וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה נְטֵ֥ה אֶת־יָדְךָ֖ עַל־הַיָּ֑ם וְיָשֻׁ֤בוּ הַמַּ֙יִם֙ עַל־מִצְרַ֔יִם עַל־רִכְבּ֖וֹ וְעַל־פָּרָשָֽׁיו׃

The Lord said to Moses: Extend your hand over the sea again, so that the water will return to its place, upon Egypt, upon its chariots, and upon its horsemen.

וַיֵּט֩ מֹשֶׁ֨ה אֶת־יָד֜וֹ עַל־הַיָּ֗ם וַיָּ֨שָׁב הַיָּ֜ם לִפְנ֥וֹת בֹּ֙קֶר֙ לְאֵ֣יתָנ֔וֹ וּמִצְרַ֖יִם נָסִ֣ים לִקְרָאת֑וֹ וַיְנַעֵ֧ר יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־מִצְרַ֖יִם בְּת֥וֹךְ הַיָּֽם׃

Moses extended his hand over the sea that had turned in just a few hours into dry land, and the sea returned to its original vigor before morning, as morning approached. The waters previously stood as walls on either side of the dry path; they now came crashing down into the Egyptians’ path as they fled toward the shore. And thus, Egypt was fleeing toward it, the water that came crashing down between them and the shore, and the Lord shook up the Egyptians in the sea.

וַיָּשֻׁ֣בוּ הַמַּ֗יִם וַיְכַסּ֤וּ אֶת־הָרֶ֙כֶב֙ וְאֶת־הַפָּ֣רָשִׁ֔ים לְכֹל֙ חֵ֣יל פַּרְעֹ֔ה הַבָּאִ֥ים אַחֲרֵיהֶ֖ם בַּיָּ֑ם לֹֽא־נִשְׁאַ֥ר בָּהֶ֖ם עַד־אֶחָֽד׃

The water returned to its normal state, and it covered the chariots and the horsemen, all the army of Pharaoh that came after them into the sea. The walls of water collapsed onto the Egyptians so forcefully that they wiped out their entire army. Not one of them remained. The chariots, horsemen, and infantry disappeared; all of them drowned in the supernaturally stormy waters.

וּבְנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל הָלְכ֥וּ בַיַּבָּשָׁ֖ה בְּת֣וֹךְ הַיָּ֑ם וְהַמַּ֤יִם לָהֶם֙ חֹמָ֔ה מִֽימִינָ֖ם וּמִשְּׂמֹאלָֽם׃

While the Egyptians drowned in the water, the children of Israel walked on the dry land in the sea; and the water was a wall for them on their right and on their left. It seems that these walls guided their route through the sea.

וַיּ֨וֹשַׁע יְהוָ֜ה בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֛וּא אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִיַּ֣ד מִצְרָ֑יִם וַיַּ֤רְא יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶת־מִצְרַ֔יִם מֵ֖ת עַל־שְׂפַ֥ת הַיָּֽם׃

The Lord saved Israel on that day from the hand of Egypt, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Dead bodies in the sea usually wash up on the shore; the Israelites thus saw a tremendous number of dead Egyptian soldiers on the beach.

וַיַּ֨רְא יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת־הַיָּ֣ד הַגְּדֹלָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֤ה יְהוָה֙ בְּמִצְרַ֔יִם וַיִּֽירְא֥וּ הָעָ֖ם אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה וַיַּֽאֲמִ֙ינוּ֙ בַּֽיהוָ֔ה וּבְמֹשֶׁ֖ה עַבְדּֽוֹ׃ (פ)

Israel saw the great power that the Lord wielded against Egypt. God’s ability to perform miracles was established beyond all doubt to the Israelites when they witnessed the unnatural behavior of the sea, the fate of the Egyptians, and their own salvation. And the people feared the Lord and believed in the Lord and in Moses, His servant. They saw with their own eyes that Moses acted according to the will of God, and that God had suspended the laws of nature in response to Moses’ actions.

אָ֣ז יָשִֽׁיר־מֹשֶׁה֩ וּבְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת־הַשִּׁירָ֤ה הַזֹּאת֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֵאמֹ֑ר אָשִׁ֤ירָה לַֽיהוָה֙ כִּֽי־גָאֹ֣ה גָּאָ֔ה ס֥וּס וְרֹכְב֖וֹ רָמָ֥ה בַיָּֽם׃

Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord. It seems that Moses led the people in song; he would sing a verse, and they would repeat it after him. The Talmud presents other opinions regarding the recitation of this song. And they said, saying: I will sing to the Lord, as He is highly exalted; He has exalted Himself by displaying His power, for the horse and its rider He cast into the sea.

עָזִּ֤י וְזִמְרָת֙ יָ֔הּ וַֽיְהִי־לִ֖י לִֽישׁוּעָ֑ה זֶ֤ה אֵלִי֙ וְאַנְוֵ֔הוּ אֱלֹהֵ֥י אָבִ֖י וַאֲרֹמְמֶֽנְהוּ׃

The Lord is my strength and song. The meaning of this Hebrew phrase is uncertain, though it occurs elsewhere in the Bible. Other interpretations have been suggested: The strength and song of God; a song of praise for God’s strength; strength expressed by God cutting down His foes; my strength is God’s and my song is directed to Him. And He has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will glorify Him . Some would translate this as: I will enshrine him; my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

יְהוָ֖ה אִ֣ישׁ מִלְחָמָ֑ה יְהוָ֖ה שְׁמֽוֹ׃

The Lord acted like He is a warrior by doing battle for us. The Lord is His name. He fought and no other, and in doing so revealed His name.

מַרְכְּבֹ֥ת פַּרְעֹ֛ה וְחֵיל֖וֹ יָרָ֣ה בַיָּ֑ם וּמִבְחַ֥ר שָֽׁלִשָׁ֖יו טֻבְּע֥וּ בְיַם־סֽוּף׃

Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He cast in the sea, and the elite of his officers were drowned in the Red Sea.

תְּהֹמֹ֖ת יְכַסְיֻ֑מוּ יָרְד֥וּ בִמְצוֹלֹ֖ת כְּמוֹ־אָֽבֶן׃

The deep covers them, Pharaoh’s army. They descended into the depths of the sea like a stone. One infers from the song that the Egyptians sank in stormy waters, which overcame them with tremendous force. They were tossed and thrown about in the waves.

יְמִֽינְךָ֣ יְהוָ֔ה נֶאְדָּרִ֖י בַּכֹּ֑חַ יְמִֽינְךָ֥ יְהוָ֖ה תִּרְעַ֥ץ אוֹיֵֽב׃

Your right hand, Lord, is glorious in power, Your power is enormous; Your right hand, Lord, shatters an enemy. Alternatively: Your right hand, Lord, glorious in power, shall shatter the enemy.

וּבְרֹ֥ב גְּאוֹנְךָ֖ תַּהֲרֹ֣ס קָמֶ֑יךָ תְּשַׁלַּח֙ חֲרֹ֣נְךָ֔ יֹאכְלֵ֖מוֹ כַּקַּֽשׁ׃

In the abundance of Your majesty You overthrow those who rise against You, Your enemies; You send forth Your wrath, which is sometimes likened to fire; it consumes them like flames consume straw.

וּבְר֤וּחַ אַפֶּ֙יךָ֙ נֶ֣עֶרְמוּ מַ֔יִם נִצְּב֥וּ כְמוֹ־נֵ֖ד נֹזְלִ֑ים קָֽפְא֥וּ תְהֹמֹ֖ת בְּלֶב־יָֽם׃

With the blast of Your nostrils, the strong east wind that blew through the night (14:21), the water was piled. Some translate this: The water became intelligent, behaved unnaturally. Fluids stood like a mound; the deep was congealed in the heart of the sea.

אָמַ֥ר אוֹיֵ֛ב אֶרְדֹּ֥ף אַשִּׂ֖יג אֲחַלֵּ֣ק שָׁלָ֑ל תִּמְלָאֵ֣מוֹ נַפְשִׁ֔י אָרִ֣יק חַרְבִּ֔י תּוֹרִישֵׁ֖מוֹ יָדִֽי׃

The enemy said: I will pursue, I will overtake the Israelites, I will divide the spoils after I defeat them. The Egyptians did not expect to engage in battle, but assumed they would easily overtake and capture the Israelites and plunder their possessions. My desire shall be sated upon them, I will devour them; I will draw my sword, my hand will dispossess them.

נָשַׁ֥פְתָּ בְרוּחֲךָ֖ כִּסָּ֣מוֹ יָ֑ם צָֽלֲלוּ֙ כַּֽעוֹפֶ֔רֶת בְּמַ֖יִם אַדִּירִֽים׃

But You blew with Your wind, and the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty water.

מִֽי־כָמֹ֤כָה בָּֽאֵלִם֙ יְהוָ֔ה מִ֥י כָּמֹ֖כָה נֶאְדָּ֣ר בַּקֹּ֑דֶשׁ נוֹרָ֥א תְהִלֹּ֖ת עֹ֥שֵׂה פֶֽלֶא׃

Who is like You among the powers, Lord? Who is like You, mighty in sanctity, awesome in praise, exalted in praise, performer of wonders?

נָטִ֙יתָ֙ יְמִ֣ינְךָ֔ תִּבְלָעֵ֖מוֹ אָֽרֶץ׃

One of the wonders You just performed: You extended Your right hand against the enemy and the earth swallowed them.

נָחִ֥יתָ בְחַסְדְּךָ֖ עַם־ז֣וּ גָּאָ֑לְתָּ נֵהַ֥לְתָּ בְעָזְּךָ֖ אֶל־נְוֵ֥ה קָדְשֶֽׁךָ׃

Until now, the song addressed the defeat of the enemies and their demise at sea. Now it turns in a new, softer direction: You guided with Your kindness, this people You redeemed; You directed them with Your strength to reach their ultimate goal, Your holy abode, the Land of Israel. Alternatively, this is a prophecy for the future: You will direct them with Your strength until they reach Your holy abode, the Land of Israel.

שָֽׁמְע֥וּ עַמִּ֖ים יִרְגָּז֑וּן חִ֣יל אָחַ֔ז יֹשְׁבֵ֖י פְּלָֽשֶׁת׃

Since the song refers to the march to the Land of Israel, it addresses the dramatic impact of the exodus and the parting of the Red Sea on the surrounding nations: Nations, when they heard, they were agitated; trembling has gripped the inhabitants of Philistia. The Philistines feared the Israelites would pass through their land.

אָ֤ז נִבְהֲלוּ֙ אַלּוּפֵ֣י אֱד֔וֹם אֵילֵ֣י מוֹאָ֔ב יֹֽאחֲזֵ֖מוֹ רָ֑עַד נָמֹ֕גוּ כֹּ֖ל יֹשְׁבֵ֥י כְנָֽעַן׃

Then the chieftains of Edom were alarmed, lest the Israelites cross their borders; trembling gripped the powers, the leaders, of Moav; all the inhabitants of Canaan have dissipated, as they knew that the Israelites were marching toward their land.

תִּפֹּ֨ל עֲלֵיהֶ֤ם אֵימָ֙תָה֙ וָפַ֔חַד בִּגְדֹ֥ל זְרוֹעֲךָ֖ יִדְּמ֣וּ כָּאָ֑בֶן עַד־יַעֲבֹ֤ר עַמְּךָ֙ יְהוָ֔ה עַֽד־יַעֲבֹ֖ר עַם־ז֥וּ קָנִֽיתָ׃

May dread and fear fall over them; with the display of the greatness of Your arm may they be stilled as a stone from fear; until Your people will pass to their destination, Lord, until this people whom You have acquired will pass.

תְּבִאֵ֗מוֹ וְתִטָּעֵ֙מוֹ֙ בְּהַ֣ר נַחֲלָֽתְךָ֔ מָכ֧וֹן לְשִׁבְתְּךָ֛ פָּעַ֖לְתָּ יְהוָ֑ה מִקְּדָ֕שׁ אֲדֹנָ֖י כּוֹנְנ֥וּ יָדֶֽיךָ׃

Eventually, You will bring them, the Israelites, and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, the place You fashioned for Your dwelling, Lord, the Sanctuary, my Lord, that Your hands have already established. This is the intended goal toward which the Israelites are directed: They will enter Canaan, settle it, and build the Temple of God.

יְהוָ֥ה ׀ יִמְלֹ֖ךְ לְעֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃

The Lord shall reign forever and ever.

כִּ֣י בָא֩ ס֨וּס פַּרְעֹ֜ה בְּרִכְבּ֤וֹ וּבְפָרָשָׁיו֙ בַּיָּ֔ם וַיָּ֧שֶׁב יְהוָ֛ה עֲלֵהֶ֖ם אֶת־מֵ֣י הַיָּ֑ם וּבְנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל הָלְכ֥וּ בַיַּבָּשָׁ֖ה בְּת֥וֹךְ הַיָּֽם׃ (פ)

The verse provides a prose summary of the song: For the horses of Pharaoh came with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord returned the water of the sea upon them to drown them; and the children of Israel walked on dry land in the sea. The Israelites did not walk on land that had historically been sea but had become shallow and fordable. Rather, the area of their passage turned miraculously from sea into dry land at God’s command so that the Israelites could pass.

וַתִּקַּח֩ מִרְיָ֨ם הַנְּבִיאָ֜ה אֲח֧וֹת אַהֲרֹ֛ן אֶת־הַתֹּ֖ף בְּיָדָ֑הּ וַתֵּצֶ֤אןָ כָֽל־הַנָּשִׁים֙ אַחֲרֶ֔יהָ בְּתֻפִּ֖ים וּבִמְחֹלֹֽת׃

Miriam the prophetess, sister of Aaron, took the drum in her hand, and all the women came out after her with drums and in dance. Alternatively: With tambourines and with hollow [ ḥalul ], or round, instruments.

וַתַּ֥עַן לָהֶ֖ם מִרְיָ֑ם שִׁ֤ירוּ לַֽיהוָה֙ כִּֽי־גָאֹ֣ה גָּאָ֔ה ס֥וּס וְרֹכְב֖וֹ רָמָ֥ה בַיָּֽם׃ (ס)

As the women sang and danced, Miriam called and sang to them the first verse of the Song by the Sea: Sing to the Lord, as He is highly exalted, the horse and its rider He cast into the sea; and all the women followed Miriam in song.

וַיַּסַּ֨ע מֹשֶׁ֤ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מִיַּם־ס֔וּף וַיֵּצְא֖וּ אֶל־מִדְבַּר־שׁ֑וּר וַיֵּלְכ֧וּ שְׁלֹֽשֶׁת־יָמִ֛ים בַּמִּדְבָּ֖ר וְלֹא־מָ֥צְאוּ מָֽיִם׃

Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out to the wilderness of Shur on the western edge of the Sinai. From the fact that the wilderness of Shur is mentioned in the story of Hagar’s wanderings, it is apparent that this wilderness is not very far from Canaan. They walked three days in the wilderness, and did not find water to drink.

וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ מָרָ֔תָה וְלֹ֣א יָֽכְל֗וּ לִשְׁתֹּ֥ת מַ֙יִם֙ מִמָּרָ֔ה כִּ֥י מָרִ֖ים הֵ֑ם עַל־כֵּ֥ן קָרָֽא־שְׁמָ֖הּ מָרָֽה׃

They came to Mara, perhaps adjacent to one of the saltwater lakes near the Nile, and they could not drink the water from Mara, as it is bitter. Therefore, its name is called Mara, meaning bitter.

וַיִּלֹּ֧נוּ הָעָ֛ם עַל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹ֖ר מַה־נִּשְׁתֶּֽה׃

The people complained against Moses, saying: What will we drink? For three days we have found no water in the wilderness. Now that we have finally reached a body of water, it is undrinkable.

וַיִּצְעַ֣ק אֶל־יְהוָ֗ה וַיּוֹרֵ֤הוּ יְהוָה֙ עֵ֔ץ וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ֙ אֶל־הַמַּ֔יִם וַֽיִּמְתְּק֖וּ הַמָּ֑יִם שָׁ֣ם שָׂ֥ם ל֛וֹ חֹ֥ק וּמִשְׁפָּ֖ט וְשָׁ֥ם נִסָּֽהוּ׃

He, Moses, cried out to the Lord, and the Lord indicated the natural properties of a certain tree to him, and he cast it into the waters, and the waters sweetened from their contact with the tree. Apparently, the Israelites stayed for a time at Mara, for there He, God, instituted for it statutes and ordinances. Until now, the Israelites were largely commanded to observe laws connected specifically to the exodus and the paschal offering. Now, however, they were ready to receive new laws and commandments. At Mara, the Israelites received a few ritual commandments and civil laws; the Sages identify these based on oral tradition. And there He tested it, Israel, by the bitter waters. In this case, the Israelites passed the test and became stronger for it.

וַיֹּאמֶר֩ אִם־שָׁמ֨וֹעַ תִּשְׁמַ֜ע לְק֣וֹל ׀ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ וְהַיָּשָׁ֤ר בְּעֵינָיו֙ תַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה וְהַֽאֲזַנְתָּ֙ לְמִצְוֺתָ֔יו וְשָׁמַרְתָּ֖ כָּל־חֻקָּ֑יו כָּֽל־הַמַּֽחֲלָ֞ה אֲשֶׁר־שַׂ֤מְתִּי בְמִצְרַ֙יִם֙ לֹא־אָשִׂ֣ים עָלֶ֔יךָ כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהוָ֖ה רֹפְאֶֽךָ׃ (ס)

God said: If you heed the voice of the Lord your God and will perform that which is right in His eyes and listen to His commandments and observe all His statutes, all of the diseases that I placed on Egypt I will not place upon you, as I am the Lord your healer, and I will protect you from sickness.