## Or HaChaim on Exodus Chapter 15

###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:1:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:1:1)

**אָז יָשִׁיר.** לֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר ״אָז״, אֶלָּא ״וַיָּשַׁר מֹשֶׁה״ וְגוֹ׳, וְהַדָּבָר מוּבָן כִּי אָז שׁוֹרְרוּ. אָכֵן יְכַוֵּן הַכָּתוּב לְהוֹדִיעֵנוּ הֲכָנַת הַמֻּשָּׂג, כִּי כְּשֶׁנִּכְנְסָה בְּלִבָּם יִרְאַת הָרוֹמְמוּת וְהָאֱמוּנָה הַשְּׁלֵמָה, אָז זָכוּ לוֹמַר שִׁירָה בְּרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**אז ישיר משה, Then Moses began to sing, etc.** It would have sufficed for the Torah to write וישר משה, "Moses sang," without the introduction אז, "then." However, the Torah wanted to tell us of the preparation which resulted in that song of jubilation. After Israel acquired the fear of G'd's Majesty, which in turn resulted in a profound measure of faith both in G'd and in Moses, they were divinely inspired to sing this song of thanksgiving.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:1:2
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:1:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:1:2)

וְאָמְרוֹ **יָשִׁיר** לְשׁוֹן עָתִיד, לְצַד שֶׁאָמַר ״אָז״ חָשׁ הַכָּתוּב שֶׁיִּטְעֶה אָדָם וְיֹאמַר כִּי ״אָז״ מִעֵט שֶׁאֵין שִׁירָה זוֹ יְכוֹלָה לֵאָמֵר זוּלַת אָז, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״יָשִׁיר״, שֶׁיֶּשְׁנָהּ לְשִׁירָה זוֹ גַּם לֶעָתִיד, וְכָל הַבָּא לָשִׁיר שִׁירָה זוֹ לִפְנֵי ה׳ יֶשׁ לְאֵל יָדוֹ. אוֹ יִרְמֹז לַמִּצְוָה שֶׁמִּצְוָה לְאָמְרָהּ תָּמִיד, וּקְבָעוּהָ בִּתְפִלַּת שַׁחֲרִית בְּכָל יוֹם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
The reason the Torah writes ישיר "will sing," instead of שר, sang, something that would be so much more appropriate with the word אז is, that to this day we sing this song daily in our morning prayers. Had the Torah written אז שר משה, we would have assumed that the song was appropriate only for the people who had been present when the sea was split.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:1:3
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:1:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:1:3)

**וַיֹּאמְרוּ לֵאמֹר אָשִׁירָה.** פֵּרוּשׁ, אָמְרוּ זֶה לָזֶה **לֵאמֹר**, פֵּרוּשׁ, שֶׁיֹּאמְרוּ שִׁירָה יַחַד בְּלֹא בְּחִינַת הִשְׁתַּנּוּת וְהַפְרָדָה, עַד שֶׁיִּהְיוּ כְּאִישׁ אֶחָד, הֲגַם הֱיוֹתָם רַבִּים, וְנִתְכַּוְּנוּ יַחַד וְעָשׂוּ כֵן, וְאָמְרוּ **אָשִׁירָה** לְשׁוֹן יָחִיד כְּאִלּוּ הֵם אִישׁ אֶחָד, שֶׁזּוּלַת זֶה הָיוּ אוֹמְרִים נָשִׁירָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**ויאמרו לאמור, אשירה, they said saying: "I will sing, etc."** This means that the Israelites said this to one another. The idea was that they wanted to coordinate their song; they did not want each one to use his own formulation. The fact that they succeeded in this is reflected in the singular "I will sing!"


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:1:4
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:1:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:1:4)

**כִּי גָאֹה גָּאָה וְגוֹ׳.** אֵין לְשַׁבֵּחַ תְּחִלָּה אֶלָּא עַל מַפַּלְתָּן שֶׁל רְשָׁעִים, עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרוֹ (משלי יא:י) ״וּבַאֲבֹד רְשָׁעִים רִנָּה״. וּפֵרוּשׁ אָמְרוֹ **גָאֹה גָּאָה** יְכַוֵּן עַל פַּרְעֹה שֶׁנִּתְגָּאָה גֵּאוּת שֶׁשְּׁמָהּ גֵּאוּת, כִּי דֶּרֶךְ הַגֵּאִים יִתְגָּאוּ עַל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶם, אָדָם עַל אָדָם כַּיּוֹצֵא בּוֹ, וְגַאֲוָתוֹ שֶׁל זֶה אֵינָהּ חֲשׁוּבָה גֵּאוּת כִּי הוּא מִתְגָּאֶה עַל הַשָּׁפֵל. אֲבָל פַּרְעֹה גָאֹה גָּאָה, פֵּרוּשׁ גֵּאוּת שֶׁנִּקְרֵאת כְּפִי הָאֱמֶת גֵּאוּת גָּאָה, כִּי לֹא הֶחְשִׁיב מַאֲמַר עֶלְיוֹן וְאָמַר ״מִי ה׳״. אוֹ יִרְצֶה **גָאֹה גָּאָה** שֶׁהָיְתָה גַּאֲוָתוֹ כְּפוּלָה, סוּס וְרוֹכְבוֹ שֶׁל הַגֵּאֶה רָמָה וְגוֹ׳:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**כי גאה גאה, for He has triumphed gloriously, etc.** As a rule songs of praise should commence with mention of the collapse of G'd's enemies similar to what Solomon said in Proverbs 11,10: ובאבוד רשעים רנה "when the wicked perish there is jubilation." Accordingly, we understand the words גאה גאה as referring to Pharaoh who was so boastful that his very name was "the boastful one." Normally, boastful people consider themselves superior to their peers. Inasmuch as their peers do not amount to much, neither does their own pride. Pharaoh was more presumptious than the average braggart, however, as he thought himself superior even to G'd. This is why Moses wrote גאה גאה, the braggart of all braggarts.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:1:5
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:1:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:1:5)

**עוֹד** יִרְצֶה **גָאֹה גָּאָה** עַל ״ה׳ מָלָךְ גֵּאוּת לָבֵשׁ״ (תהלים צג:א), וְנִתְכַּוְּנוּ לוֹמַר כִּי קוֹדֶם שֶׁעָשָׂה מִשְׁפָּט זֶה הָיְתָה לוֹ בְּחִינַת גַּאֲוָה אַחַת, וּבְאֶמְצָעוּת יָד הַגְּדוֹלָה גָּאֹה גָּאָה. גַּם לִרְמוֹז בֵּין בָּעֶלְיוֹנִים בֵּין בַּתַּחְתּוֹנִים בְּאֶמְצָעוּת דָּבָר זֶה. וּלְדֶרֶךְ זֶה חָסֵר הַנִּסְמָךְ לְרוֹכְבוֹ. וְאוּלַי שִׁעוּר הַכָּתוּב הוּא עַל זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ: ״אָשִׁירָה לַה׳ כִּי גָאֹה גָּאָה״, פֵּרוּשׁ ה׳, וְנִמְשֶׁכֶת עוֹד תֵּבַת ״כִּי גָאֹה גָּאָה״ לְמַטָּה עַל זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ, וּלְאוֹתוֹ שֶׁגָּאֹה גָּאָה סוּס וְגוֹ׳ רָמָה בַיָּם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
We may also understand the expression as analogous to Psalms 93,1 "The Lord is king, He is robed in splendour." As long as G'd had not disposed of Pharaoh He was known simply as גאה, glorious; after G'd disposed of the braggart Pharaoh He assumed an additional dimension of glory, hence גאה גאה. The repetition of the expression גאה may also reflect that G'd is glorious both in the celestial and in the terrestrial spheres. This would explain why no additional subject is appended after the word ורכבו. We may also understand the verse as follows: "I will sing to the Lord because He has proven so glorious; the words כי גאה גאה may also be read together with the rest of the verse, i.e. "He has flung into the sea both the horse and its boastful rider."


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:2:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:2:1)

**עָזִּי וְזִמְרָת וְגוֹ׳.** הִנֵּה סֵדֶר הָעוֹמְדִים לִפְנֵי ה׳ לְשׁוֹרֵר וּלְשַׁבֵּחַ וּלְהִתְפַּלֵּל הוּא לְהַתְחִיל בַּדְּבָרִים הַמֻּשְׂכָּלִים מֵה׳ אֵלָיו וְאַחַר כָּךְ בַּמֻּשְׂכָּל מֵה׳ לַאֲבוֹתָיו, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁמָּצִינוּ שֶׁתִּקְּנוּ אַנְשֵׁי כְּנֶסֶת הַגְּדוֹלָה בְּאָבוֹת – ״אֱלֹהֵינוּ״ וְאַחַר כָּךְ ״אֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ״. וְלָזֶה סִדְּרוּ בְּהַתְחָלַת הַשִּׁיר מַה שֶׁהִגִּיעָם מִטּוּבוֹ, וְאָמְרוּ ״עָזִּי וְזִמְרָת יָהּ וַיְהִי לִי לִישׁוּעָה״, וְהוּא מַה שֶׁנִּתְחַסֵּד ה׳ עִמָּהֶם לְהוֹשִׁיעָם מֵהַצָּרָה שֶׁהָיוּ בָּהּ קֹדֶם שֶׁיַּגִּיעַ הַקֵּץ, וְזֶה הָיָה לְצַד רַחֲמָיו אֲלֵיהֶם, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁכָּתַבְתִּי עִנְיָן זֶה בְּאֹרֶךְ בְּפָרָשַׁת שְׁמוֹת (ג:ז), וּבְפָרָשַׁת וָאֵרָא (ו:ג). וְלָזֶה גָּמְרוּ אוֹמֶר **זֶה אֵלִי** וְאַחַר כָּךְ אָמְרוּ **אֱלֹהֵי אָבִי**, וְהוּא כַּסֵּדֶר עַצְמוֹ שֶׁל כְּנֶסֶת הַגְּדוֹלָה שֶׁקָּבְעוּ לוֹמַר ״אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ״, וְכָאן אָמְרוּ לְשׁוֹן יָחִיד כִּי נַעֲשׂוּ כֻּלָּם כְּאִישׁ אֶחָד, כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי בְּפָסוּק ״וַיֹּאמְרוּ לֵאמֹר״.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**עזי וזמרת כה, "The Lord is my strength and song."** The normal procedure when one composes a song for G'd, praises Him or prays to Him, is to mention first how G'd relates to oneself before mentioning how G'd related to one's ancestors. Thus we find that the men of the Great Assembly who edited our major prayers began the עמידה by first referring to G'd as "our G'd," i.e. the G'd of the petitioner and only afterwards did they define G'd as also the G'd of the patriarchs. The Israelites were similarly motivated when they first referred to what G'd meant to them (each individual Jew), how G'd had proven a Saviour for them in their present situation acting as the merciful G'd (tetragram). They concluded the statement referring to their personal relationship with G'd by saying זה אלי ואנוהו, "this is my G'd and I will glorify Him," and only afterwards did they describe the same G'd in His capacity as the G'd of their fathers. Our sages copied this pattern when they formulated our prayers where we say אלוקינו ואלוקי אבותינו, "our G'd who was already the G'd of our ancestors." I have already explained why the Israelites in this instance chose to describe G'd in the singular as "my G'd" instead of as "our G'd."


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:3:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:3:1)

**ה׳ אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה.** פֵּרוּשׁ, גַּם בְּמִדַּת הָרַחֲמִים עָשָׂה מִלְחָמָה, וְלֹא שֶׁיִּשְׁתַּנֶּה מִפְּנֵי זֶה חָס וְשָׁלוֹם, אֶלָּא ״ה׳ שְׁמוֹ״, עַל דֶּרֶךְ (מלאכי ג:ו) ״אֲנִי ה׳ לֹא שָׁנִיתִי״. אוֹ יִרְצֶה, כִּי בַּזְּמַן עַצְמוֹ שֶׁעָשָׂה מִלְחָמָה עִם הַמִּצְרִיִּים, בַּזְּמַן עַצְמוֹ הָיָה מִתְנַהֵג בְּמִדַּת הָרַחֲמִים עִם יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי בְּמַאֲמָרוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ (שמות ו:ב) ״וַיְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים אֶל מֹשֶׁה וְגוֹ׳ אֲנִי ה׳״:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**ה׳ איש מלחמה, "The Lord is a man of war," etc.** This means that even when G'd operates with the attribute of Mercy He is still "a man of war." The fact that He conducts war does not imply that He abandons the attribute of Mercy. His name remains י־ה־ו־ה and all that this implies just as we find in Maleachi 3,6: כי אני ה׳ לא שניתי, "for I the merciful G'd have not changed, etc." G'd has made this plain also at the beginning of פרשת וארא where He told Moses אני השם, I am the attribute of Mercy.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:5:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:5:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:5:1)

**תְּהֹמֹת וְגוֹ׳.** לְפִי מַה שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי (שמות י״ד:כ״א) כִּי חֲצִי הַיָּם נִרְקַע וַחֲצִי נִבְקַע, וְכָל חֵלֶק יִקָּרֵא תְּהוֹם לְצַד הַפְלָגַת רִבּוּיוֹ וּשְׁנֵיהֶם יְכַסְיֻמוּ, וְעַיֵּן בְּפָסוּק ״קָפְאוּ תְהֹמֹת״ (שמות ט״ו:ח) בְּאֹפֶן אַחֵר:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**תהומות יכסיומו, the deeps covered them, etc.** The reason the Torah speaks of תהום in the plural must be viewed in light of my comment on 14,21 that half the sea was frozen whereas the other half was split. Each part was originally part of what is called תהום. Read what I have written on 15,8: "the deeps were congealed, etc."


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:5:2
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:5:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:5:2)

**יָרְדוּ בִמְצוֹלוֹת.** יִרְמֹז אֶל אוֹתָם שֶׁהָיוּ מִשְׁתַּדְּלִים לַעֲלוֹת מֵהַיָּם בְּכֹחַ מְלֶאכֶת הַשִּׁיטָה, שֶׁהוֹרִידָם לְעִמְקֵי מַיִם, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי בְּפָסוּק (שמות יד:כז) ״וַיְנַעֵר״ וְגוֹ׳:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**ירדו במצולות, they descended into the depths, etc.** This is an allusion to all those champion swimmers who made strenuous efforts to escape from the depths as I have discussed in connection with 14,27.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:6:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:6:1)

**יְמִינְךָ ה׳ וְגוֹ׳.** פֵּרוּשׁ, כְּשֶׁתִּהְיֶה מִדַּת הָרַחֲמִים מִתְחַזֶּקֶת לַעֲשׂוֹת דְּבַר מִשְׁפָּט, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ **נֶאְדָּרִי בַּכֹּחַ**, אָז יְמִינְךָ ה׳ שֶׁהִיא מִדַּת הָרַחֲמִים עַצְמָהּ תִּרְעַץ אוֹיֵב. אוֹ יִדְרוֹשׁ מִסּוֹפוֹ לְרֹאשׁוֹ, אֵימָתַי יְמִינְךָ ה׳ נֶאְדָּרִי בַּכֹּחַ? כְּשֶׁיְּמִינְךָ ה׳ תִּרְעַץ אוֹיֵב, אָז תִּפּוֹל אֵימָתָה וָפַחַד עַל כָּל הַנִּבְרָאִים מִפְּנֵי שִׁמְךָ הָאַדִּיר.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**ימינך ה׳ נאדרי בכח, "Your right hand O Lord is glorious in power,"** The Israelites marvelled at the power displayed by G'd even when operating as the attribute of Mercy. Even **that** attribute "dashed the enemy to pieces." Alternatively, one may read this verse "backwards." "When is Your right hand visibly powerful? When it dashes the enemy to pieces." Then the fear of You overcomes people as described in verse 16.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:7:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:7:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:7:1)

**וּבְרֹב גְּאוֹנְךָ.** פֵּרוּשׁ, לְצַד שֶׁהִזְכִּיר כִּי יַעֲרֹץ קָמָיו, הוֹסִיף לוֹמַר כִּי עוֹד לָהֶם שֶׁיַּהַרְסֵם בְּרֹב גְּאוֹנוֹ, וְהַכַּוָּנָה שֶׁלֹּא יַהַרְסֵם הֲרִיסָה קַלָּה בְּלֹא הַרְעָשָׁה אֶלָּא בְּמוֹפְתִים וּבְאוֹתוֹת יַעֲשֶׂה בָּהֶם מִשְׁפָּט כָּתוּב. וְאָמְרוֹ **תְּשַׁלַּח חֲרוֹנְךָ יֹאכְלֵמוֹ כַּקַּשׁ**, פֵּרוּשׁ, לֹא שֶׁאַתָּה צָרִיךְ לְרֹב גְּאוֹנְךָ לַהֲרוֹס אוֹתָם, אֶלָּא הֲגַם שֶׁיָּכוֹל אַתָּה לִשְׁלֹחַ חָרוֹן אֶחָד שֶׁלְּךָ וְיִהְיֶה נֶאֱבָד כַּקַּשׁ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**וברב גאונך תהרוס קמיך, "And in the greatness of Your glory You destroy those who rise up against You."** The verse tells us that G'd performs miracles to underline that it is He who destroys His opponents. In order that we should not think that G'd has to extend Himself in order to accomplish this, the Israelites added: "even when You merely send forth Your wrath they already turn to straw."


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:8:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:8:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:8:1)

**נֶעֶרְמוּ וְגוֹ׳ נִצְּבוּ וְגוֹ׳ קָפְאוּ וְגוֹ׳.** פֵּרוּשׁ, כְּנֶגֶד שָׁלֹשׁ מְלָאכוֹת שֶׁעָשָׂה ה׳ בַּיָּם: הָא׳, שֶׁנִּבְקְעוּ וְנִתְקַבְּצוּ כֻּלָּם יַחַד וְלֹא נִשְׁאֲרוּ מְפֻזָּרִים בַּמָּקוֹם הַפָּנוּי, אֶלָּא נַעֲשׂוּ כֻּלָּן עֲרֵמָה אַחַת לַעֲשׂוֹת מִדְּרַךְ רַגְלֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. ב׳, הַמֵּימוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ מִתְקַבְּצִים וּבָאִים וְשׁוֹפְכִים בַּיָּם מֵהַצְּדָדִין הָיוּ נִצָּבִים בַּמָּקוֹם שֶׁנֶּעֶרְמוּ הָרִאשׁוֹנִים, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ **נִצְּבוּ כְמוֹ נֵד נוֹזְלִים.** פֵּרוּשׁ, אוֹתָם שֶׁנּוֹזְלִים וּבָאִים נִצְּבוּ כְּמוֹ נֵד. ג׳, לְפִי מַה שֶׁהֶעֱלֵינוּ (שמות י״ד:כ״א) כִּי לֹא נֶחְלַק כָּל הַיָּם כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִצְטָרְכוּ לָרֶדֶת לְעִמְקֵי הַיָּם, חֵלֶק שֶׁלֹּא נֶחְלַק נִקְפָּא וְנַעֲשָׂה כַּיַּבָּשָׁה, וּכְנֶגֶד זֶה אָמַר ״קָפְאוּ״ וְגוֹ׳. וּכְבָר כָּתַבְתִּי כִּי הַהַקְפָּאָה קָדְמָה לַבִּקּוּעַ, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ **קָפְאוּ תְהֹמוֹת בְּלֶב יָם**, קוֹדֶם שֶׁנִּקְרַע קָפָא לִבּוֹ וְנִשְׁאַר מִלִּבּוֹ וָמַעְלָה מַיִם שֶׁלֹּא קָפְאוּ וְנִבְקְעוּ. וְטַעַם אָמְרוֹ **תְהֹמוֹת** לְשׁוֹן רַבִּים, לְדִבְרֵיהֶם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (שמות רבה כד,א) שֶׁאָמְרוּ שֶׁהַיָּם נִקְרַע לִשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר קְרָעִים, וְכָל מָקוֹם וּמָקוֹם שֶׁנִּקְרַע קָפָא שָׁם הַתְּהוֹם, וּכְנֶגֶד כֻּלָּם אָמַר **תְהֹמוֹת.**

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**נערמו מים, גצבו כמו נר, "the waters were piled up, stood upright like a wall."** This verse describes three distinct activities performed by G'd when He split the sea. 1) The waters split and remained in one place as a heap so as to make a path available for the Israelites to cross. 2) The waters which would normally replace the newly created vacuum in the centre of the sea did not spill into that vacuum but piled up along the sides forming a veritable wall. 3) As already mentioned in my comments on 14,21 it was not the entire depth of the sea which was split, but the deeper layers of water were frozen so as to enable the Israelites to march through relatively high ground and not to have to descend to what had been the bottom of the sea. The expression קפאו, "were frozen already," reflects what we have said earlier that the freeze of the lower waters in the sea preceded the splitting of the upper levels of the sea. The expression לב ים refers to the lower level of the sea which froze. The reason that the Israelites again used the word תהומות in the plural was that G'd made them travel along twelve separate lanes, each tribe having a lane to itself as we know from *Shemot Rabbah* 24,1.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:9:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:9:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:9:1)

**אָמַר אוֹיֵב וְגוֹ׳.** טַעַם לַחֲזָרַת דְּבָרִים אֵלּוּ, וְהֵם עַצְמָן שֶׁאָמְרוּ בִּתְחִלַּת הַשִּׁירָה ״מַרְכְּבוֹת פַּרְעֹה וְחֵילוֹ יָרָה בַיָּם״ וְגוֹ׳, נִתְכַּוְּנוּ לְשׁוֹרֵר עַל אוֹפֶן סֵדֶר הַמַּעֲשֶׂה שֶׁנִּתְחַכֵּם ה׳ עֲשׂוֹת בִּמְלֶאכֶת הַיָּם לְיִשְׂרָאֵל לְנֵס, וְצִוָּה ה׳ שֶׁיַּעֲמֹד הַנֵּס כְּשׁוּרָתוֹ וּכְמִנְהָגוֹ לָאוֹיֵב, שֶׁבָּזֶה טָעָה וְחָשַׁב לִרְדֹּף כִּי יַשִּׂיג וִיחַלֵּק שָׁלָל, שֶׁזּוּלַת זֶה לֹא הָיָה רוֹדֵף דֶּרֶךְ יָם וְלֹא הָיוּ מוּבְטָחִים מִמֶּנּוּ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**אמר אויב ארדף אשיג, The enemy had said to himself: "I will pursue, I will overtake, etc."** The reason that the Israelites repeated what we knew already about the Egyptians pursuing the Israelites was to extol the manner in which G'd performed the miracle at the sea. G'd had succeeded in lulling the Egyptians into a sense of false security so that they did not consider the pursuit into the sea as hazardous.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:9:2
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:9:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:9:2)

**אֲחַלֵּק שָׁלָל.** הִנֵּה הָרָשָׁע חָשַׁב עֲשׂוֹת שְׁלֹשָׁה דְּבָרִים: א׳ שָׁוֶה בְּכֻלָּן וְהוּא לִשְׁלוֹל כָּל שְׁלָלָם, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ ״אֲחַלֵּק שָׁלָל״. ב׳ שֶׁיִּקַּח אוֹתָם לַעֲבָדִים כְּבָרִאשׁוֹנָה, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ **תִּמְלָאֵמוֹ נַפְשִׁי**, פֵּרוּשׁ תִּתְמַלֵּא נַפְשִׁי מֵהֶם כְּשֶׁאֶחְזוֹר לִכְבּוֹשׁ אוֹתָם לַעֲבָדִים. גַּם רָמַז שֶׁיּוֹסִיף לַעֲשׂוֹת בָּהֶם חֶפְצוֹ בְּעִנּוּי יוֹתֵר מִמַּה שֶׁעָבַר. ג׳ לַהֲרוֹג מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן וְזִקְנֵיהֶם וּגְדוֹלֵיהֶם, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ **אָרִיק חַרְבִּי** וְגוֹ׳, וְאָמְרוֹ **תּוֹרִישֵׁמוֹ יָדִי** יִרְצֶה עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (שמות רבה א,לא) בְּפָסוּק (שמות ב:טו) ״וַיְבַקֵּשׁ לַהֲרֹג אֶת מֹשֶׁה״ שֶׁבִּקֵּשׁ לְהָרְגוֹ בְּסַיִף וְלֹא שָׁלְטָה בּוֹ וְכוּ׳, וְהוּא שֶׁאָמַר מֹשֶׁה (שמות יח:ד) ״וַיַּצִּלֵנִי מֵחֶרֶב פַּרְעֹה״, לָזֶה אָמַר אוֹיֵב ״תּוֹרִישֵׁמוֹ יָדִי״ כִּי תַּשִּׂיג יָדוֹ מַה שֶׁלֹּא הִשִּׂיג מִקּוֹדֶם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**אחלק שלל, "I will divide the spoils."** The wicked Pharaoh intended to accomplish three things. 1) Something in which all would share equally, i.e. division of the spoils. 2) He wanted to take the Jews back as slaves as they had been before. He said: "my lust shall be satisfied upon them." He referred to the sense of accomplishment he would feel once he captured the Israelites to make them slaves again. He also hinted that he would treat them at will and oppress them more harshly than previously. 3) He planned to kill Moses and Aaron as well as the elders and leaders of the people. This is what he referred to when he said (in the words of the Israelites) "I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them." We have an example of the previous Pharaoh attempting to kill Moses by the sword (Exodus 2,15) where *Shemot Rabbah* 1,31 describes Pharaoh as unsuccessfully attempting to kill Moses by the sword.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:10:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:10:1)

**נָשַׁפְתָּ בְרוּחֲךָ וְגוֹ׳.** שָׁלֹשׁ פּוּרְעָנִיּוֹת כְּנֶגֶד שָׁלֹשׁ מַחְשָׁבוֹת, כְּנֶגֶד מַה שֶׁאָמַר ״אֲחַלֵּק שָׁלָל״ – כִּסָּמוֹ יָם, בָּזֶה הֲגַם שֶׁיְּמַלְּטֶנּוּ סוּס וְיָשׁוּט בַּיָּם הִנֵּה שְׁלָלוֹ אָבַד, וּכְנֶגֶד הָעִנּוּי שֶׁחָשַׁב עַל הַיְּהוּדִים כָּרָמוּז בְּאָמְרוֹ ״תִּמְלָאֵמוֹ נַפְשִׁי״, גַּם מַה שֶׁחָשַׁב לְהָרִיק חַרְבּוֹ, אָמַר **צָלְלוּ** וְגוֹ׳, פֵּרוּשׁ מֵתוּ, וְלֹא מֵתוּ תֵּכֶף וּמִיָּד אֶלָּא ״צָלְלוּ כַּעוֹפֶרֶת בְּמַיִם אַדִּירִים״. וְאָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (מכילתא) שֶׁהָיוּ הַמַּיִם מַעֲלִים אוֹתָם עַד לַשָּׁמַיִם וּמוֹרִידִים אוֹתָם עַד הַתְּהוֹם וְהָיוּ מֵתִים בַּאֲרִיכוּת זְמַן, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ **כַּעוֹפֶרֶת בְּמַיִם אַדִּירִים** יְכַוֵּן לִשְׁנֵי דְּבָרִים: הָאֶחָד הוּא הַשְּׁקִיעוּת, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ ״צָלְלוּ כַּעוֹפֶרֶת״, וְהַשֵּׁנִי הוּא מְנִיעָתָם מִלָּמוּת תֵּכֶף וּמִיָּד, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ ״בְּמַיִם אַדִּירִים״ וְהֵם יַעֲלוּם מִמַּעַל וְיִמְנְעוּם מִמָּוֶת תֵּכֶף וּמִיָּד, שִׁיר וְשֶׁבַח לֵאלֹהִים עַל נִסָּיו וּמוֹפְתָיו.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**נשפת ברוחך, "You blew with Your wind, etc."** This verse enumerates three disasters corresponding to three of Pharaoh's intentions. The reason that Pharaoh (and the Egyptians) were covered by the sea was because he had said: "I will divide the spoils." Even though under normal conditions the horses could have saved themselves by swimming, he was made to lose his own most treasured property, his horses. He and the Egyptians died a slow death as retribution for their declared intention to oppress the Jews even more harshly and to kill their leaders. This is why the Israelites referred to צללו. The *Mechilta* describes the words כעופרת like lead, as describing how the individual Egyptians were tossed up and down repeatedly by the waves. In their song the Israelites spoke about במים אדירים, powerful waters, to describe two features. A) the descent, i.e. צללו כעופרת; B) their inability to die at once; this is alluded to in the words במים אדירים, the powerful waves which kept tossing the Egyptians up into the air. Israel praised the Lord in recognition of all these phenomena.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:11:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:11:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:11:1)

**מִי כָמוֹכָה בָּאֵלִם וְגוֹ׳.** פֵּרוּשׁ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁאָנוּ רוֹאִים מִצְרַיִם שֶׁהוּא הַשַּׂר מִצְרַיִם שְׁמוֹ מֵת, מִי יִדְמֶה לַה׳ בִּבְנֵי אֵלִים?

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**מי כמוך באלים השם, "Who is comparable to You amongst the deities O Lord?"** Israel describes that they had seen the guardian angel of Egypt die; hence they could say that absolutely no celestial force compares to the Lord our G'd.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:11:2
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:11:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:11:2)

**עוֹד** נִרְאֶה עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (חגיגה טז,א) מֶלֶךְ בָּשָׂר וָדָם כְּשֶׁנֶּחְבָּא בְּתוֹךְ הָעָם אֵינוֹ נִכָּר כִּי הוּא זֶה, מַה שֶׁאֵין כֵּן אֱלֹהֵינוּ אוֹת הוּא בִּצְבָאוֹ, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ **מִי כָמוֹכָה** אֲפִילוּ כְּשֶׁאַתָּה בָּאֵלִים בְּלֹא שׁוּם הֶכֵּר הַמְּלוּכָה רָשׁוּם הוּא.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Another dimension of this verse is based on an observation in *Chagigah* 16 where our sages draw a comparison between G'd and terrestrial kings. The latter is unrecognisable when he chooses to hide amongst his people (soldiers). G'd is never unrecognisable when He is surrounded by His armies. The word באלים means that even when G'd is amongst celestial forces, He is immediately recognised as such.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:11:3
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:11:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:11:3)

**עוֹד** יִרְצֶה עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (מכילתא) מֶלֶךְ בָּשָׂר וָדָם מוֹרָאוֹ עַל הָרְחוֹקִים יוֹתֵר מֵהַקְּרוֹבִים, אֲבָל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מוֹרָאוֹ עַל הַקְּרוֹבִים יוֹתֵר וְכוּ׳, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ **מִי כָמֹכָה בָּאֵלִם** כִּי שָׁם מַכִּירִים יוֹתֵר, אֲבָל בַּתַּחְתּוֹנִים אֵימָתַי מִי כָמוֹכָה – כְּשֶׁאַתָּה נֶאְדָּר בַּקֹּדֶשׁ, כְּשֶׁאַתָּה נוֹתֵן חוֹזֶק וְאֶדֶר לִבְחִינַת הַקְּדֻשָּׁה, כְּמַעֲשֵׂה אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם אֲשֶׁר הִשְׁפִּיל גְּאוֹן רֶשַׁע וְהֶאֱדִיר הַקְּדֻשָּׁה:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
According to the *Mechilta* there is still another meaning to this comparison between G'd and other powers; whereas a king of flesh and blood inspires greater fear amongst his distant subjects than amongst those near at home, the reverse is true of G'd as we know from Leviticus 10,3: בקרובי אקדש. The composer of this song bemoans the fact that in the "distance," i.e. in the celestial regions, G'd is revered at all times, whereas here on earth He is revered only when He displays such miracles as the splitting of the sea, i.e. when He is נאדר בקדש.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:11:4
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:11:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:11:4)

**עוֹד** יִרְצֶה עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרוֹ ״נְהַר דִּינוּר נָגֵד וְנָפִיק מִן קֳדָמוֹהִי״ (דניאל ז:י), וְאָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (חגיגה יג:) כִּי מִזֵּיעַת הַחַיּוֹת שֶׁמְּזִיעִים בְּעֵת שֶׁאוֹמְרִים קָדוֹשׁ יוֹצֵא נְהַר דִּינוּר, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ **נֶאְדָּר בַּקֹּדֶשׁ**, פֵּרוּשׁ כְּשֶׁמְאַדְּרִים אוֹתוֹ בַּקֹּדֶשׁ, אָז לְצַד הַמּוֹרָא שֶׁנִּכְנָס בַּחַיּוֹת כְּשֶׁמְהַלְּלִים אוֹתוֹ עוֹשֶׂה הַנּוֹרָאוֹת הַהוּא שֶׁמְּזִיעִים נְהַר דִּינוּר.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Still another meaning of the comparison drawn by the composer of this song is based on Daniel 7,10 where the waters of the mythical river Dinor are described as the product of the sweat of the *Chayot* [permanent kind of angels Ed.] which proclaim the holiness of G'd and to whom this is an awe-inspiring experience, i.e. נאדר בקודש (compare *Chagigah* 13).


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:11:5
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:11:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:11:5)

**נוֹרָא תְהִלֹּת עֹשֵׂה וְגוֹ׳.** פֵּרוּשׁ, יֵשׁ לַכֹּל לִירֹא מֵהַגִּיד תְּהִלּוֹתָיו, לְצַד שֶׁמַּעֲשָׂיו כֻּלָּם פֶּלֶא, וּמִי הוּא שֶׁיִּצְטַדֵּק בִּתְהִלּוֹתָיו, כִּי אֵין אָדָם יַשִּׂיג דַּעַת הַמֻּפְלָא לְשַׁבֵּחַ בּוֹ, וְאֵיךְ יְהַלְלוֹ בְּמַדְרֵגָה קְטַנָּה כֵּיוָן שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ בְּחִינָה מֻפְלֵאת וּמְכֻסֵּת גְּדוֹלָה וַעֲצוּמָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**נורא תהלות עשה פלא, "fearful in praises doing wonders?"** Everyone ought to be afraid to tell His praises seeing His deeds are so wonderful that no one is able to acknowledge them adequately. How dare one even express an appreciation of G'd's wonderful works knowing one's own inadequacy?


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:12:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:12:1)

**נָטִיתָ יְמִינְךָ וְגוֹ׳.** רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה אָמְרוּ בְּסִפְרָא (מכילתא) מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיָה הַיָּם זוֹרְקָן לַיַּבָּשָׁה וְהַיַּבָּשָׁה לַיָּם. אָמְרָה הַיַּבָּשָׁה לַיָּם: וּמָה בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁלֹּא קִבַּלְתִּי אֶלָּא דָּמוֹ שֶׁל הֶבֶל יָחִיד נֶאֱמַר לִי ״אֲרוּרָה״ וְגוֹ׳, עַתָּה אֵיךְ אוּכַל לְקַבֵּל כָּל הָאוֹכְלוּסִים? עַד שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּע לָהּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁאֵינוֹ מַעֲמִידָהּ בְּדִין, דִּכְתִיב ״נָטִיתָ יְמִינְךָ״ וְגוֹ׳, עַד כָּאן. וְכֵן תִּרְגֵּם יוֹנָתָן בֶּן עוּזִיאֵל. מִכָּאן אַתָּה רוֹאֶה כִּי לֹא רָצָה הַיָּם לְקַבְּלָן וְהָיָה פּוֹלְטָן לַיַּבָּשָׁה, וְלֹא כֵן מָצִינוּ שֶׁאָמְרוּ בִּפְסָחִים קי״ח, וְזֶה לְשׁוֹנָם: אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְשָׂרוֹ שֶׁל יָם ״פְּלֹט אוֹתָם לַיַּבָּשָׁה״. אָמַר לְפָנָיו: ״רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, יֵשׁ עֶבֶד שֶׁנּוֹתֵן לוֹ רַבּוֹ מַתָּנָה וְחוֹזֵר וְנוֹטְלָהּ מִמֶּנּוּ?״ אָמַר לוֹ: ״אֶתֵּן לְךָ אֶחָד וּמֶחֱצָה״ וְכוּ׳. אָמַר לוֹ: ״יֵשׁ עֶבֶד שֶׁתּוֹבֵעַ רַבּוֹ?״ אָמַר לוֹ: ״נַחַל קִישׁוֹן יִהְיֶה עָרֵב״. מִיָּד פְּלָטָן לַיַּבָּשָׁה וּבָאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְרָאוּ אוֹתָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיַּרְא יִשְׂרָאֵל״ וְגוֹ׳, עַד כָּאן. הֲרֵי שֶׁאָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה בְּפֵרוּשׁ שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה הַיָּם חָפֵץ לְפָלְטָן, אִם כֵּן אַחַר כָּךְ כְּשֶׁהֶחֱזִירָתָם לוֹ הָאֲדָמָה לָמָּה לֹא שָׂמַח לְקַבְּלָם? גַּם לָמָּה הֻצְרַךְ ה׳ לִפְרֹעַ לוֹ מִמַּחֲנֵה סִיסְרָא, וַהֲרֵי שֶׁלְּךָ לְפָנֶיךָ – יַחֲזִירֵם לוֹ בְּעַצְמָן וְלֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ עָרֵב?

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**נטית ימינך תבלעימו ארץ, "when You inclined Your right hand the earth swallowed them."** *Mechilta* describes the sea as tossing the Egyptians onto the dry land and the earth as tossing them right back into the sea. The dry land argued with the sea saying: "considering that I was cursed by G'd for having merely absorbed a single human being's blood, i.e. Abel's, at the time, what will G'd do to me if I will accept an entire population of human beings unless G'd swears an oath to me not to demand an accounting from me? [this is based on the meaning of "right hand" often being equated with an oath. Ed.] Targum Yonathan also explains our verse in this sense. We learn from here that the sea did not want to accept the Egyptians and tossed them out. This contradicts something we have learned in *Pessachim* 118. G'd is quoted as saying to the guardian angel of the sea: "spit them out onto the dry land." The guardian angel of the sea retorted: "Lord of the universe, is there then a servant who has been given a gift by his master (food for the fish according to Rashi) and the master subsequently demands the gift back?" To this argument G'd replied: "I will give you a gift worth one and a half times the original gift if you give Me back the original gift." The sea replied: "can a servant take a master to court?" G'd answered: "I will guarantee My promise by giving you the river Kishon as a pledge." Upon hearing this the sea immediately disgorged the bodies of the Egyptians onto the dry land and the Israelites were able to see that they were dead. It is clear from that story in the Talmud that the sea was quite unwilling to toss the Egyptians onto the dry land. Why then was the sea not overjoyed when the dry land refused the bodies of the Egyptians and tossed them back into the sea? Besides, why did G'd have to repay the sea from the camp of Siserah (900 chariots versus the Egyptians' 600 chariots, compare Judges 4,13)? Why did He not repay the sea personally so that He did not have to give the sea the river Kishon as a pledge?


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:12:2
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:12:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:12:2)

**עוֹד** קָשֶׁה, הֲלֹא עֵינֵינוּ רוֹאוֹת כִּי אֵין הַיָּם סוֹבֵל בְּתוֹכוֹ אָדָם וּבְהֵמָה אֶלָּא פּוֹלְטָן לַיַּבָּשָׁה, שֶׁזְּכוּרַנִי פְּעָמִים שֶׁטָּבְעוּ בְּנֵי אָדָם בַּיָּם וְהִשְׁלִיכָן לַיַּבָּשָׁה, מֵהֶם בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא מֵהֶם אַחַר יוֹם אוֹ יוֹמַיִם, וְלִדְבְרֵיהֶם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה הַיָּם חָפֵץ שֶׁיִּהְיוּ עוֹמְדִים אֶצְלוֹ. וְרָאִיתִי לְרַשִׁ״י וְרַשְׁבַּ״ם שֶׁפֵּרְשׁוּ שֶׁטַּעֲנַת הַיָּם הוּא לְצַד פַּרְנָסַת דְּגֵי הַיָּם שֶׁיִּמְצְאוּ מָזוֹן. וְצָרִיךְ לָדַעַת אִם כֵּן לָמָּה לֹא קִבְּלָם כְּשֶׁזְּרָקָתָן הַיַּבָּשָׁה וְהָיוּ לִמְזוֹן הַדָּגִים. וְהָיָה נִרְאֶה לְיַשֵּׁב כִּי אָז הָיוּ סְרוּחִים וְאֵינָם רְאוּיִים לְמַאֲכַל דָּגִים, וְזֶה דִּבְרֵי דִּחוּי כִּי מִן הַסְּתָם לֹא יִתְעַכֵּב ה׳ לוֹמַר לַיַּבָּשָׁה לְקָבְרָם מִדִּין ״לֹא תָלִין״ (דברים כא:כג), וְגַם אֵין צֹרֶךְ בַּדָּבָר לְעַכֵּב קְלוֹנָם עַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה אֶלָּא עַד שֶׁיָּמוּתוּ, וְאַחַר מִיתָה מַה צֹּרֶךְ לְהִתְעַכֵּב בְּלֹא קְבוּרָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Another difficulty is the fact that generally speaking the sea does not retain either people or animals but tosses them on to the beaches either on the day they drown or a few days later. According to the view of our sages the sea would prefer to retain these bodies; Rashi and Rashbam suggest that the sea needs these bodies in order to provide food for the fish. If all this is true we must try and understand why, in the case of the Egyptians, the sea made strenuous efforts to get rid of these bodies instead of retaining them as food for the fish? Perhaps the bodies which the earth tossed back had already begun to decompose and would not only have polluted the sea but had also become unfit as food for the fish. This does not seem a satisfactory answer seeing that G'd would not have prevented the earth from providing a burial for the dead Egyptians if only in order to satisfy the commandment in Deut. 21,23 not to allow a person who has been hanged to remain unburied overnight. The shame of the people G'd had executed did not have to be perpetuated beyond the time of their death so that they should serve as a frightening example.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:12:3
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:12:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:12:3)

וַהֲגַם שֶׁאֵין דַּרְכֵּנוּ בְּחִבּוּר זֶה לְפָרֵשׁ מַאֲמָרֵי רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה, עִם כָּל זֶה הָעִנְיָן הוּא צֹרֶךְ מַשְׁמָעוּת הַכָּתוּב, וּכְדֵי שֶׁלֹּא נֹאמַר מִדְרָשִׁים חֲלוּקִים, נִרְאֶה לְהַתְאִימָם עַל פִּי מַאֲמָרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (מכילתא על יד:ל) וְכָתַבְנוּ אוֹתוֹ בְּפָסוּק ״וַיַּרְא יִשְׂרָאֵל וְגוֹ׳ מֵת עַל שְׂפַת הַיָּם״ כִּי רָאוּ אוֹתָם בִּגְמַר מִיתָה בְּעוֹדָם קְצָת חַיִּים כְּדֵי שֶׁיַּכִּירוּ וְאָז וְכוּ׳, וּלְפִי דִּבְרֵיהֶם אֵלּוּ זָרַח אוֹר שְׁנֵי הַמַּאֲמָרִים, כִּי מַה שֶׁשָּׁאַל הַיָּם שֶׁלֹּא יִפְלֹט אוֹתָם הוּא לְצַד כִּי ה׳ אָמַר אֵלָיו לִפְלֹט אוֹתָם חַיִּים לְסִבַּת הַנִּזְכָּר לְשַׂמֵּחַ יְדִידָיו שֶׁיַּכִּירוּ הַמִּצְרִיִּים יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיִרְאוּ וּתְכַסֵּם בּוּשָׁה, כָּאָמוּר בְּדִבְרֵיהֶם הַפְלָגַת נֵס זֶה, וַהֲגַם שֶׁלֹּא רָמוּז בְּמַאֲמָרָם זֶה עִנְיַן הַפְּלִיטָה שֶׁתִּהְיֶה בְּעוֹדָם חַיִּים, אַף עַל פִּי כֵן רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה סוֹמְכִים לְמַה שֶׁיָּדוּעַ בֵּינֵיהֶם, וְלָזֶה טָעַן הַיָּם ״יֵשׁ עֶבֶד שֶׁנּוֹתֵן״ וְכוּ׳, הַכַּוָּנָה כִּי חָפֵץ הוּא לִגְמֹר הַמִּצְוָה בְּמַכְעִיסֵי אֵל. וְתִמְצָא כִּי כָל שָׂרֵי מַעְלָה וְכָל בְּרוּאֵי מַעְלָה וּמַטָּה חֲפֵצִים וַחֲשֵׁקִים לַעֲשׂוֹת מִצְוֹת ה׳, כִּי הֵם אֶבְיוֹנִים בַּדָּבָר לְצַד שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם מִצְוֹת, וְכֵן תִּמְצָא שָׁם בִּפְסָחִים בְּאוֹתָהּ סוּגְיָה כִּי גַּבְרִיאֵל בִּקֵּשׁ מֵה׳ לְהַצִּיל אַבְרָהָם מִכִּבְשַׁן הָאֵשׁ, וְאָמְרוּ שָׁם כִּי ה׳ לֹא קִפֵּחַ שְׂכָרוֹ וְאָמַר לוֹ תִּזְכֶּה וְתַצִּיל שְׁלֹשָׁה מִבְּנֵי בָנָיו וְגוֹ׳ עַד כָּאן, הֲרֵי כִּי זְכוּת הוּא לַמַּלְאָכִים לַעֲשׂוֹת חֶסֶד לַצַּדִּיקִים וּלְאוֹהֲבֵי עֶלְיוֹן, וּכְמוֹ כֵן הָיָה חָפֵץ הַיָּם שֶׁתִּגְמֹר יְצִיאַת נַפְשָׁם בַּיָּם וְלֹא בַּיַּבָּשָׁה וְלָזֶה צָעַק לִבּוֹ, וְהֵשִׁיבוֹ אֵל עֶלְיוֹן כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁעָשָׂה לְגַבְרִיאֵל, כִּי לֶעָתִיד יַמְצִיא לוֹ זְכוּת אַחֵר לְאַבֵּד עַם רָשָׁע חֵלֶק וּמֶחֱצָה, וְהוּא מַחֲנֵה סִיסְרָא שֶׁהוּא יַעֲשֶׂה בָּהֶם מִצְוַת אִבּוּד רְשָׁעִים.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
It is not generally our custom to explain aggadic sayings of our sages. In this instance, however, it is necessary to do so in order to understand the plain meaning of the verse, and in order not to allow the impression that different *Midrashim* are at odds with one another. We have already referred to a *Mechilta* on 14,30 where the Torah told us that the Israelites saw the Egyptians dead on the beaches of the sea. They beheld the Egyptians in their last gasps just before they died completely. This was in order for the Egyptians to see that the Israelites had been saved from the onrushing waters of the returning sea. This comment by the *Mechilta* throws light on the two apparently contradictory *Midrashim.* When the sea asked G'd not to have to disgorge the Egyptians (to give back the gift) this was because G'd had ordered the sea to toss the Egyptians out while they were still alive. G'd's reason was to cause joy to His friends the Israelites whereas the Egyptians would feel ashamed when they noticed that the Israelites had been saved. Although there is no direct mention of the fact that the Egyptians still had some life in them when they were tossed ashore, our sages relied on traditions handed down to them throughout the generations. In view of this, the argument of the sea that a master does not demand return of a gift bestowed on a servant makes good sense. The sea was anxious to be allowed to complete its task of killing those who had angered the Lord. All of G'd's creatures, be they in the celestial or the terrestial spheres, share the desire to carry out G'd's commandments seeing that compared to human beings they have so few opportunities to carry out G'd's commandments. You will find on the same folio in *Pessachim* that the Talmud tells of how anxious the angel Gabriel was to be the instrument which saved Abraham from the fiery furnace of Nimrod, and that G'd did not withhold his reward allowing Gabriel to save three other human beings (Chanayah, Mishael, and Azaryah) as a reward for his volunteering to save Abraham. This teaches us that it is considered a meritorious deed for angels to perform deeds of loving kindness for the righteous. The sea was similarly motivated and that is why it objected to being asked to disgorge the Egyptians prematurely. When G'd offered to compensate the sea by allowing it to acquire the merit of drowning Siserah's 900 chariots when the time would be ripe, this was certainly a fair compensation.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:12:4
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:12:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:12:4)

**עוֹד** יֵשׁ טַעַם בְּטַעֲנַת הַיָּם שֶׁהָיָה חָפֵץ שֶׁתִּגָּמֵר מִיתָתָם בַּיָּם לָקַחַת כָּל כֹּחוֹת הַחִיּוּנִיּוֹת שֶׁהֵם כָּל הַנְּפָשׁוֹת שֶׁל הָעָם, כִּי מִטֶּבַע נַפְשׁוֹת הָעַמִּים לַעֲמֹד בִּמְקוֹם מִיתָתָן, כְּאָמְרוֹ (קהלת ג:יט) ״וְרוּחַ הַבְּהֵמָה הַיּוֹרֶדֶת הִיא לְמַטָּה לָאָרֶץ״, וְהָעוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת נִמְשְׁלוּ לַבְּהֵמוֹת, וְכִי תֵצֵא נַפְשָׁם בַּיָּם יִזְכֶּה הַשַּׂר בָּהֶם לִבְחִינוֹת הַמּוּשָּׂגוֹת אֶצְלוֹ מֵהָעִנְיָן. וְלָזֶה כְּשֶׁאָמַר אֵלָיו לְפָלְטָן חַיִּים, שֶׁאָז תִּהְיֶה הָאָרֶץ זוֹכָה בַּדָּבָר, כִּי קוֹנִים מְקוֹמָן בִּמְקוֹם הַנָּחָתָם יוֹרְדִים שָׁמָּה, צָעַק לִבּוֹ ״יֵשׁ עֶבֶד״ וְכוּ׳ עַד שֶׁעָנָהוּ רַבּוֹ כִּי יִתֵּן לוֹ בַּעֲדָם וְכוּ׳, פֵּרוּשׁ בְּנֵי אָדָם חַיִּים כְּמוֹת אֵלּוּ, וּפֵרַט לוֹ בְּדוֹמִין לְאֵלּוּ וְשָׁאַב חִיּוּתָם מֵהֶם שֶׁהוּא עִקַּר חֶשְׁקוֹ לֹא בַּגּוּף. וְלָזֶה אַחַר שֶׁפְּלָטָם וְיָצְתָה נַפְשָׁם עַל שְׂפַת הַיָּם וּזְרָקָתָם הָאֲדָמָה לַיָּם, לֹא רָצָה לְקַבְּלָם כִּי אֵינוֹ מִטִּבְעוֹ, וְהָאָרֶץ הִיא הַמְכַסֵּית עַל בָּנֶיהָ אֲשֶׁר לֻקְּחוּ מִמֶּנָּה, וְהִכְרִיחָהּ ה׳ לְקַבְּלָם כִּי לָהּ נוֹגֵעַ הַדָּבָר.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
The sea had another reason for asking that the Egyptians be deprived of all vestiges of life while they were in the sea. It is the nature of the souls of the Gentiles to remain wherever their bodies died as we know from Kohelet 3,19 where Solomon tells us that the "souls" of the beasts descend into the bowels of the earth. Idol worshipers are compared to animals and when they happen to die while in the sea the guardian angel of the sea acquires their souls. The concern of the sea was therefore that it did not want the earth (dry land) to acquire these "souls" rather than its own guardian angel. The sea's feelings were reflected when it exclaimed: "is there such a thing as a master taking back a gift?" G'd therefore replied that at a future date He would compensate the sea handsomely. G'd meant that He would give the "sea" i.e. the river Kishon, live bodies who would drown therein. The sea had never been interested in the bodies, only in the so-called souls. Seeing this was so, it did not want the dead bodies the earth was tossing at it as the sea is not a natural habitat for dead bodies. On the other hand, earth generally is the habitat for dead bodies seeing that the bodies of human beings are composed of earth as the primary raw material. G'd therefore forced Earth to receive the bodies of the dead Egyptians, seeing it was no more than natural.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:12:5
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:12:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:12:5)

וְלֹא תַּקְשֶׁה לְדַרְכֵּנוּ זֶה מִמַּה שֶׁאָמְרוּ שָׁם בִּפְסָחִים (פסחים קיח,ב) כִּי כְּשֶׁפָּרַע ה׳ לַיָּם פָּתְחוּ דָּגִים שֶׁבַּיָּם וְאָמְרוּ ״וֶאֱמֶת ה׳ לְעוֹלָם״ עַד כָּאן, אִם כֵּן לָהֶם נוֹגֵעַ הַדָּבָר. וְאוּלַי כִּי בְּעֵת אֲשֶׁר יַחְפֹּץ הַיָּם בְּקַבָּלָתָם בְּתוֹכוֹ, שֶׁהוּא בִּזְמַן שֶׁהֵם חַיִּים, הָיוּ הַדָּגִים נֶהֱנִים מֵהֶם בֵּינֵי וּבֵינֵי קֹדֶם שֶׁיָּמוּתוּ, וְאָז יַשְׁלִיכֵם הַיָּם וְאֵין לָהֶם עוֹד מֵהֶם מָזוֹן, וְעַל זְמַן פַּרְנָסָתָם אָמְרוּ שִׁירָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Do not ask that according to the Talmud in *Pessachim* the fish opened their mouths thanking G'd when G'd paid off the sea, proving that they were very interested in the bodies of the dead soldiers. It is possible that when the sea receives fully alive human bodies the fish derive some benefit therefrom. Once the bodies die the fish are no longer interested in them. The song of the fish was in appreciation of their food supply.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:12:6
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:12:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:12:6)

וְרָאִיתִי מִי שֶׁנִּתְעַצֵּם בְּטַעֲנַת הַיָּם ״יֵשׁ עֶבֶד״ וְכוּ׳ – הֲלֹא יַד עֶבֶד כְּיַד רַבּוֹ, וְאֵין בָּזֶה קִיהוּי, כִּי הַיָּם טַעֲנָתוֹ נְכוֹנָה עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם (תענית כה,א): מִשָּׁמַיִם מֵיהַב יָהֲבֵי, מִשְׁקַל לָא שָׁקְלֵי, וְעַל אַדְנוּת אֲדוֹנוֹ הוּא אוֹמֵר, וְכִי קָרָה מִקְרֶה זֶה לְאֵיזֶה עֶבֶד מֵעַבְדֵי ה׳ שֶׁנָּתַן לוֹ רַבּוֹ וְחָזַר וְכוּ׳, וְלָזֶה לֹא אָמַר ״יֵשׁ אָדוֹן שֶׁנּוֹתֵן וְכוּ׳ וְחוֹזֵר״ וְכוּ׳, כִּי זוֹ אֵינָהּ טַעֲנָה – יֵשׁ וָיֵשׁ, וְאַדְרַבָּה יַד עֶבֶד כְּיַד רַבּוֹ, וּכְאִלּוּ לֹא נָתַן, אֶלָּא דְּבָרָיו הֵם לְרַבּוֹ כִּי אֵינוֹ מִתְנַהֵג כֵּן עִם עֲבָדָיו.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:15:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:15:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:15:1)

**אָז נִבְהֲלוּ וְגוֹ׳.** אָמְרוֹ ״אָז״ לוֹמַר כִּי אֵינוֹ בַּזְּמַן שֶׁדִּבֵּר בּוֹ עַד עַתָּה, שֶׁהוּא זְמַן שֶׁל הַנִּכְנָסִים לָאָרֶץ, אֶלָּא עַל זְמַן בִּיאַת גּוֹאֲלֵנוּ. וְלָזֶה אָמַר ״אָז נִבְהֲלוּ אַלּוּפֵי אֱדוֹם״, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (במדבר כד:יח) ״וְהָיָה אֱדוֹם יְרֵשָׁה״, וְגַם אָז יָחוּל זְמַן לִזְכּוֹת בְּמוֹאָב וְעַמּוֹן. וְלָזֶה אָמַר **אֵילֵי מוֹאָב יֹאחֲזֵמוֹ רָעַד**, וְטַעַם שֶׁלֹּא הִזְכִּיר עַמּוֹן, כִּי גַּם הוּא מֵאָב, פֵּרוּשׁ, עִם בִּתּוֹ בָּא, וְאָז גַּם כֵּן נִזְכֶּה בְּכָל הַנִּשְׁאָר מֵהַכְּנַעֲנִי, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ ״נָמֹגוּ כֹּל יֹשְׁבֵי כְנָעַן״. וְאָמַר **יֹשְׁבֵי**, לוֹמַר שֶׁיִּטָּהֲרוּ בָּהֶם אֲפִלּוּ שְׁאָר הָעַמִּים. וְטַעַם אָמְרוֹ לְשׁוֹן עָבָר כִּי דְּבַר ה׳ כְּאִלּוּ נִתְקַיֵּם וְהָיָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**אז נבהלו אלופי אדום, Then the chiefs of Edom were frightened.** The word אז refers does not refer to what happened at this time, but to what will happen when the final redemption of the Jewish people is at hand. The same is true of the prophecy of Bileam concerning Edom being laid waste (Numbers 24,18). The same applies to the feelings of Moab and Ammon whose lands will be appropriated by Israel in that future. The reason that Ammon is not mentioned separately in the song the Israelites sang after crossing the sea, although it too was the product of Lot's daughter sleeping with him is, that it will share the general fate of the land of the Canaanites which Israel had not captured up to that time. The Torah therefore speaks of the ישבי כנען, people living in Canaan at the time though they might not have a legitimate claim on that land. The reason the Torah uses the past tense is to assure us that this future is as assured as if it had already happened.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:16:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:16:1)

**תִּפֹּל וְגוֹ׳ עַד וְגוֹ׳.** פָּסוּק זֶה וְשֶׁלְּאַחֲרָיו יְדַבֵּר כָּל אֶחָד עַל שְׁתֵּי הַכְנָסוֹת לָאָרֶץ, אַחַת בִּימֵי מֹשֶׁה וְאַחַת בִּימֵי הַמָּשִׁיחַ, וְלָזֶה אָמַר הָעִנְיָנִים כְּפוּלִים.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**הפול עליהם אימתה ופחד, "Terror and dread will fall upon them, etc."** Both this verse and the one following it refer to two separate conquests of the Holy Land, one during the period of Moses/Joshua and the other at the time when the Messiah will arrive. This is the reason the author of the song appears to repeat what he says.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:18:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:18:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:18:1)

**ה׳ יִמְלֹךְ וְגוֹ׳.** טַעַם שֶׁלֹּא אָמְרוּ ״ה׳ מָלַךְ״, אָמְרוּ הֵם עַצְמָם הַטַּעַם ״כִּי בָא״ וְגוֹ׳, פֵּרוּשׁ, לְצַד שֶׁלֹּא נַעֲשָׂה הַמִּשְׁפָּט אֶלָּא בְּאוּמָּה אַחַת, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ **כִּי בָא סוּס פַּרְעֹה** וְגוֹ׳, כִּי לֹא יֻקַּח מִזֶּה הַכְחָשַׁת כָּל הָאֱלֹהוֹת אֲשֶׁר אוּמּוֹת אוֹתָם יַעַבְדוּ, וְלָזֶה אֵין מַלְכוּתוֹ נִכֶּרֶת לְעוֹלָם. מַה שֶׁאֵין כֵּן לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, כִּי יַעֲשֶׂה ה׳ מִשְׁפָּט בְּכָל הַגּוֹיִם, אָז יִהְיֶה ה׳ לְמֶלֶךְ עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ ״ה׳ יִמְלֹךְ״.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**ה׳ ימלך לעולם ועד, "The Lord will rule for ever and ever."** The author implies that the reason he did not speak about the Lord having reigned in the past is because of the challenge to G'd's rule described in verse 19. Inasmuch as G'd has exacted retribution from only one nation which has not recognised His sovereignty in the world it would be inappropriate to extol G'd as having ruled in the past. **כי בא סוס פרעה, "For the horses of Pharaoh came, etc."** The fact that G'd disposed of the challenge represented by Pharaoh was not yet proof of the impotence of all the powers which compete with G'd on earth and which different nations worship. G'd's true sovereignty will be established only when He deals with **all** competing deities.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:18:2
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:18:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:18:2)

**אוֹ** יִרְצֶה טַעַם אָמְרוֹ **יִמְלֹךְ** וְלֹא מָלַךְ, כִּי ״בָא סוּס פַּרְעֹה״ וְגוֹ׳, פֵּרוּשׁ, כֻּלָּם הָיוּ בַּטְּבִיעָה כְּסוּס אֶחָד, וְהַכַּוָּנָה בָּזֶה כִּי לֹא נִמְלַט מֵהֶם עַד אֶחָד, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁיִּטְבַּע אָדָם אֶחָד יִטְבְּעוּ כֻלָּם. וְהֵן אֱמֶת, אִם הָיָה מַגִּיד לָעוֹלָם הַפְלָגַת וְעוֹצֶם הַנֵּס לְהַכִּיר הָעוֹלָם גְּדֻלַּת תִּגְבֹּרֶת פְּאֵר נִצָּחוֹן וְהוֹד יְסוֹד אֱמוּנָתֵנוּ, אֲשֶׁר כָּל שׁוֹמְעָיו יִתְלַהֲבוּ וְיֹאמְרוּ: הָבוּ יְקָר כִּי הוּא זֶה אֲדוֹנֵינוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ, וּמֵעַתָּה יִהְיֶה ה׳ לְמֶלֶךְ, אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא הָלְכוּ בַּיַּבָּשָׁה וְנִמְלְטוּ זוּלַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ ״וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הָלְכוּ״ וְגוֹ׳, וְלָהֶם לֹא יִשְׁמְעוּ הָאֻמּוֹת כִּי הֵם נוֹגְעִים בַּדָּבָר לִהְיוֹתוֹ אֱלֹהֵיהֶם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Another way of understanding the sequence of the words in these two verses plus the fact that G'd is described as sovereign **only in the future** is this: "The Lord will rule only in the future because **all** of Pharaoh's horses and their riders perished as one man. As a result the only ones left to tell about G'd's mighty deeds were the Israelites who were saved in the midst of the sea." Had there been a few Egyptians who had saved themselves and those Egyptians had told the rest of the world of their experiences this would have suitably impressed the world. As it was, only the Israelites who had already recognised G'd's sovereignty were around to tell the tale. This was not enough to convince the pagans.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:22:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:22:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:22:1)

**וַיַּסַּע מֹשֶׁה וְגוֹ׳.** פֵּרוּשׁ, נְסִיעָה זוֹ עַל פִּי מֹשֶׁה נְסָעוּהָ, וּמִכָּאן וָאֵילָךְ עַל פִּי ה׳.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**ויסע משה את ישראל, Moses made Israel move on, etc.** This was the only march which was initiated by Moses. Every subsequent move occurred at G'd's initiative.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:23:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:23:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:23:1)

**וַיָּבֹאוּ מָרָתָה וְגוֹ׳.** צָרִיךְ לָדַעַת לָמָּה לִפְעָמִים יִקְרָא לָהּ מָרָתָה וְלִפְעָמִים מָרָה. וְנִרְאֶה כִּי שֵׁם הַמָּקוֹם הָיָה מָרָתָה, וְהַמַּעְיָן שֶׁל מַיִם שֶׁבּוֹ לֹא הָיָה לוֹ שֵׁם מְיֻחָד.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**ויבאו מרתה, They arrived at Marah, etc.** Why is this place sometimes referred to as Marah and other times as Maratah? Apparently the original name of the oasis was Maratah and the spring it contained did not have a separate name.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:23:2
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:23:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:23:2)

וְאָמַר **וְלֹא יָכְלוּ לִשְׁתּוֹת מַיִם מִמָּרָה**, פֵּרוּשׁ, מֵהַמַּעְיָן שֶׁהָיָה בְּמָרָתָה, מִטַּעַם כִּי מָרִים הֵם. וְאַחַר כָּךְ חָזַר הַכָּתוּב לְגַלּוֹת לְךָ כִּי שֵׁם מָרָה שֶׁאָמַר הוּא שֵׁם שֶׁנִּקְבַּע לַמַּעְיָן הַהוּא אַחַר שֶׁמָּצְאוּ מֵימָיו מָרִים, קְרָאוֹ הַכָּתוּב עַל שֵׁם הֶעָתִיד. וּלְדֶרֶךְ זֶה יָבֹא עַל נָכוֹן אָמְרוֹ **כִּי מָרִים הֵם**, לְצַד שֶׁקְּרִיאַת שֵׁם מָרָה הוּא עַל הֶעָתִיד וְאָז עֲדַיִן לֹא נִקְרָא שְׁמָהּ מָרָה, וּכְאִלּוּ אָמַר ״לִשְׁתּוֹת מַיִם מִמָּרָתָה״, לָזֶה הֻצְרַךְ לוֹמַר **כִּי מָרִים הֵם**, וְהָבֵן.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
The Torah added: "they could not drink the waters of Marah," meaning that the spring itself was now named Marah because its waters were bitter. The name Marah therefore also became the name of the oasis after the Israelites had camped there and G'd had shown Moses how to make the waters of that spring palatable. The words כי מרים הם were an allusion to an experience the Israelites were going to have.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:24:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:24:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:24:1)

**וַיִּלֹּנוּ וְגוֹ׳ לֵאמֹר.** יְסַפֵּר הַכָּתוּב בִּגְנוּתָם כִּי בָּאוּ בְּרִיב, וְאֵין הַכָּתוּב מַקְפִּיד אֶלָּא עַל תְּלוּנוֹתָם, אֲבָל עַל פְּרָט אָמְרָם ״מַה נִּשְׁתֶּה״ לֹא יַקְפִּיד ה׳ אִם הָיוּ אוֹמְרִים כְּדֶרֶךְ שׁוֹאֵל חֶסְרוֹנוֹ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**וילונו העם על משה, The people murmured against Moses, etc.** The Torah criticises the manner in which the people provoked a quarrel. The Torah does not deny the validity of a people asking for drinkable water, i.e. the question: "what are we to drink?" They should have asked for their needs in an appropriate manner.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:26:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:26:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:26:1)

**אִם שָׁמוֹעַ וְגוֹ׳.** פֵּרוּשׁ **אִם שָׁמוֹעַ** לְחוֹק וּמִשְׁפָּט אֲשֶׁר שָׂם כָּאָמוּר בְּסָמוּךְ, תִּזְכּוּ לִשְׁמוֹעַ בְּקוֹל ה׳, פֵּרוּשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ יִתְבָּרַךְ, עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרוֹ (דברים ד:לג) ״הֲשָׁמַע עָם קוֹל אֱלֹהִים״ וְגוֹ׳, וּמְבַשְּׂרֵם שֶׁיִּזְכּוּ לְמַה שֶׁזָּכוּ אַחַר כָּךְ, וַה׳ נָתַן לָהֶם שַׁבָּת וְדִינִים קוֹדֶם (סנהדרין נו:) לְנַסּוֹתָם אִם יִשְׁמְעוּ לְמִצְווֹת אֵלּוּ יְצַוֶּה הַתּוֹרָה כֻּלָּהּ, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ לְמַעְלָה **וְשָׁם נִסָּהוּ**, פֵּרוּשׁ, אִם יַעֲמוֹד בְּקַבָּלַת הַתּוֹרָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**אם שמוע תשמעו לקול ה׳ אלוקיך, "if you will carefully listen to the voice of the Lord your G'd, etc."** This means that if the Israelites would hearken to the statutes and social legislation Moses introduced in the name of G'd immediately after this experience and they would observe them, they would also merit to listen to His other commandments and hear these commandments directly from G'd's mouth. [the reference is to the impending revelation at Mount Sinai. Ed.] In Deut. 4,33 Moses reminded the Israelites of their experience when he asked rhetorically: "Has any nation ever heard the sound of G'd's voice out of the fire and remained alive as you have done?" According to *Sanhedrin* 56 G'd gave the Israelites some of the Sabbath legislation as well as the laws of דינים, jurisprudence, while they were at Marah. The words שם ניסהו, "there He tested them," must be understood as a trial preceding the revelation at Mount Sinai. If the Israelites would prove receptive to the laws revealed at Marah there was reason to believe they would accept the entire Torah at Sinai when the time came.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:26:2
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:26:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:26:2)

וְתִמְצָא שֶׁכָּאן רָמַז הַכָּתוּב אַרְבַּע מִצְווֹת: לִלְמוֹד וּלְלַמֵּד, לִשְׁמוֹר וְלַעֲשׂוֹת. כְּנֶגֶד לִלְמוֹד אָמַר **אִם שָׁמוֹעַ וְגוֹ׳ בְּקוֹל ה׳** – זוֹ תַּלְמוּד תּוֹרָה, וְכָפַל הַשְּׁמִיעָה לַטַּעַם הַנִּזְכָּר, גַּם לִרְמוֹז לָהֶם שֶׁיִּהְיֶה עֵסֶק הַתּוֹרָה בְּחֵשֶׁק גָּדוֹל, שֶׁהֲגַם שֶׁעוֹדֶנּוּ לוֹמֵד יִתְאַוֶּה לִלְמוֹד עוֹד, וְזֶה יַגִּיד שֶׁאֵינוֹ שָׂבֵעַ וְקָץ בְּלִמּוּדוֹ. וּכְנֶגֶד לְלַמֵּד אָמַר **וְהַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינָיו תַּעֲשֶׂה**, עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (נדרים לז,א) מָה אֲנִי בְּחִנָּם אַף אַתָּה בְּחִנָּם, וְשִׁעוּר הַדְּבָרִים הוּא עַל זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ: וְהַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינָיו יִתְבָּרַךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת הוּא עִם בְּרוּאָיו, שֶׁנָּתַן לָהֶם הַתּוֹרָה בְּחִנָּם – תַּעֲשֶׂה גַּם כֵּן אַתָּה. וּכְנֶגֶד מִצְווֹת עֲשֵׂה אָמַר **וְהַאֲזַנְתָּ לְמִצְוֺתָיו**, וּכְנֶגֶד מִצְווֹת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה אָמַר **וְשָׁמַרְתָּ כָּל חֻקָּיו** – לְשׁוֹן שְׁמִירָה הַצּוֹדֶקֶת עַל לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Actually, the Torah alludes to four distinct commandments here, ללמוד וללמד, לשמור ולעשות, to study the law, to teach it, to observe the prohibitions, and to carry out the aspects demanding action. The words: אם שמוע תשמע allude to the duty to study these laws. The repetition implies the demand that one should commit what one has learned to memory. It also suggests that one should grow fond of studying G'd's laws. One should not feel one has already done enough studying. The words: והישר בעיניו תעשה, "you will do what is right in His eyes," refer to the teaching of G'd's laws for free, similar to what we have been told in *Nedarim* 37 that just as Moses did not charge us for teaching the Torah, so we should not charge others for teaching them the Torah. The word ישר refers to G'd who in His goodness gave the Torah to His creatures expecting His creatures in turn to hand it on for free. The words: והאזנת למצותיו, imply carrying out positive commandments, whereas the words: ושמרת כל חוקיו imply not violating negative commandments.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:26:3
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:26:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:26:3)

**אֲשֶׁר שַׂמְתִּי וְגוֹ׳.** טַעַם שֶׁפֵּרַט לוֹמַר ״אֲשֶׁר״ וְגוֹ׳, נִתְכַּוֵּן לְבַל יֹאמְרוּ כִּי אֵינוֹ מַבְטִיחַ אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא לְהָבִיא עֲלֵיהֶם מַחֲלָה, אֲבָל אִם בָּאָה לְזוּלַת, בַּהֲדֵי הוּצָא לָקֵי כְּרָבָא וְאֵין כָּאן הַבְטָחָה, לָזֶה אָמַר ״אֲשֶׁר שַׂמְתִּי בְּמִצְרַיִם״, וּלְכוּ וּרְאוּ מַעֲשֵׂה מִצְרַיִם, שֶׁהֲגַם שֶׁהֵבִיא ה׳ כַּמָּה מַחֲלוֹת הָיָה ה׳ מַגְבִּיל לַמַּכָּה לְבַל תִּגַּע בָּהֶם, הָא לָמַדְתָּ שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ בִּשְׁעַת חֲרוֹן אַף יַפְלִיא ה׳ לָהֶם חַסְדּוֹ וְיַצִּילֵם ה׳.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**אשר שמתי במצרים, "which I put upon the Egyptians, etc."** The reason G'd mentioned that He had brought diseases upon the Egyptians, something we are all aware of, is to prevent us from making an error. If G'd had not referred to the past we could have thought that He only promised not to inflict these diseases upon us, whereas if we contracted them without His active intervention we would not be protected against them. G'd reminds us that just as He made sure we were not infected by the diseases with which He struck the Egyptians so we would remain totally immune to any of the germs which caused these diseases in the Egyptians.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:26:4
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 15:26:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/15:26:4)

**כִּי אֲנִי ה׳ רֹפְאֶךָ.** פֵּרוּשׁ, לְצַד חוֹלָאִים שֶׁאֵינָם בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (כתובות ל,א) הַכֹּל בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם חוּץ מִצִּנִּים וּפַחִים. לָזֶה אָמַר **כִּי אֲנִי ה׳ רֹפְאֶךָ**, פֵּרוּשׁ, הֲגַם שֶׁיִּקְרֶה לְךָ מִקְרֶה מֵהֶם, אֲנִי אֶרְפָּאֲךָ מֵהֶם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**כי אני ה׳ רפאך, "For I the Lord am your Healer."** The Torah here refers to diseases which are not due to Divine intervention such as the common cold contracted due to one's carelessness, etc. (compare *Ketuvot* 30). G'd undertakes to protect us even against such diseases which are not normally controlled by Him if we live according to His precepts.