## Sforno on Exodus Chapter 15

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

**אָז יָשִׁיר.** הִסְכִּים שֶׁיָּשִׁיר.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
אז ישיר, he agreed to sing this song.


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

**כִּי גָאֹה גָּאָה.** לוֹ לְבַדּוֹ הַגֵאוּת לְיַחֵס אֵלָיו עַל הַטּוֹב הַנִּמְצָא, וְלֹא לְפַרְעֹה "הַתַּנִּין הַגָּדוֹל אֲשֶׁר אָמַר לִי יְאֹרִי וַאֲנִי עֲשִׂיתָנִי" (יחזקאל כט:ג).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
כי גאה גאה, He alone is entitled to feel this sense of superiority seeing He is the source of all goodness in the universe. This is in contrast to Pharaoh who boasts about having created the Nile as the source of Egypt’s affluence, (Ezekiel 29.3) a totally spurious claim.


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

**סוּס וְרֹכְבוֹ רָמָה בַיָּם.** סוּס פַּרְעֹה וְרֹכְבוֹ, כְּאָמְרוֹ (תהלים קלו:טו) "וְנִעֵר פַּרְעֹה וְחֵילוֹ בְיַם סוּף":

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
סוס ורוכבו רמה בים, a reference to Pharaoh and his horse. Compare Psalms 136,15 ונער פרעה וחילו בים, “He tossed Pharaoh and his armed might into the Sea.”


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

**עָזִּי וְזִמְרָת יָהּ.** עֻזּוֹ וְזִמְרָתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא **רָמָה בַיָּם** אֶת **סוּס וְרֹכְבוֹ**, כִּי בָּזֶה הֶרְאָה עֻזּוֹ שֶׁהוּא מֶלֶךְ עַל כָּל מְלָכִים, וְשֶׁרָאוּי שֶׁיְּהַלְלוּהוּ הַנּוֹשָׁעִים בְּקוֹל זִמְרָה, שְׂמֵחִים לִהְיוֹת לַעֲבָדִים לְמֶלֶךְ עוֹלָם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
עזי וזמרת י-ה, It is G’d’s glory that He flung Pharaoh’s might into the Sea. By doing this He demonstrated that He is the King of kings, and that it is appropriate that those who have been saved by Him praise Him in poem and song. They should demonstrate their joy at having been elevated to being servants of the true master, the King of the universe.


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

**וַיְהִי לִי לִישׁוּעָה.** וְהוּא אֲשֶׁר רָמָה אֶת הָאוֹיֵב בַּיָּם הָיָה לִי לִישׁוּעָה, כְּאָמְרוֹ (ישעיהו סו:יד) "וְנוֹדְעָה יַד ה' אֶת עֲבָדָיו, וְזָעַם אֶת אוֹיְבָיו".

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויהי לי לישועה, my salvation consisted in the fact that He flung the enemy into the Sea. (compare Isaiah 66,14 “The power of the Lord will be revealed on behalf of His servants; but He shall rage against His foes.”)


###### Sforno on Exodus 15:2:3
[Sforno on Exodus 15:2:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Exodus/r/15:2:3)

**זֶה אֵלִי.** הוּא הַנִּצְחִי וְהַקַּדְמוֹן אֶצְלִי, אֲשֶׁר בְּהֶכְרֵחַ יַעֲלוּ כָּל סִבּוֹת הַנִּפְסָדִים אֵלָיו, וּמִמֶּנּוּ תִּהְיֶה נִצְחִיּוּת הִתְמַדָּתָם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
זה א-לי, He is the eternal original Being as far as I am concerned. He invented or called into existence all perishable phenomena. Any and all phenomena which will endure have been enabled to do so only by His will.


###### Sforno on Exodus 15:2:4
[Sforno on Exodus 15:2:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Exodus/r/15:2:4)

**וְאַנְוֵהוּ.** אֶעֱשֶׂה נָוֶה לְשִׁכְנוֹ בְּתוֹכֵנוּ, וּבוֹ אֶתְפַּלֵּל אֵלָיו בִּלְבַד וְאֶעֱבוֹד כָּרָאוּי לְמֵטִיב וּמֵרִיעַ, כְּאָמְרוֹ (ישעיהו מד:יז) "וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל אֵלָיו וַיֹּאמַר הַצִּילֵנִי כִּי אֵלִי אָתָּה", כִּי אָמְנָם הָעֲבוֹדָה וְהַתְּפִלָּה מְכֻוָּנִים לִמְצֹא חֵן.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ואנוהו, I will erect a suitable residence for Him in our midst. Within that residence I shall pray to Him exclusively and I will serve Him as is befitting to the One Who bestows both goodness and punishes the derelict. (compare Isaiah 44,17. ויתפלל אליו ויאמר הצילני נא כי א-לי אתה, “He prayed to Him, saying: ‘save me for You are my G’d.’”) Both prayer and service (sacrifices, etc.) have as their purpose to find favour in the eyes of the Lord.


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

**אֱלֹהֵי אָבִי.** אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב שֶׁהוֹדִיעַ בְּאָמְרוֹ "אֵל אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל" (בראשית לג:כ), שֶׁהוּא נוֹרָא בְּגָדְלוֹ וּבְהַשְׁגָּחָתוֹ, שֶׁהֵם מִדַּת הָרַחֲמִים וּמִדַּת הַדִּין.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
אלוקי אבי, a reference to the “G’d of Yaakov” who had spoken of א-ל אלוקי ישראל, in Genesis 33,20. Yaakov had meant that G’d is great in His awesomeness, His supervision of the individual fates of His creatures. He had named G’d thus to indicate that G’d combines within Himself both the attribute of love and the attribute of Justice.


###### Sforno on Exodus 15:2:6
[Sforno on Exodus 15:2:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Exodus/r/15:2:6)

**וַאֲרוֹמְמֶנְהוּ.** בְּהִשְׁתַּחֲוָיָה וְהַכְנָעָה, וּבְהוֹדִיעַ לַכֹּל שֶׁהַתַּכְלִית הַמְכֻוָּן לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנוֹ הוּא הַטּוֹב מִכָּל הַתַּכְלִיּוֹת, בִּהְיוֹתוֹ מְרוֹמָם עַל כָּל בְּרָכָה וּתְהִלָּה, כְּעִנְיַן "לַמְּדֵנִי לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנֶךָ כִּי אַתָּה אֱלוֹהָי" (תהלים קמג:י):

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וארוממנהו, I elevate Him by my prostrating myself and humbling myself before Him, as well as by making it known that the purpose of everyone of my endeavours in this life to carry out His will to the best of my ability, consistent with the intellectual faculties granted to me. I acknowledge that His will is always superior and ultimately of the most benefit to His creatures. This is why in the final analysis He is beyond even our best efforts to praise Him and exalt Him. (Nechemyah 9,6).


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

**ה' אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה, ה' שְׁמוֹ.** אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה וּמַכְרִית הָרְשָׁעִים בְּמִדַּת הַדִּין, מִכָּל מָקוֹם ה' שְׁמוֹ בְּמִדַּת רַחֲמִים, כִּי בָּזֶה הוּא נוֹתֵן הֲוָיָה וּמְצִיאוּת לְעוֹלָמוֹ, בִּהְיוֹתוֹ מְכַלֶּה קוֹצִים מִן הַכֶּרֶם שֶׁהֵם מַחֲרִיבֵי עוֹלָם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ה' איש מלחמה, ה' שמו, even though He at times appears as the איש מלחמה, the “Man” of war who destroys His foes by invoking the attribute of Justice, He is yet predominantly Hashem, the G’d Who practices mercy. It is this attribute of His which is responsible for the continued existence of all His creatures. When He destroys His foes, He is in effect removing weeds from the garden in order to enable the useful plants to survive and develop. The wicked are like the thorns and thistles in a vineyard.


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

**מַרְכְּבוֹת פַּרְעֹה וְכוּ'.** אַחַר שֶׁסִּפְּרוּ אָבְדַן סוּס וְרֹכְבוֹ, שֶׁהוּא פַּרְעֹה וְסוּסוֹ, וְנָתְנוּ עָלָיו הוֹדָאָה לָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ, סִפְּרוּ מִלְחַמְתּוֹ בְּחֵיל פַּרְעֹה **וּמִבְחַר שָׁלִישָׁיו**, שֶׁהֵם הָיוּ עִקַּר כָּל הַצָּבָא:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
מרכבות פרעה וחילו, after giving thanks to G’d for the destruction of Pharaoh and his horse, Moses refers to G’d’s fight against the army and his elite corps of officers which constituted the backbone of his army.


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

**יְמִינְךָ ה' נֶאְדָּרִי בַּכֹּחַ.** לֹא יְמִין חֵיל פַּרְעֹה וּמִבְחַר שָׁלִישָׁיו הַבּוֹטְחִים בִּזְרוֹעַ בָּשָׂר. וְזֹאת הִיא הוֹדָאָה שֶׁנָּתְנוּ לָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ עַל מִלְחַמְתּוֹ זֹאת הַשֵּׁנִית:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ימינך ה' נאדרי בכח, Moses emphasises that it is not the mighty military machine of Pharaoh which glorifies in power but the right hand of the Lord; (this was already the second “war” against the Egyptians G’d conducted, i.e. a separate war against part of the power of Egypt). The first time Moses mentioned G’d’s ימין this is a grateful acknowledgment of G’d’s war against Pharaoh; the repetition of the words


###### Sforno on Exodus 15:6:2
[Sforno on Exodus 15:6:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Exodus/r/15:6:2)

**יְמִינְךָ ה' תִּרְעַץ אוֹיֵב.** יְהִי רָצוֹן שֶׁיִּהְיֶה כֵּן לֶעָתִיד שֶׁתִּרְעַץ כָּל אוֹיֵב לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּעִנְיָן "כֵּן יֹאבְדוּ כָּל אוֹיְבֶיךָ ה'" (שופטים ה:לא).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
'ימינך ה are a prayer for G’d to manifest this power against evil again at the time of the final redemption, may it come about soon in our days. We find a similar repetition in Devorah’s song of thanksgiving for Barak’s victory against Siserah in Judges 5,31.


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

**וּבְרוּחַ אַפְּךָ נֶעֶרְמוּ מַיִם.** עַתָּה סִפֵּר הַמִּלְחָמָה הַגְּדוֹלָה שֶׁנִּלְחַם הָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ בַּהֲמוֹן מִצְרַיִם, וְאָמַר הִנֵּה בְּרוּחַ אַפְּךָ נִבְקַע הַיָּם וְנַעֲשׂוּ הַמַּיִם כַּעֲרֵמָה וְכַנֵּד. וְ**קָפְאוּ תְהוֹמוֹת**, בְּקַרְקַע הַיָּם בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁיָּכְלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לַעֲבוֹר.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וברוח אפיך נערמו מים, now Moses speaks of the third war G’d conducted against the multitudes of Egypt; (not the elite) Moses recapitulates the phenomena faced by the Egyptian hordes when the waters which had previously been normal became like towers of frozen water in the midst of the sea.


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

וְכַאֲשֶׁר **אָמַר אוֹיֵב אֶרְדֹּף.** אַחֲרֵיהֶם בַּיָּם.


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

**אַשִּׂיג אֲחַלֵּק שָׁלָל.** וְהֵם הָיוּ הֲמוֹן כָּל רֶכֶב מִצְרַיִם שֶׁלֹּא בָּאוּ אֶלָּא לִגְזֹל מְמוֹנָם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל:


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

**נָשַׁפְתָּ בְרוּחֲךָ.** בְּאוֹתוֹ הָרוּחַ עַצְמוֹ שֶׁהִקְפִּיא קַרְקַע הַיָּם וְנַעֲשָׂה דֶּרֶךְ לַעֲבוֹר גְּאוּלִים, נָשַׁפְתָּ לְכַסּוֹת הָרוֹדְפִים וּלְאַבְּדָם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
נשפת ברוחך, You used the very same wind You had used to dry out the sea bed after splitting it to now turn against the pursuers and to turned into overwhelming and turbulent waters.


###### Sforno on Exodus 15:10:2
[Sforno on Exodus 15:10:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Exodus/r/15:10:2)

**אַדִּירִים.** שָׂרִים וְרָאשֵׁי עָם **צָלְלוּ כַּעוֹפֶרֶת בְּמַּיִם**. וּמֵהֶם הָיוּ הַשָּׁלִישִׁם עַל כֻּלּוֹ שֶׁמִּנָּה פַּרְעֹה עַל כָּל רֶכֶב מִצְרַיִם (שמות יד:ז).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
אדירים, not a reference to the waters but to the men who had been considered mighty, invincible, etc. [I suppose the unusual exegesis is based on the dividing tone sign tipcha under the word במים, which indicates that it belongs to the preceding words. Ed.] The people to whom Moses refers are the ones who had been described in 14,7 as שלישים על כולו.


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

**מִי כָמֹכָה בָּאֵלִים.** נָתַן שֶׁבַח לָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ עַל מִלְחַמְתּוֹ הַשְּׁלִישִׁית נֶגֶד הֲמוֹן רֶכֶב מִצְרַיִם, וְאָמַר: מִי כָמוֹךָ בַּחֲזָקִים, שֶׁיּוּכַל לְשַׁנּוֹת טֶבַע הַנִּמְצָאִים הַבִּלְתִּי נִפְסָדִים בְּטִבְעָם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
מי כמוכה בא-לים; Moses praised the Lord for His third war, the one against the Egyptian cavalry of the second quality. G’d’s incomparable stature consists in His ability to change the nature of phenomena in the universe which had previously been considered as indestructible, inviolate, impervious to any attempt by man to influence their nature in any way.


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

**נֶאְדָּר בַּקֹּדֶשׁ.** הִנֵּה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בַּמֻּחְלָט הוּא הַבִּלְתִּי נִפְסָד כְּלָל, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (סנהדרין צב.) מֵתִים שֶׁעָתִיד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְהַחֲיוֹת אֵינָם חוֹזְרִין לַעֲפָרָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיהו ד:ג) "הַנִּשְׁאָר בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם קָדוֹשׁ יֵאָמֵר לוֹ" מַה קָּדוֹשׁ לְעוֹלָם קַיָּם וכו'. אָמַר, שֶׁאֵין כְּמוֹ הָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ נוֹדָע לְאַדִּיר וּמֶלֶךְ עַל כָּל אֱלֹהִים קְדוֹשִׁים וְנִצְחִיִּים, וּלְפִיכָךְ לוֹ לְבַדּוֹ יָאוֹת לְשַׁנּוֹת טֶבַע כָּל נִמְצָא בִּלְתִּי נִפְסָד, כִּי נִצְחִיּוּת כָּל נִצְחִי לֹא יִהְיֶה זוּלָתִי מֵאִתּוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
נאדר בקודש, that which is קודש, holy, is by definition something indestructible. This is what our sages meant (Sanhedrin 92) when they stated that the righteous people who will be resurrected in the future will never again return to their dust. They based this on Isaiah 4,3 הנשאר בציון והנותר בירושלים........ קרוש יאמר להם, “and those who remain in Zion and are left in Jerusalem, all who are inscribed for life in Jerusalem, shall be called holy.” The Talmud concludes: “what is the meaning of the word נאדר used here by Moses? There is none such as the Lord Who is known to be eternal, King over even all other holy beings, the ones that are also of an enduring nature, not mortal or subject to decay. This is the reason why there is no one else who is entitled to be worshipped, exalted, obeyed, etc. Anything that is infinite had its origin in the Lord, Who is not only infinite but also eternal.


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

**נוֹרָא תְהִלֹּת.** וּמִי שֶׁיָּדַע גֹּדֶל תְּהִלּוֹתָיו יִירָאֵהוּ בִּשְׁבִילוֹ, לֹא בִּשְׁבִיל יִרְאַת עֹנֶשׁ שֶׁיָּבֹא מֵאִתּוֹ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
נורא תהלות, anyone aware of the marvelous attributes of His cannot fail but recite these praises in awe, not because he is afraid of being punished but because the very nature of G’d inspires awe and reverence.


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

**עוֹשֵׂה פֶלֶא.** עוֹשֶׂה מַה שֶׁיִּפָּלֵא מִן הַטֶּבַע לַעֲשׂוֹת בְּשׁוּם אֹפֶן, כְּגוֹן עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן וְעַמּוּד הָאֵשׁ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
עושה פלא. He accomplishes marvelous, supernatural results, such as the type of pillar of cloud and pillar of fire which were tailored to fit the needs of the Jewish people at that time.


###### Sforno on Exodus 15:13:1
[Sforno on Exodus 15:13:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Exodus/r/15:13:1)

**נָחִיתָ בְחַסְדְּךָ עַם זוּ גָּאָלְתָּ.** מֵעֵת שֶׁגְּאַלְתָּם, וְזֶה כְּשֶׁהוֹצֵאתָם חוּץ לִגְבוּל מִצְרַיִם וּבָאוּ לְסֻכּוֹת, הִתְחַלְתָּ לְנַחוֹתָם הַדֶּרֶךְ, כַּאֲמָרוֹ (שמות יג:כ-כא) "וַיִּסְעוּ מִסֻּכֹּת וַה' הֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם".

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
נחית בחסדך עם זו גאלת, ever since You redeemed them and took over their leadership at the boundary of Egypt at Sukkot, as we know from 13,20-21.


###### Sforno on Exodus 15:13:2
[Sforno on Exodus 15:13:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Exodus/r/15:13:2)

**נָהַלְתָּ בְעָזְּךָ.** נָהַלְתָּ לְאִטָּם בַּיַּבָּשָׁה בְּתוֹךְ הַיָּם, כְּאָמְרוֹ (ישעיהו סג:יג) "מוֹלִיכָם בַּתְּהֹמוֹת, כַּסּוּס בַּמִּדְבָּר לֹא יִכָּשֵׁלוּ".

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
נהלת בעזך, You guided them across the dry seabed in a leisurely fashion. (compare Isaiah 63,13 “Who led them through the depths so that they did not stumble-- as a horse in a desert.”)


###### Sforno on Exodus 15:13:3
[Sforno on Exodus 15:13:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Exodus/r/15:13:3)

**אֶל נְוֵה קָדְשֶׁךָ.** בְּדֶרֶךְ נָכוֹן לָלֶכֶת אֶל נְוֵה קָדְשֶׁךָ, לְקַדְּשָׁם שָׁם לַעֲבוֹדָתֶךָ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
אל נוה קדשך, on the proper way in order to arrive at a place where they will sanctify Your holy Name.


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

**אָז נִבְהֲלוּ אַלּוּפֵי אֱדוֹם אֵילֵי מוֹאָב.** כְּשֶׁרָאוּ אֵלּוּ הַנִּסִּים, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁיָּדְעוּ שֶׁלֹּא עֲלֵיהֶם יַעֲלֶה יִשְׂרָאֵל לַמִּלְחָמָה, מִכָּל מָקוֹם נִבְהֲלוּ לִרְאוֹת.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
אז נבהלו אלופי אדום, אילי מואב, when they saw all these miracles; even though they knew that Israel would not make war against them. They were still frightened by the mere spectacle even if it was not directed at them.


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

**יֹאחֲזֵמוֹ רָעַד.** יְהִי רָצוֹן שֶׁיֹּאחֲזֵמוֹ רָעַד וְלֹא יִתְקוֹמְמוּ עָלֵינוּ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
יאחזמו רעד, they were gripped by fear praying that the Israelites would never rise to attack them.


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

**נָמֹגוּ כֹּל יוֹשְׁבֵי כְנָעַן.** הִנֵּה יוֹשְׁבֵי כְנַעַן בְּשָׁמְעָם כָּל אֵלֶּה נָמֹגוּ בְּלִי סָפֵק, כִּי יָדְעוּ שֶׁעֲלֵיהֶם עָלוּ לְגָרְשָׁם, כַּאֲמָרוֹ (יהושע ב:יא) "וַנִּשְׁמַע וַיִּמַּס לְבָבֵנוּ וְכוּ'".

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
נמוגו כל יושבי כנען, there can be no question that the hearts of all the inhabitants of the land of Canaan melted at the manifestation of these miracles as they knew that the Israelites were marching in order to drive them out of their land. Rachav testifies even 40 years later when their worst fears had not yet been realised, that the population of Canaan had completely lost confidence in the outcome of a confrontation with Israel (Joshua 2,11).


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

**תִּפֹּל עֲלֵיהֶם אֵימָתָה וָפַחַד בִּגְדֹל זְרוֹעֲךָ.** יְהִי רָצוֹן שֶׁתִּפֹּל עֲלֵיהֶם אֵימָתָה וָפַחַד, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁיָּנוּסוּ מִפָּנֵינוּ מִיִּרְאַת זְרוֹעֲךָ, כְּעִנְיַן "אָנוּסָה מִפְּנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, כִּי ה' נִלְחָם" (שמות יד:כה).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
תפול עליהם אימתה ופחד בגדול זרועך, may it be Your will that fear will overcome them in a manner which will make them flee because they are afraid of Your arm. Moses refers to what the Torah described in 14,25 when the Egyptians announced that they would flee as they realised that G’d was fighting on behalf of Israel.


###### Sforno on Exodus 15:16:2
[Sforno on Exodus 15:16:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Exodus/r/15:16:2)

**יִדְּמוּ כָאָבֶן עַד יַעֲבֹר עַמְּךָ ה'.** וְכֵן יְהִי רָצוֹן שֶׁלֹּא יִתְקוֹמְמוּ נֶגְדֵּנוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר נַעֲלֶה לְהִלָּחֵם בָּם, עַד אַחַר שֶׁנַּעֲבֹר הַנְּהָרוֹת וְהֵם אַרְנוֹן וְהַיַּרְדֵּן, כִּי אָמְנָם בְּמַעֲבַר הַנְּהָרוֹת תִּקְשֶׁה כָּל מִלְחָמָה וְנִצְטָרֵךְ לְנֵס גָּדוֹל אֲשֶׁר אוּלַי לֹא נִהְיֶה רְאוּיִים לוֹ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ידמו כאבן עד יעבור עמך הן, may it also be Your will that they will not launch an attack against us until we have crossed the rivers still in front of us, i.e. the Arnon and the Jordan, seeing that the battles are always more difficult at river crossings, and we would need greater miracles in order to become victorious. We might not be deserving of such miracles.


###### Sforno on Exodus 15:17:1
[Sforno on Exodus 15:17:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Exodus/r/15:17:1)

**תְּבִיאֵמוֹ וְתִטָּעֵמוֹ.** שֶׁלֹּא יִגְלוּ מִמֶּנָּה:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
תביאמו ותטעמו, in a manner that will ensure that they will never be exiled from there.


###### Sforno on Exodus 15:17:2
[Sforno on Exodus 15:17:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Exodus/r/15:17:2)

**בְּהַר נַחֲלָתְךָ.** בְּהַר הַבַּיִת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר עָלָיו "בְּהַר ה' יֵרָאֶה" (בראשית כב:יד).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
בהר נחלתך, on the Temple Mount, of which it has been said in Genesis 22,14 בהר ה' יראה, “on the Mountain of the Lord He manifests Himself.”


###### Sforno on Exodus 15:17:3
[Sforno on Exodus 15:17:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Exodus/r/15:17:3)

**מָכוֹן לְשִׁבְתְּךָ פָּעַלְתָּ ה'.** כְּאָמְרוֹ (תהלים קלב:יד) "פֹּה אֵשֵׁב כִּי אִוִּתִיהָ".

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
'מכון לשבתך פעלת ה, similar to what David, quoting G’d, said in Psalms 132,14 פה אשב כי אויתיה, “here I shall dwell for I have yearned for it.”


###### Sforno on Exodus 15:17:4
[Sforno on Exodus 15:17:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Exodus/r/15:17:4)

**מִקְדָּש ה' כּוֹנְנוּ יָדֶיךָ.** כַּאֲמָרוֹ "וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ" (שמות כה:ח), כְּכָל אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי מַרְאֶה אוֹתָךְ (שמות כה:ט). וְכֵן דָּוִד אָמַר "הַכֹּל בִּכְתָב, מִיַּד ה' עָלַי הִשְׂכִּיל" (דברי הימים א כח:יט), בְּכָל מְלַאכוֹת הַתַּבְנִית.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
מקדש ה' כוננו ידיך, a veiled reference to the sanctuary which G’d would instruct the Jewish people to build for His Presence in Exodus 25,8-9. [G’d’s stating the sizes, furnishings, and materials this Sanctuary would be made of makes it equivalent to He Himself having constructed it. Ed.] Also David, in Chronicles I 28,19 spoke about his having received the details of the blueprint of the Temple to be built by his son Solomon from G’d, proving that G’d Himself considered this as His permanent residence on earth.


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

**ה' יִמְלֹךְ לְעֹלָם וָעֶד.** יְהִי רָצוֹן שֶׁהוּא לְבַדּוֹ יִמְלֹךְ לְעֹלָם וָעֶד, וְאֵין עִמּוֹ אֵל נֵכָר.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ה' ימלוך לעולם ועד, this too is a prayer by Moses who expresses the hope that G’d, exclusively, will reign forever, and that He will not have to share power with anyone else claiming divine authority on earth.


###### Sforno on Exodus 15:19:1
[Sforno on Exodus 15:19:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Exodus/r/15:19:1)

**כִּי בָא סוּס פַּרְעֹה.** וְזֶה שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ **אָז יָשִׁיר** הָיָה כַּאֲשֶׁר בָּא סוּס פַּרְעֹה **בְּרִכְבּוֹ וּפָרָשָׁיו בַּיָּם**, וְהָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ הִטְבִּיעָם בְּעוֹד שֶׁ**בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל** הָיוּ **הוֹלְכִים בַּיַּבָּשָׁה בְּתוֹךְ הַיָּם**, בְּטֶרֶם יָצְאוּ הִתְחִילוּ לָשִׁיר.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
כי בא סוס פרעה, the opening words of this song,אז ישיר משה had been inspired by the spectacle of Pharaoh with his chariot, his horses and its riders drowning in the sea at the time when the Israelites, by contrast, were taking their time walking through the same sea on dry ground. ביבשה בתוך הים, they began the song of thanksgiving even before all had emerged from the sea to the shore.


###### Sforno on Exodus 15:25:1
[Sforno on Exodus 15:25:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Exodus/r/15:25:1)

**וְשָׁם נִסָּהוּ.** אִם יְקַבֵּל הַחֹק וְהַמִּשְׁפָּט אֲשֶׁר שָׂם לוֹ, וְלֹא יַחֲזֹר לְסוּרוֹ, וְזֶה הַנִּסָּיוֹן הָיָה כִּי אָמְנָם אָמַר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ושם נסהו, to find out if they would be willing to accept statutes (laws not given to our intelligence to understand,) as well as social legislation and they would not ignore it when they were not in a state of crisis as now when they needed water through a miracle.


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

**אִם שָׁמוֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע לְקוֹל ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ.** לְקַבֵּל עָלָיו אוֹתוֹ חֹק שֶׁשָּׂם לְךָ, וּמִכָּאן וָאֵילָךְ **הַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינָיו תַּעֲשֶׂה וְהַאֲזַנְתָּ כוּ'**, אָז תִּמָּלֵט מִכָּל מַדְוֵי מִצְרַיִם. אֲבָל אִם תְּקַבֵּל עָלֶיךָ עַתָּה וְאַחַר תִּבְגּוֹד, יָשִׂים עָלֶיךָ כָּהֵנָּה וְכָהֵנָּה בְּלִי סָפֵק. וְזֶה הָיָה כְּעִנְיַן אֲמָרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: "גֵּר הַבָּא לְהִתְגַּיֵּר אוֹמְרִים לוֹ הֱוֵי יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁעַד שֶׁלֹּא בָאתָ לְמִדָּה זוֹ אָכַלְתָּ חֵלֶב אֵינְךָ עָנוּשׁ כָּרֵת, חִלַּלְתָּ שַׁבָּת אֵינְךָ חַיָּב סְקִילָה, וְעַכְשָׁו אָכַלְתָּ חֵלֶב אַתָּה עָנוּשׁ כָּרֵת וְכוּ'" (יבמות מז.).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
אם שמוע תשמע לקול ה' אלוקיך, to accept the statutes which would follow as a way of life, not merely as emergency regulation in the desert, and if from now on they would הישר בעיניו תעשה והאזנת למצותיו, וגו, carefully observe G’d’s commandments endeavouring to live according to their understanding of what is pleasing to Him, then they would be permanently spared any of the afflictions that G’d had brought upon the Egyptians. The implication was that betraying G’d’s trust would have painful consequences. The entire experience is a reminder of the manner in which the Rabbis relate to a potential convert to Judaism. One does not present Judaism in rosy attractive colours so as to encourage him to convert, but on the contrary, one apprises him first and foremost of the עול המצות, “the yoke of the commandments,” telling him of all the things he would have to forego by joining the Jewish people, i.e. the Jewish religion. Moreover, one advises him that whereas up until now he was able to eat certain foods, such as chelev, not only would he no longer be able to eat these foods, but violation of the commandment would carry the penalty of karet, loss of entitlement to his afterlife, etc. Only after he has duly absorbed this information does one proceed with teaching him the intricacies of Judaism. What happened at Marah was preparatory to accepting Judaism at Mount Sinai. If the people had not gone through this process it is doubtful that they would have said נעשה ונשמע, “we will do, now let us learn G’d’s Torah,” when the time came for this a few weeks later.


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

**כִּי אֲנִי ה' רֹפְאֶךָ.** וְהַטַּעַם שֶׁאִם תְּקַבֵּל וְאַחַר כָּךְ תִּבְגּוֹד תִּהְיֶה נֶעֱנָשׁ, הוּא כִּי אָמְנָם כָּל מִצְוֹתַי הֵם לְרַפֹּאת אֶת נַפְשְׁךָ מֵחָלְיֵי הַתַּאֲווֹת וְהַדֵּעוֹת הַנִּפְסָדוֹת, לְמַעַן תִּהְיֶה קָדוֹשׁ לֵאלֹהֶיךָ, כְּאָמְרוֹ "וָאַבְדִּל אֶתְכֶם מִן הָעַמִּים לִהְיוֹת לִי" (ויקרא כ:כו), וְאִם תִּבְגּוֹד, תֶּחֱלֶה וְתִתְחַלֵּל הַנֶּפֶשׁ, וְרָאוּי שֶׁיֵּעָנֵשׁ מִי שֶׁיְּחַלֵּל אֶת קֹדֶשׁ ה' אֲשֶׁר אָהֵב.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
כי אני ה' רופאך, the point of all this is that once you have accepted the statutes and then fail to honour your commitment you will be subject to punishment by G’d. These punishments will be in the nature of being self-inflicted as all of G’d’s commandments are designed to make your life on earth and beyond a healthy life. Failure to honour your commitment will expose you to all the negative influences which abound on earth. I have shown you that I can cure harmful waters, waters which humans cannot drink. This is only a sample of what My commandments and observing them can do for you. We, today, do not know what kind of wood or tree G’d told Moses to throw into these waters. The Torah deliberately did not reveal this information. Even if all the trees in the world would be the kind that G’d told Moses to throw into the water, and even if we would throw all this wood into only a minute quantity of water the result would be nil. On the other hand, if, by the grace of G’d, one throws even a minute quantity of such wood into even an entire ocean, the waters of the ocean would suddenly become drinking water. [my addition. Ed.] Leviticus 20,26 states clearly that G’d separates the Jewish people from the surrounding nations. Failure to honour commitments results in “disease,” i.e. the defilement of one’s soul. As a result, such a person deserves his punishment.


###### Sforno on Exodus 15:27:1
[Sforno on Exodus 15:27:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Exodus/r/15:27:1)

**וּבְאֵילִם שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה עֵינֹת מַיִם.** וְעִם כָּל זֶה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
שתים עשרה עינות מים, in spite of this, the people moved on from there.