On that day,³ Adonoy delivered

footnotes: ³ Even though they had been freed a week earlier, they were insecure, fearing that the Egyptians would capture and re-enslave them. Only when God had drowned the Egyptians were the Israelites psychologically free.—Seporno

Israel from the hand of Egypt,

and Israel saw the Egyptians

dead on the seashore.

And Israel saw the great hand⁴

footnotes: ⁴ The use of the word “hand” or any physical attribute with regard to God is merely metaphorical, since God is in no way physical.

which Adonoy wielded against Egypt,

and the people feared Adonoy,

and they believed in Adonoy,

and that Moses was His servant.

Then Moses and the Children of Israel sang

this song to Adonoy,

and they said:

I will sing to Adonoy for He is most high;⁵

footnotes: ⁵ When people praise a mortal, they often declare undeserved praise. But God is so great that any praise we offer is insufficient.—Rashi

the horse with its rider, He threw into the sea.

The strength and retribution of God

was the cause of my deliverance;⁶

footnotes: ⁶ This translation follows Rashi's commentary.

this is my Almighty and I will glorify Him,

God of my father and I will exalt Him.

Adonoy is master of war

Adonoy is His Name.

Pharaoh's chariots and army,

He hurled into the sea;

and his elite officers were drowned

in the Sea of Reeds.

The deep waters covered them;

they descended into the depths like stone.

Your right hand Adonoy

is adorned with power,

Your right hand Adonoy crushes the enemy.

And in Your great majesty,

You destroyed Your opponents;

You sent forth Your fury,

it consumed them like straw.⁷ send forth Your fury: it will consume them like straw.” According to the Zohar, it thus refers to the time of the Resurrection, when God will destroy all the wicked.

footnotes: ⁷ This verse is also translated, “You will

And with the wind from Your nostrils

the waters were heaped up,

flowing water stood erect like a wall;

the deep waters congealed

in the heart of the sea.⁸

footnotes: ⁸ The water became hard as stone and the Egyptians were hurled against it with great force.—Rash i

The enemy (Pharaoh) said:

I will pursue [them], I will overtake [them],

I will divide the spoils; I will satisfy myself;

I will unsheathe my sword,

my hand will destroy them.

You blew with Your wind,

the sea covered them;

they sank like lead in the mighty waters.⁹ and others interpret the verse to read: “They, the mighty, sank like lead in the waters,” “mighty,” referring to the Egyptian officers rather than to the waters.

footnotes: ⁹ Seporno

Who is like You among the mighty, Adonoy!

who is like You?

[You are] adorned in holiness,

awesome in praise, performing wonders.¹⁰

footnotes: ¹⁰ God is “awesome in praise” for we fear that all our praise will prove inadequate. In truth, it is impossible to praise God fully, and David therefore said (Psalms 65:2) “For You, silence is praise.”—Rashi

You stretched out Your right hand,

the earth swallowed them.

You led in Your kindliness,

the people whom You redeemed;

You guided them with Your might

to Your holy dwelling place.

The peoples heard and trembled,

pangs of fear gripped

the inhabitants of Philistia.¹¹

footnotes: ¹¹ The Philistines had killed the Ephraimites thirty years earlier when they left Egypt by force. The Philistines were thus gripped with terror when they heard that Israel had escaped from Egypt.—Rashi

Then the chieftains of Edom panicked,

the mighty men of Moab

were seized with trembling,

all the inhabitants of Canaan melted away.¹²

footnotes: ¹² Nations on all sides panicked: The Philistines to the west, the Edomites to the south, the Moabites to the east and the Canaanites to the north. The Philistines feared revenge. The Edomites panicked because they feared that Israel would now seek revenge for what Esau (Edom) had done to Jacob. The Moabites, the descendants of Lot, feared they would be punished because of the dispute between Lot and Abraham (Genesis 13:7). Canaan “melted away” because they realized that Israel was destined to take their land, and their astrologers told them that there was no way out.—Rabbeinu Bachya

Terror and dread fall upon them;

at the greatness of Your arm

they were still as stone;

until Your people cross over, Adonoy,

until [they] cross over,¹³

footnotes: ¹³ The two crossings are the respective crossings of the Arnon and the Jordan rivers before entering the Promised Land.—Onkelos

—the people You have acquired.

You will bring them and plant them¹⁴

footnotes: ¹⁴ Moses here prophesied that he would not be entering the Promised Land, and he therefore prayed that God should bring the Jews into His inheritance.— Rashi

on the mountain of Your inheritance,

the place for Your habitation

which You, Adonoy, have made;

the Sanctuary, my Master,

[which] Your hands established.¹⁵.—Rashi

footnotes: ¹⁵ God's “habitat” on earth, the Holy Temple, is a parallel of the Holy Temple on high

Adonoy will reign forever and ever.¹⁶ But it is repeated in prayer to signify the end of the Ode, just as the last verse of Psalms 150 is repeated in the prayer whereas it is not repeated in the Book of Psalms.—Avudraham

footnotes: ¹⁶ This verse is not repeated in Exodus.

Adonoy will reign forever and ever.

Adonoy! His sovereignty is established

forever and to all eternity.¹⁷

footnotes: ¹⁷ This verse is a paraphrase of the previous verse as found in Targum Onkelos.

When Pharaoh's horses, with his chariots,

and his horsemen, went into the sea,

Adonoy turned back on them

the waters of the sea;

and the Children of Israel

walked on dry land in the midst of the sea.¹⁸

footnotes: ¹⁸ Exodus 14:30-15:19.

For the kingship is Adonoy's

and He rules over nations.¹⁹ over nations.”—Vilna Gaon

footnotes: ¹⁹ Psalms 22:29. The word “king” signifies one whose leadership is accepted freely by all his subjects. Therefore, in reference to Israel who willingly accept the Kingship of God, it says, “For the kingship is Adonoy's.” A “ruler,” however, is one who forcibly rules people, without their consent. Regarding the nations who do not willingly submit to Adonoy's Kingship, the Psalmist says, “And He rules

And deliverers will go up to Mount Zion

to judge Mount Esau,

and the kingdom will be Adonoy's.²⁰

footnotes: ²⁰ Ovadyah 1:21.

And Adonoy will be King

over the whole earth;

on that day

Adonoy will be One and His Name One.²¹

footnotes: ²¹ Zecharyah 14:9. In the future, God will be recognized by all the nations of the world who will accept Him willingly as their King.