Parashat Beshalach
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===Coffin of Yosef=== | ===Coffin of Yosef=== | ||
− | Moshe took the coffin of Yosef with him, fulfilling the oath Yosef bound his brothers<ref name="Rashi Shemos 13:19"/> with, forcing them to in turn to bind their descendants with an oath<ref name="Rashi Shemos 13:19">Rashi Shemos 13:19</ref> to carry his coffin to Eretz Yisroel when they are redeemed. Unlike Yaakov whose son held the powerful position of viceroy allowing him to be transferred to Eretz Yisroel immediately, Yosef realized that his | + | Moshe took the coffin of Yosef with him, fulfilling the oath Yosef bound his brothers<ref name="Rashi Shemos 13:19"/> with, forcing them to in turn to bind their descendants with an oath<ref name="Rashi Shemos 13:19">Rashi Shemos 13:19</ref> to carry his coffin to Eretz Yisroel when they are redeemed. Unlike Yaakov whose son held the powerful position of viceroy allowing him to be transferred to Eretz Yisroel immediately, Yosef realized that his brothers would be prevented by the Egyptian authorities from doing the same to him. He therefore made them swear to transport him only when they were to be redeemed and leave<ref name="Rashi Shemos 13:19"/> The Jews also brought with them the bodies of all the Shivatim,<ref name="Rashi Shemos 13:19"/> Bilah and Yocheved.<ref name="Shover Zadim Parshas Bishalach"/> They later buried the Shivatim throughout Eretz Yisroel, while Bilah and Yocheved are buried in Teveria. |
====Finding the Coffin==== | ====Finding the Coffin==== | ||
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===Start of the Journey=== | ===Start of the Journey=== | ||
− | On the first day the Jews travel from Ramses to Sukkot. | + | On the first day the Jews travel from Ramses to Sukkot. On the second day they travel from Sukkot and camp in Essum.<ref>Rashi</ref> Hashem travels in front of them, navigating the camp with a pillar<ref>Rashi</ref> of cloud during the daytime and a pillar of fire at night. There was never a time where one of the two was not present in front of the camp since they were replaced instantaneously.<ref>Rashi</ref> |
===The Reversal=== | ===The Reversal=== | ||
− | On the third day Hashem | + | On the third day Hashem commands the Jews to revert and return to Pi Hachirot, in the direction of Egypt and camp in front of the surviving deity Baal Tzaphone. This move led Pharaoh to believe the Jews had become confused, trapped and locked in the desert, not knowing how to get out and caused him to chase after them. The Jews were fully aware that they were heading back in direction of Egypt and such a move was likely to induce hostile activity from the their former masters, yet they followed the instructions of Moshe with full faith.<ref>Rashi</ref> Hashem says that once again He will harden Pharaoh's heart, allowing His name to become magnified and glorified as He wreaks vengeance upon the wicked.<ref name="Rashi Shemos 14:4">Rashi Shemos 14:4</ref> Retribution is to begin with Pharaoh, since he initiated the sin and then continue upon his entire army.<ref name="Rashi Shemos 14:4"/> |
====Pi Hachirot==== | ====Pi Hachirot==== | ||
− | Pi Hachirot was one of entrances of Egypt consisting of a valley running between two large upright boulders | + | Pi Hachirot was one of entrances of Egypt consisting of a valley running between two large upright boulders. It had formerly been named Pisom but its name had changed to 'the mouth of freedom' after the recent exodus of the Jewish nation from Egypt through this passageway.<ref>Rashi</ref> |
====Baal Tzafon==== | ====Baal Tzafon==== | ||
− | During the 'slaying of the firstborn' all the Egyptian idols had been destroyed. An exception to this was Baal Tzafone | + | During the 'slaying of the firstborn' all the Egyptian idols had been destroyed. An exception to this was Baal Tzafone (master of the North)<ref name="Shover Zadim Parshas Bishalach"/>, one of their leading deities who was accredited with guarding the Northern border of Pisom,<ref name="Shover Zadim Parshas Bishalach"/> preventing the escape of any slaves. Survival of Baal Tzafon fed the Egyptian belief that the 'Side of Holiness' also contained restrictions, limitations and power changes that were based on the dimension of time, just like all the forces they clung to. This opened the possibility of overcoming the Jews if these weakness could be exploited. Although the Jews had freely passed by him on their way out, their current retreat and movement towards Baal Tzafon indicted that he still possessed power over them which had now increased due to astrological time and energy shifts and he was now reeling them back into servitude.<ref name="Shover Zadim Parshas Bishalach"/> This was the exact intention of Hashem whose policy is to allow the wicked to stumble over their own mistakes.<ref>Rashi</ref> |
==Splitting of the Sea== | ==Splitting of the Sea== | ||
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====Belief in Moshe==== | ====Belief in Moshe==== | ||
Belief in the true Tzadikim is essential for belief in Hashem, since it them who draw down the faith. It is impossible to reach complete faith in Hashem without faith in the Tzadikim<ref>Likutay Halachos AC Hil Pesach 6:1</ref> and a person that does not have faith in the true Tzadikim is flawed also in his faith of Hashem.<ref>Likutay Halachos AC Hil Shabbos 6:11</ref> | Belief in the true Tzadikim is essential for belief in Hashem, since it them who draw down the faith. It is impossible to reach complete faith in Hashem without faith in the Tzadikim<ref>Likutay Halachos AC Hil Pesach 6:1</ref> and a person that does not have faith in the true Tzadikim is flawed also in his faith of Hashem.<ref>Likutay Halachos AC Hil Shabbos 6:11</ref> | ||
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===Song of the Women=== | ===Song of the Women=== | ||
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===Thirst=== | ===Thirst=== | ||
− | From the 'wilderness of Sin' the Jews journey and encamped in Rephidim, where there was no water to drink. The Jews | + | From the 'wilderness of Sin' the Jews journey and encamped in Rephidim, where there was no water to drink. The Jews quarrel with Moshe who questions them why they are testing Hashem. Once again they complain why to Moshe why he took them out from Egypt to have them, their children and livestock die from thirst. Moshe cries out to Hashem saying they are almost ready to stone him. Hashem instructs him to pass before the Jews and to take with him the elders of Yisroel and the rod with which he smote the river. Acting upon Hashem's instructions, Moshe hits a rock in front of the elders, producing a stream of water. Moshe names the location Massah and Merivah after the quarrel of the Jews and their test to see if Hashem was among them or not. |
==Battle of Amalek== | ==Battle of Amalek== |