Beshalach (Hebrew: בְּשַׁלַּח, "When he sent") is the fourth Torah portion of Exodus, covering Exodus 13:17–17:16. It tells of the splitting of the Red Sea, the Song of the Sea, the manna, the quail, and the war with Amalek.
Splitting of the Red Sea
God leads Israel not by the way of the Philistines (lest they see war and return to Egypt) but by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Pharaoh's heart is hardened; he pursues Israel with chariots and horsemen. Israel is trapped between the sea and the Egyptian army. They cry to God and complain to Moses: "Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness?" (Exodus 14:11). Moses says: "Fear you not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord" (Exodus 14:13). God tells Moses to stretch out his rod over the sea. The pillar of cloud moves behind Israel, separating them from the Egyptians. Moses stretches out his hand; God drives the sea back with a strong east wind all night, making the sea dry land, with walls of water on both sides. Israel walks through on dry ground. The Egyptians pursue. In the morning watch, God looks upon the Egyptian host through the pillar of fire and cloud and troubles them. He removes the wheels of their chariots. The Egyptians say: "Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians" (Exodus 14:25). God tells Moses to stretch out his hand; the waters return and cover the chariots, horsemen, and all of Pharaoh's army. "There remained not so much as one of them" (Exodus 14:28). Israel sees the great work; they fear the Lord and believe in God and in Moses His servant.
Song of the Sea
אָשִׁירָה לַיהוָה כִּי גָאֹה גָּאָה
"I will sing unto the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously." (Exodus 15:1)
Moses and the children of Israel sing this song. Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, takes a timbrel in her hand; all the women go out after her with timbrels and dances. Miriam answers them: "Sing you to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider has He thrown into the sea" (Exodus 15:21). The Song of the Sea (שִׁירַת הַיָּם) is one of the oldest poetic passages in the Bible and is recited daily in the morning prayers (Pesukei Dezimra).
Manna and Quail
Israel travels three days in the wilderness without water. They come to Marah; the water is bitter. They murmur. God shows Moses a tree; he casts it into the waters, and they become sweet. God tests them: "If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord your God... I will put none of these diseases upon you" (Exodus 15:26). They come to Elim, with twelve springs and seventy palm trees. In the wilderness of Sin, the whole congregation murmurs: "Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt... you have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger" (Exodus 16:3). God says: "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you" (Exodus 16:4). In the evening, quail (שְׂלָו) cover the camp; in the morning, manna (מָן) — "a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground" (Exodus 16:14) — appears. The Israelites say: "What is it?" (מָן הוּא, man hu). Moses says: "This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat" (Exodus 16:15). Each gathers according to his eating; an omer per person. On the sixth day, they gather double. Moses says: "Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord" (Exodus 16:23); the extra manna does not spoil. Some go out on the Sabbath to gather and find none. God says: "How long refuse you to keep My commandments and My laws?" (Exodus 16:28). The manna is like coriander seed, white, and tastes like wafers made with honey. They eat manna for 40 years until they reach Canaan.
Water from the Rock
Israel camps at Rephidim; there is no water. The people quarrel with Moses: "Give us water that we may drink" (Exodus 17:2). Moses says: "Why chide you with me? wherefore do you tempt the Lord?" (Exodus 17:2). The people are thirsty and murmur. Moses cries to God: "What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me" (Exodus 17:4). God says: "Go on before the people... and you shall smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it" (Exodus 17:5–6). Moses smites the rock in Horeb; water comes out. The place is called Massah (מַסָּה, "testing") and Meribah (מְרִיבָה, "quarreling").
War with Amalek
Amalek comes and fights Israel at Rephidim. Moses says to Joshua: "Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek; tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand" (Exodus 17:9). Joshua fights; Moses, Aaron, and Hur go to the top of the hill. When Moses holds up his hand, Israel prevails; when he lets down his hand, Amalek prevails. When Moses' hands are heavy, Aaron and Hur hold them up, one on each side. Joshua discomfits Amalek with the edge of the sword. God says to Moses: "Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua; for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven" (Exodus 17:14). Moses builds an altar and calls it "The Lord is my banner" (יְהוָה נִסִּי, Adonai Nissi). God says: "The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation" (Exodus 17:16).
Major themes
- Divine salvation: God splits the sea and saves Israel.
- Praise and song: The Song of the Sea becomes a daily prayer.
- Divine provision: Manna, quail, and water in the wilderness.
- Testing and faith: Israel's complaints and God's patience.
- Amalek: The eternal enemy of Israel; the command to remember and blot out Amalek.
Rashi
Rashi explains that God led Israel by the longer route to avoid war with the Philistines. On the sea, Rashi notes that the sea split into twelve paths, one for each tribe. On the manna, Rashi explains that it tasted like whatever the eater desired.
Ramban
Ramban explains that the Song of the Sea is a prophecy of Israel's future redemption. On Amalek, Ramban notes that Amalek attacked Israel without provocation, making them the archetype of evil.
Midrashic interpretations
- Mechilta de-Rabbi Ishmael: The sea split when Nachshon ben Aminadav walked into the water up to his nose.
- Shemot Rabbah 23:1: The angels wanted to sing, but God said: "My creatures are drowning, and you want to sing?"
- Shemot Rabbah 25:3: The manna had the taste of whatever the eater wished.
- Tanhuma, Beshalach 10: Amalek attacked the stragglers; the sin of complaining invited the attack.
Haftarah
The haftarah (Judges 4:4–5:31) tells of Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera. Deborah's song parallels the Song of the Sea: "So let all Your enemies perish, O Lord" (Judges 5:31).
References
- Exodus 13:17 – 17:16 (Masoretic Text)
- Rashi, Commentary on the Torah
- Ramban, Commentary on the Torah
- Mechilta de-Rabbi Ishmael (Midrash)
- Shemot Rabbah (Midrash)
- Tanhuma, Beshalach
- The JPS Torah Commentary: Exodus (Nahum M. Sarna, 1991)
- Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary (JPS, 2001)
- Sefaria.org, "Beshalach" (parasha)