Exodus B'shalach

B’shalach
Exodus 13:17−17:16

I. Summary

A. B’shalach = (Now when Pharoah let the people) “go”, (God …). Contrast with intents of “go” in names of other Torah portions … B’shalach’s release/send away v. Bo’s come (with me?) to Pharoah/negotiate v. Lech L’cha’s go forth/depart.

B. Israelites leave Egypt “armed” (with what?) and take indirect route mandated by God (“people may have a change of heart when they see war” i.e. will quit journey when going gets at all tough … test desire to be free) across Sea of Reeds. Moses and Joshua take bones of Joseph (as promised to Joseph 400 years previously … Gen 50:25). Angel of God takes form of pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. At God’s instruction, Israelites lead Pharoah to believe they are lost (willing bait?). Pharoah and his courtiers have a change of heart (hardened by God). Pharoah and 600 Egyptians pursue Israelites. Israelites see approaching Egyptians, become scared, regret departure and blame Moses. Angel of God moves from in front of Israelites to the rear of Israelites (protection from oncoming Egyptians? Israelites move into lead position in place of God as indication of their growing independence?). (13:17-14:20)

C. God parts the sea and Israelites go into the sea. Pharaoh and his army follow but drown when God locks their chariot wheels and then drives the sea back over them. Israelites see this. They then fear and have faith in the Eternal (fear v. awe as basis of faith). (14:20-14:31)

D. Moses and Israelites sing a lyric poem (Song of the Sea) celebrating God, i.e. 1) God’s defeat of Egypt at sea, 2) God leading Israel to Promised Land where Canaanites are terrified and 3) statement of God’s eternal rule. Followed by second (same?) song with dancing from Miriam. (15:1-21)

E. Israelites enter wilderness. God provides grumbling Israelites with sweet drinking water (converted from bitter water) and put Israelites “to the test” saying if they heed God’s word then God will not bring on them any disease which God had brought upon the Egyptians (forcing obedience? a threat? early instance of God’s conditional promise to protect Israelites?). (15:22-27)

F. God provides the still complaining Israelites (“if only we had died … in Egypt”) with quails and manna. God instructs the Israelites to gather each day only enough manna (one omer per person = 1/10 of an ephah = about 3 quarts) for "that day’s portion that I may thus test them” and two days supply before sabbath. Nevertheless, some Israelites saved manna for later on and some looked for manna on Sabbath. Saved manna rots and no manna found on Sabbath. God gets upset with Israelites for not heeding God’s words (“How long will you refuse to obey My commandments” = impatience?). God commands Israelites to keep a jarful of manna “throughout the ages … before the Pact” (anticipates Israelites’ covenant with God at Sinai). Israelites eat manna for 40 years. (16:1-16:36)

G. Israelites complain about lack of water (more broadly questioning God … “Is the Eternal present among us or not?”). Getting frustrated, Moses vents to God. At God’s instruction, Moses hits rock with his rod and brings forth water (forerunner of Moses hitting rock that led to God not allowing Moses into Promised Land?). (17:1-7)

H. In their first military engagement, Israelites (under Joshua as instructed by Moses) defeat Amalek, their eternal enemy (this passage read during Purim since Haman, the arch anti-Semite featured in the Purim story, was descendant of Amalekite king). When Moses held up his hand during battle, Israelites prevailed and when he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed (suggests God determining outcome through Moses?). God vows to blot out the memory of Amalek from the world and declares God to be at war with Amalek throughout the ages (God = perpetual protector of Israelites?). (17:8-16)

II. Commentary (Plaut, various websites and prior Hevreh discussions)

A. Divine control - God repeatedly creates a situation brimming with potential tragedy for Israelites and then steps in to save the day. From the moment Israelites set out from Egypt, the message from God could not be clearer: the basic elements of Israelite survival reside squarely in God’s hands.

B. A time to act – As Israelites are complaining to Moses about their plight (“What have you done to us, taking us out of Egypt” … 14:11), God urges Moses to act rather than to just call on God for help (“”Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to go forward” … 14:15). Suggests that prayer and faith sometimes not enough - answer may be action.

C. Transition from slavery to freedom - As Israelites draw nearer to Sinai, God's supremacy in their lives becomes clearer and clearer. God is the source of water, food, and shelter. The people are at God's mercy just as they were at Pharaoh's mercy. We are creatures of habit, and the Israelite's habit was slavery. Perhaps only by replacing one dependent relationship with another could God begin the process of healing and renewal necessary for Israelites to be truly free.

D. Armed Israelites – Israelites “went up armed” (13:18) but armed with what? with “merit of the righteous” represented by Joseph’s bones? with faith? with weapons forged from gold/silver “borrowed” by Israelites from Egyptians?

E. Walking into Sea of Reeds - One midrash tells of Nachson who was first Israelite brave enough to step into Sea of Reeds before water parted. Another midrash says that each individual Israelite walked at the bottom of an air shaft sur¬rounded by water and could only move forward by literally pushing his or her face into the water!

F. Significance of battle with Amalek - In response to the attack of the Amalekites, Moses preempts Israelites (giving them no opportunity to complain) and God. On his own, Moses deputizes Joshua (17:9), an unknown, never before mentioned in the Torah, to choose men to fight and puts himself in the background, watching the battle from a hill. In 14:21, "Moses held out his hand over the sea" expecting God to intervene (parting of sea) whereas here in 17:11, "Moses held up his hand" and inviting God to join the fray. Thus Moses gives Israelites ownership of their own destiny and, by choosing Joshua, the realization that leadership can come from somewhere other than from God. Israelites respond not by complaining but by acting (first time).

G. Why manna was a test (16:4) – 1) Israelites had to have enough faith not to take more than they needed each day and to believe God would continue to provide. 2) It was a trial for Israelites not to have an alternative to the manna. Israelites were tested by boredom of eating the same food day after day, no matter how delicious it was. 3) Israelites had everything they needed, so they were tested to do something of meaning with their lives (serve God).

H. Doubt – Israelites express doubt as they are about to enter battle with Amalek (“Is the Eternal present among us or not” at 17:7). Odd that Israelites express such doubt in light of God having just demonstrated powers (plagues and timely opening and closing of Sea of Reeds). Suggests that 1) doubt part of human condition that will always be with us and 2) important to learn from the past but not get stuck in the past, i.e. let things go and 3) our challenge is to continually step forward to do the right thing despite doubt.
(Revised 2/1/10)