֹנִים בְּצָרָתָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל כָּל אוֹתָהּ הַלַּיְלָה, וְלֹא נָתְנוּ שֶׁבַח וְהוֹדָאָה לֵאלֹהֵיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְלֹא קָרַב זֶה אֶל זֶה כָּל הַלָּיְלָה״.

Moses spake before the Holy One, blessed be He, saying: Sovereign of all worlds ! The enemy is behind them, and the sea is in front of them, which way shall they go forward? What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He sent Michael, and he became a wall of fire between (Israel and) the Egyptians. The Egyptians desired to follow after Israel, but they are unable to come (near) because of the fire. The angels beheld the misfortune of Israel all the night, and they uttered neither praise nor sanctification to their Creator, as it is said, "And the one came not near the other all the night" (Ex. 14:20).

אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמֹשֶׁה: ״מֹשֶׁה, נְטֵה יָדְךָ עַל הַיָּם וּבְקָעֵהוּ!״. וְנָטָה מֹשֶׁה אֶת יָדוֹ עַל הַיָּם, וְרָאוּ הַמַּיִם פָּנָיו שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְרָגְזוּ וְחָלוּ וְיָרְדוּ לַתְּהוֹמוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״רָאוּךָ מַּיִם יָחִילוּ״.

The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: Moses! "Stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it" (Ex. 14:16). "And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea" (Ex. 14:21), but the sea refused to be divided. What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He looked at the sea, and the waters saw the face of the Holy One, blessed be He, and they trembled and quaked, and descended into the depths, as it is said, "The waters saw thee, O God; the waters saw thee, they were afraid: the depths also trembled" (Ps. 77:16).

רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: בַּיּוֹם שֶׁאָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא ״יִקָּווּ הַמַּיִם״, בּוֹ בַּיּוֹם נִקְפְּאוּ הַמַּיִם וְנַעֲשׂוּ שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֲלָקִים כְּנֶגֶד שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר שְׁבָטִים, וְעָשׂוּ חוֹמוֹת מַיִם בֵּין שְׁבִיל לִשְׁבִיל. וְהָיוּ רוֹאִין אֵלּוּ אֶת אֵלּוּ, וְרָאוּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְהַלֵּךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם, וְעִקְּבוֹת רַגְלָיו לֹא רָאוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״בַּיָּם דַּרְכֶּךָ וּשְׁבִילְךָ בְּמַיִם רַבִּים וְעִקְּבוֹתֶיךָ לֹא נוֹדָעוּ״.

Rabbi Eliezer said: || On the day when He said, "Let the waters be gathered together" (Gen. 1:9), on that very day were the waters congealed, and they were made into twelve valleys, corresponding to the twelve tribes, and they were made into walls of water between each path, and (the people) could see one another, and they saw the Holy One, blessed be He, walking before them, but the heels of His feet they did not see, as it is said, "Thy way was in the sea, and thy paths in the great waters, and thy footsteps were not known" (Ps. 77:20).

רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר: הָלְכוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לָבֹא אֶל יַם סוּף וְחָזְרוּ לַאֲחוֹרֵיהֶם יְרֵאִים שֶׁלֹּא יָשׁוּבוּ הַמַּיִם עֲלֵיהֶם. וְשִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל בִּנְיָמִין רָצָה לִיכָּנֵס, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״בִּנְיָמִין צָעִיר רֹדֵם״. יוֹרְדִים הִתְחִילוּ שִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל יְהוּדָה שֶׁרוֹגְמִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״שָׂרֵי יְהוּדָה רִגְמָתָם״. וְקָפַץ נַחְשׁוֹן תְּחִלָּה וְיָרַד לַיָּם וְקִדְּשׁוּ שְׁמוֹ הַגָּדוֹל לְעֵינֵי הַכֹּל. וּבְמֶמְשֶׁלֶת יַד בֶּן יְהוּדָה נַחְשׁוֹן נִכְנְסוּ כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל אַחֲרֵיהֶם לַיָּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הָיְתָה יְהוּדָה לְקָדְשׁוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל מַמְשְׁלוֹתָיו״ שֶׁל יְהוּדָה. וְהָיוּ הַמִּצְרִיִּים רָצִים לָבֹא אַחַר יִשְׂרָאֵל וְחוֹזְרִין לַאֲ��וֹרֵיהֶן יְרֵאִים שֶׁלֹּא יָשׁוּבוּ הַמַּיִם עֲלֵיהֶם. מֶה עָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא? נִרְאָה לִפְנֵיהֶם כְּאִישׁ רוֹכֵב סוּסְיָא נְקֵבָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לְסֻסָתִי בְּרִכְבֵי פַרְעֹה דִּמִּיתִיךְ רַעְיָתִי״. וְהַסּוּס שֶׁהָיָה רוֹכֵב פַּרְעֹה רָאָה סוּסְיָא נְקֵבָה וְרָץ אַחֲרֶיהָ וְנִכְנַס אַחֲרֵיהֶם בַּיָּם.

Rabbi 'Aḳiba said: The Israelites advanced to enter the Reed Sea, but they turned backwards, fearing lest the waters would come over them. The tribe of Judah sanctified His great Name, and entered the sea first, and under the dominion of the hand likewise of the sons of Judah (did all Israel enter the sea after them), as it is said, "Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion" (Ps. 114:2). The Egyptians desired to follow after Israel, but they turned backwards, fearing lest the waters would return over them. What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He appeared before them like a man riding on the back of a mare, as it is said, "To a steed in Pharaoh's chariots" (Cant. 1:9). The horse on which Pharaoh rode saw the mare (of God), and it neighed and ran and entered the sea after it.

וּכְשֶׁרָאוּ הַמִּצְרִיִּים לְפַרְעֹה שֶׁנִּכְנַס לַיָּם, נִכְנְסוּ כֻּלָּם אֶל הַיָּם אַחֲרֵיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּרְדְּפוּ מִצְרַיִם וַיָּבֹאוּ אַחֲרֵיהֶם כֹּל סוּס פַּרְעֹה״. מִיָּד שָׁבוּ הַמַּיִם וְעָלוּ וַיְכַסּוּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיָּשֻׁבוּ הַמַּיִם וַיְכַסּוּ אֶת הָרֶכֶב״.

The Egyptians saw that Pharaoh had entered the sea, and all of them entered the sea after him, as it is said, "And the Egyptians pursued after them" (Ex. 14:23). Forth-with the waters returned, and covered them, as it is said, "And the waters returned, and covered || the chariots, and the horsemen" (Ex. 14:28).

בֶּן עַזַּאי אוֹמֵר: הַכֹּל בְּמִדָּה. כְּשֵׁם שֶׁנִּתְגָּאוּ הַמִּצְרִיִּים עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהִשְׁלִיכוּ הַיְּלָדִים לַיְּאוֹרָה, כָּךְ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הִשְׁלִיךְ אוֹתָם לַיָּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״שִׁירוּ לַה' כִּי גָאֹה גָּאָה, סוּס וְרֹכְבוֹ רָמָה בַיָּם״.

Ben 'Azzai said: Everything is (judged according to the principle of) measure (for measure); just as the Egyptians were proud, and cast the male children into the river, so the Holy One, blessed be He, cast them into the sea, as it is said, "I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed triumphantly; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea" (Ex. 15:1).

רַבִּי שִׁילָא אוֹמֵר: כָּל הַיְלָדִים שֶׁהִשְׁלִיכוּ הַמִּצְרִים לַיְּאוֹר לֹא מֵתוּ, אֶלָּא הַיְּאוֹר הָיָה מַפְלִיט אוֹתָם לְמִדְבַּר מִצְרַיִם. וְהָיָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מֵבִיא סֶלַע בְּפִי כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד וְסֶלַע בְּצִדּוֹ. וְהַסֶּלַע שֶׁהָיָה בְּפִיו הָיָה מֵינִיק אוֹתָם וּמֵסִיךְ אוֹתָם שֶׁמֶן כְּחַיָּה שֶׁהִיא מַסֶּכֶת אֶת בְּנָהּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֵּנִקֵהוּ דְבַשׁ מִסֶּלַע וְשֶׁמֶן מֵחַלְמִישׁ צוּר״. וּכְשֶׁבָּאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל רָאוּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְהִכִּירוּהוּ וְקִלְּסוּהוּ וְקִדְּשׁוּהוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״זֶה אֵלִי וְאַנְוֵהוּ״.

Rabbi Shela said: All the children (of the Israelites) whom the Egyptians cast into the river did not die, for the river cast them up, and threw them into the desert of Egypt. The Holy One, blessed be He, brought a rock to the mouth of each one, and a rock to the side of each one. The rock which was at his mouth was feeding him with honey and milk, and the rock which was at their side was anointing them with oil, like a lying-in woman who anoints her son, as it is said, "And he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock" (Deut. 32:13). When Israel came to the sea, they saw the Holy One, blessed be He, and they recognized Him, and praised Him, and sanctified Him, as it is said, "This is my God, and I will praise him" (Ex. 15:2).

רַבִּי לֵוִי בַּר סִימוֹן אוֹמֵר: בַּיּוֹם הָרְבִיעִי חָנוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל שְׂפַת הַיָּם מִנֶּגֶד לַיָּם, וְהָיוּ הַמִּצְרִיִּים צָפִים כְּנוֹדוֹת עַל פְּנֵי הַמַּיִם. וְיָצָא רוּחַ צָפוֹן וְהִשְׁלִיךְ אוֹתָם וְהֵבִיא אוֹתָם, וְאָמְרוּ: ״אֵלּוּ פַּלְטֵרִין שֶׁל פַּרְעֹה, וְאֵלּוּ הַנּוֹגְשִׂים״. הָיוּ מַכִּירִין כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיַּרְא יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת מִצְרַיִם מֵת עַל שְׂפַת הַיָּם״.

Rabbi Simon said: On the fourth day the Israelites encamped by the edge of the sea, and to the south of the sea. The Egyptians were floating like skin-bottles upon the surface of the waters, and a north wind went forth and cast them opposite the camp of Israel, and the Israelites went and saw them, and they recognized them, and they said: These (here) were the officials of the palace of Pharaoh, and those (there) were the taskmasters, and they recognized every one, as it is said, "And Israel saw the Egyptians || dead upon the sea shore" (Ex. 14:30).

רַבִּי רְאוּבֵן אוֹמֵר: הַכֹּל הוֹלֵךְ אַחַר הָרֹאשׁ. אֵימָתַי? בִּזְמַן שֶׁהָרוֹעֶה תּוֹעֶה הַצֹּאן תּוֹעִין אַחֲרָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״עַל חַטֹּאת יָרָבְעָם בֶּן נְבָט אֲשֶׁר חָטָא וַאֲשֶׁר הֶחֱטִיא אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל״. וְאֵימָתַי? בִּזְמַן שֶׁהָרוֹעֶה טוֹב הַצֹּאן הוֹלְכִים אַחֲרָיו וְהוֹלְכִין בְּדֶרֶךְ יְשָׁרָה, וּמֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם רוֹעֶה נֶאֱמָן הָיָה וְהִתְחִיל לְשׁוֹרֵר וּלְזַמֵּר לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְהָלְכוּ כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל אַחֲרָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אָז יָשִׁיר מֹשֶׁה וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל״. רָאֲתָה מִרְיָם, הִתְחִילָה לְשׁוֹרֵר וּלְזַמֵּר לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְהָלְכוּ כָּל הַנָּשִׁים אַחֲרֶיהָ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַתִּקַּח מִרְיָם הַנְּבִיאָה אֲחוֹת אַהֲרֹן אֶת הַתֹּף בְּיָדָהּ״. וְכִי מִנַּיִן הָיָה לָהֶם תֻּפִּים וּמְחוֹלוֹת? אֶלָּא לְעוֹלָם הַצַּדִּיקִים יוֹדְעִין וּמִתְפַּיְּיסִין וּמַבְטִיחִין שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה לָהֶם נִסִּים וּגְבוּרוֹת. עַד יְצִיאָתָן מִמִּצְרַיִם הִתְקִינוּ לָהֶם תֻּפִּים וּמְחוֹלוֹת.

Rabbi Reuben said: The entire body follows the head, and when the shepherd goes astray the sheep go astray after him, as it is said, "For the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and wherewith he made Israel to sin" (1 Kings 15:30). When the shepherd is good, all follow after him. Moses began to sing, and to utter praises before the Holy One, blessed be He, and all Israel followed him, as it is said, "Then sang Moses and the children of Israel" (Ex. 15:1). Miriam began to sing and to utter praises, before the Holy One, blessed be He, and all the women followed her, as it is said, "And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel… and all the women went out after her" (Ex. 15:20). Whence did they have timbrels and chorus in the wilderness? But the righteous always know and conciliate (God), and are assured that the Omnipresent, blessed be He, performs for them miracles and mighty deeds. Before (the time of) their departure from Egypt they prepared for themselves timbrels and chorus.

אָמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, אֵלּוּ שֶׁקָּמוּ עָלֵינוּ לְאַבְּדֵנוּ מֵעוֹלָמְךָ, וְכָל הַקָּמִים עָלֵינוּ כְּאִלּוּ קָמִים עָלֶיךָ. כַּלֵּם בִּגְאוֹן עֻזְּךָ וּבַחֲרוֹן אַפְּךָ יֹאכְלֵמוֹ כַּקַּשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״יֹאכְלֵמוֹ כַּקַּשׁ״.

Israel spake before the Holy One, blessed be He: Sovereign of all worlds! These (Egyptians) who have arisen to come against us to destroy us from Thy world, as well as all who rise up against us, are as though they had risen up against Thee. Let the majesty of Thy might and Thy fierce anger consume them like stubble, as it is said, "And in the greatness of thine excellency thou overthrowest them that rise up against thee: thou sendeth forth thy wrath, it consumeth them as stubble" (Ex. 15:7).

וְאָמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, אֵין כָּמוֹךָ כְּמַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת, וְכֵן כָּל כִּנּוּיֵי שְׁמָן אֵלִים – מִיכָאֵל, גַּבְרִיאֵל. ״מִי כָמֹכָה בָּאֵלִים ה'״. וְעָנָה פַּרְעֹה אַחֲרֵיהֶם שִׁיר וְשִׁבְחָה בִּלְשׁוֹן מִצְרַיִם. אֵין כָּתוּב אֶלָּא ״מִי כָּמֹכָה נֶאְדָּר בַּקֹּדֶשׁ נוֹרָא תְהִלֹּת״, שֶׁמַּלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת מְקַלְּסִין אוֹתוֹ מִלְמַעְלָה וּתְהִלּוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִלְּמַטָּה. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״וְאַתָּה קָדוֹשׁ יוֹשֵׁב תְּהִלּוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל״.

Israel spake before the Holy One, blessed be He: Sovereign of all worlds ! There is none like Thee among the ministering angels, and therefore all their descriptive names (contain part of the word) Elohim ("God"); e.g. Michael || and Gabriel. "Who is like unto thee among the divine creatures, O Lord?" (Ex. 15:11). Pharaoh replied after them with the tongue, saying: "Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?" (ibid.). "Fearful in praise" is not written here, but "fearful in praises"; for the praises of the ministering angels are on high, and the praises of Israel are (uttered on earth) below. "Fearful in praises, doing wonders" (ibid.), and thus Scripture says, "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel" (Ps. 22:3).

״נָטִיתָ יְמִינְךָ״, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לָאָרֶץ: קַבְּלִי חֲלָלִים הַלָּלוּ. אָמְרָה לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, הַמַּיִם הָרְגוּ אוֹתָם וְהַמַּיִם יִבְלְעוּ אוֹתָם! אָמַר לָהּ: הַפַּעַם הַזֹּאת קַבְּלִי אֶת אֵלֶּה. פַּעַם אַחֶרֶת, אוֹתָם שֶׁיִּהְיוּ נֶהֱרָגִים עָלַיִךְ אֲנִי מַשְׁלִיךְ אוֹתָם לַיָּם. וְאֵלּוּ הֵם: כְּשֶׁנֶּהֱרַג סִיסְרָא וְכָל מַחֲנֵהוּ, הִשְׁלִיךְ אוֹתָם לַיָּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״נַחַל קִישׁוֹן גְּרָפָם״. אָמְרָה לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, מַה בָּשָׂר וָדָם שֶׁלֹּא הָרַג אֶלָּא אֶחָד נִתְאָרַרְתִּי בַּעֲבוּרוֹ, אִם אֲנִי מְקַבֶּלֶת אֶת כָּל הָאוֹכְלוֹסִין הַלָּלוּ, עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה! אָמְרָה לוֹ: רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, תֵּן לִי שְׁבוּעַת יְמִינְךָ שֶׁאֵין אַתָּה תּוֹבֵעַ אוֹתָם מִיָּדִי. וְנָטָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יַד יְמִינוֹ וְנִשְׁבַּע שֶׁאֵינוֹ תּוֹבֵעַ אוֹתָם מִיָּדָהּ. ״נָטִיתָ יְמִינְךָ תִּבְלָעֵמוֹ אָרֶץ״, וְאֵין יְמִינְךָ אֶלָּא שְׁבוּעָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״נִשְׁבַּע ה' בִּימִינוֹ״ וְכוּ'. מִיָּד פָּתְחָה הָאָרֶץ וּבָלְעָה אוֹתָם. וּכְשֶׁשָּׁמְעוּ כָּל מַלְכֵי הָאָרֶץ יְצִיאַת מִצְרַיִם וּקְרִיעַת יַם סוּף, רָגְזוּ וְחָלוּ וּבָרְחוּ מִמְּקוֹמָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״שָׁמְעוּ עַמִּים יִרְגָּזוּן, חִיל אָחַז יֹשְׁבֵי פְּלָשֶׁת״.

"Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them" (Ex. 15:12). The Holy One, blessed be He, told the earth to bury the slain. (The earth) said unto Him: Sovereign of all worlds! The waters have killed them, let the waters swallow them. He answered (the earth) saying: On this occasion receive them; on another occasion such that be killed by thee in the future will I cast into the sea, namely, Sisera and all his host, these will I cast into the sea, as it is said, "The river Kishon swept them away, that ancient river" (Judg. 5:21 ). (The earth) continued, saying to Him: Give me the oath by Thy right hand, that Thou wilt not claim them at my hand. The Holy One, blessed be He, put forth His right hand, and swore to the earth that He would not claim them, as it is said, "Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them" (Ex. 15:12). All the kings of the earth heard of the departure from Egypt, and the dividing of the Reed Sea; they trembled and feared, and fled from their place, as it is said, "The peoples have heard, they tremble" (Ex. 15:14).

אָמַר מֹשֶׁה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, תֵּן אֵימָתְךָ וּפַחְדְּךָ עֲלֵיהֶם עַד שֶׁיְּהֵא לָהֶם לֵב הָאֶבֶן עַד שֶׁיַּעַבְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל נַחַל אַרְנוֹן, וְיִהְיֶה לִבָּם כָּאֶבֶן עַד שֶׁיַּעַבְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״עַד יַעֲבֹר עַמְּךָ ה'״ וְכוּ'.

Moses spake before the Holy One, blessed be He: Sovereign of all worlds ! Put Thy dread || and Thy fear upon them, that their heart may be as stone, until Israel has passed through the Jordan, as it is said, "Till thy people pass over

״תְּבִיאֵמוֹ וְתִטָּעֵמוֹ בְּהַר נַחֲלָתְךָ״, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמֹשֶׁה: מֹשֶׁה, לֹא אָמַרְתָּ ״תְּבִיאֵנוּ וְתִטָּעֵנוּ״ אֶלָּא ״תְּבִיאֵמוֹ וְתִטָּעֵמוֹ״, וְהַמּוֹצִיא הוּא הַמֵּבִיא. אֶלָּא חַיֶּיךָ, כִּדְבָרְךָ כֵּן יִהְיֶה: בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה אֲנִי מֵבִיא אוֹתָם, וְלֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא אֲנִי נוֹטֵעַ אוֹתָם נֶטַע אֱמֶת שֶׁלֹּא יִנָּטְשׁוּ עוֹד מֵעַל אַדְמָתָם, וְאוֹמֵר: ״ה' יִמְלֹךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד״.

Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance" (Ex. 15:16, 17). Thou shalt bring them in to Thy holy mountain. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: Moses! Thou hast not said, "Bring us in and plant us," but (thou hast said), "Thou shalt bring them in and plant them." The One who brings in, He also brings out. By thy life ! According to thy words so shall it be. In this world I shall bring them in, and in the world to come I will plant them as a true plant which shall not be plucked up out of their land, as it is said, "And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be plucked up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God" (Amos 9:15); and it (also) says, "The Lord shall reign for ever and ever" (Ex. 15:18).