וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

דַּבֵּר֮ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וְיָשֻׁ֗בוּ וְיַחֲנוּ֙ לִפְנֵי֙ פִּ֣י הַחִירֹ֔ת בֵּ֥ין מִגְדֹּ֖ל וּבֵ֣ין הַיָּ֑ם לִפְנֵי֙ בַּ֣עַל צְפֹ֔ן נִכְח֥וֹ תַחֲנ֖וּ עַל־הַיָּֽם׃

Speak to the children of Israel, that they return in the direction of Egypt and encamp before Pi HaHirot, a famous place at the time. The name Pi is Egyptian. It is located between Migdol and the Red Sea, before the pagan god Baal Tzefon. Opposite it you shall encamp, by the sea. On their way to Canaan, the Israelites did not need to cross the Red Sea. From the eastern bank of the Nile, their way was open toward the Land of Israel, even if the Red Sea once extended further north than it does today. Still, God instructed Moses to turn from their route and camp by the sea.

וְאָמַ֤ר פַּרְעֹה֙ לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל נְבֻכִ֥ים הֵ֖ם בָּאָ֑רֶץ סָגַ֥ר עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם הַמִּדְבָּֽר׃

Pharaoh will then say of the children of Israel: They are astray in the land. They have lost their way, and are doubling back. The wilderness has closed in on them, allowing them to travel no further.

וְחִזַּקְתִּ֣י אֶת־לֵב־פַּרְעֹה֮ וְרָדַ֣ף אַחֲרֵיהֶם֒ וְאִכָּבְדָ֤ה בְּפַרְעֹה֙ וּבְכָל־חֵיל֔וֹ וְיָדְע֥וּ מִצְרַ֖יִם כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵֽן׃

I will harden Pharaoh’s heart. After the plagues, the ruin, and the destruction inflicted upon Egypt, Pharaoh’s heart will be hardened one last time, and he will pursue them; and I will be exalted through Pharaoh, and through his entire army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord, for something will occur now more miraculous than the plagues of Egypt. And they, the Israelites, did so.

וַיֻּגַּד֙ לְמֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרַ֔יִם כִּ֥י בָרַ֖ח הָעָ֑ם וַ֠יֵּהָפֵךְ לְבַ֨ב פַּרְעֹ֤ה וַעֲבָדָיו֙ אֶל־הָעָ֔ם וַיֹּֽאמרוּ֙ מַה־זֹּ֣את עָשִׂ֔ינוּ כִּֽי־שִׁלַּ֥חְנוּ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵעָבְדֵֽנוּ׃

Meanwhile, it was told to the king of Egypt that the people had fled. The three days originally agreed upon (see 8:23–24) had passed, and the Israelites did not seem bound for any particular destination. The heart of Pharaoh and his servants was transformed with regard to the people, and they said: What is this that we have done, that we have sent Israel from our servitude? This nation of slaves filled an important economic function for us, and was part of our way of life. We did not mean to set them free, only to allow them a respite.

וַיֶּאְסֹ֖ר אֶת־רִכְבּ֑וֹ וְאֶת־עַמּ֖וֹ לָקַ֥ח עִמּֽוֹ׃

He harnessed his chariot. Pharaoh commanded that his horses be harnessed to his personal chariot. And he took his people, his soldiers, with him.

וַיִּקַּ֗ח שֵׁשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת רֶ֙כֶב֙ בָּח֔וּר וְכֹ֖ל רֶ֣כֶב מִצְרָ֑יִם וְשָׁלִשִׁ֖ם עַל־כֻּלּֽוֹ׃

He took six hundred select chariots, the best he had. These were the elite forces of Egypt, whose size is comparable to that of a modern armored division. And he took as well all the chariots of Egypt; chariots played a dominant role in Egypt’s military. A nd there were auxiliaries with all of them. In addition to the driver, who held the reins, and the warrior, who held a weapon, usually a bow, as seen in ancient Egyptian drawings, Pharaoh added an officer over each chariot.

וַיְחַזֵּ֣ק יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶת־לֵ֤ב פַּרְעֹה֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרַ֔יִם וַיִּרְדֹּ֕ף אַחֲרֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל יֹצְאִ֖ים בְּיָ֥ד רָמָֽה׃

The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; the children of Israel went out with a high hand, not as escapees.

וַיִּרְדְּפ֨וּ מִצְרַ֜יִם אַחֲרֵיהֶ֗ם וַיַּשִּׂ֤יגוּ אוֹתָם֙ חֹנִ֣ים עַל־הַיָּ֔ם כָּל־סוּס֙ רֶ֣כֶב פַּרְעֹ֔ה וּפָרָשָׁ֖יו וְחֵיל֑וֹ עַל־פִּי֙ הַֽחִירֹ֔ת לִפְנֵ֖י בַּ֥עַל צְפֹֽן׃

Egypt pursued them; all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh and his horsemen and his army caught up with them encamped by the sea, by Pi HaHirot, before Baal Tzefon.

וּפַרְעֹ֖ה הִקְרִ֑יב וַיִּשְׂאוּ֩ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל אֶת־עֵינֵיהֶ֜ם וְהִנֵּ֥ה מִצְרַ֣יִם ׀ נֹסֵ֣עַ אַחֲרֵיהֶ֗ם וַיִּֽירְאוּ֙ מְאֹ֔ד וַיִּצְעֲק֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־יְהוָֽה׃

Pharaoh approached the Israelite encampment; the children of Israel lifted their eyes and behold, the forces of the Egyptians were traveling after them, and they were very frightened. They were startled to see an entire army advancing on them. Despite all the losses that the Egyptian army suffered during the plagues, they had enough animals left to mount a campaign. The children of Israel cried out to the Lord.

וַיֹּאמְרוּ֮ אֶל־מֹשֶׁה֒ הַֽמִבְּלִ֤י אֵין־קְבָרִים֙ בְּמִצְרַ֔יִם לְקַחְתָּ֖נוּ לָמ֣וּת בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר מַה־זֹּאת֙ עָשִׂ֣יתָ לָּ֔נוּ לְהוֹצִיאָ֖נוּ מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃

After crying out to God, they said to Moses: Is it due to the lack of graves in Egypt that you took us to die in the wilderness? If we are to die now, we might as well have died in Egypt, without going through the trouble of traveling through the desert. What is this that you have done to us, to take us out of Egypt? They, as much as Pharaoh, were filled with regret at their release (see above, 14:5).

הֲלֹא־זֶ֣ה הַדָּבָ֗ר אֲשֶׁר֩ דִּבַּ֨רְנוּ אֵלֶ֤יךָ בְמִצְרַ֙יִם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר חֲדַ֥ל מִמֶּ֖נּוּ וְנַֽעַבְדָ֣ה אֶת־מִצְרָ֑יִם כִּ֣י ט֥וֹב לָ֙נוּ֙ עֲבֹ֣ד אֶת־מִצְרַ֔יִם מִמֻּתֵ֖נוּ בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃

Is this not the matter of which we spoke to you in Egypt, saying: Let us be; stop tempting us with the unrealistic prospect of leaving Egypt for a good and spacious land, and we will serve Egypt? For serving Egypt is preferable to us to dying in the wilderness. Already in Egypt we told you to leave us to our work and not to fill our heads with unattainable dreams; now you see that your dreams were for nothing.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֣ה אֶל־הָעָם֮ אַל־תִּירָאוּ֒ הִֽתְיַצְב֗וּ וּרְאוּ֙ אֶת־יְשׁוּעַ֣ת יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם כִּ֗י אֲשֶׁ֨ר רְאִיתֶ֤ם אֶת־מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ הַיּ֔וֹם לֹ֥א תֹסִ֛יפוּ לִרְאֹתָ֥ם ע֖וֹד עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃

Moses said to the people: Fear not; stand and see the salvation of the Lord that He will perform for you today; for as you saw the Egyptians today, you shall not see them ever again. God’s salvation will ensure that they never threaten you again.

יְהוָ֖ה יִלָּחֵ֣ם לָכֶ֑ם וְאַתֶּ֖ם תַּחֲרִישֽׁוּן׃ (פ)

The Lord will make war for you, and you will not need to do anything; rather, you will be silent.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה מַה־תִּצְעַ֖ק אֵלָ֑י דַּבֵּ֥ר אֶל־בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וְיִסָּֽעוּ׃

The Lord said to Moses: For what are you crying out to Me? This is no time for lengthy prayers; you need to act. Speak to the children of Israel that they will travel. It seemed as though the Israelites had no means of escape. They could not retreat, since that would send them into the arms of the Egyptian army. Perhaps they could have run to one side or another, but it is nearly certain that the Egyptians would have quickly caught them. God instead ordered them to march forward, into the sea.

וְאַתָּ֞ה הָרֵ֣ם אֶֽת־מַטְּךָ֗ וּנְטֵ֧ה אֶת־יָדְךָ֛ עַל־הַיָּ֖ם וּבְקָעֵ֑הוּ וְיָבֹ֧אוּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל בְּת֥וֹךְ הַיָּ֖ם בַּיַּבָּשָֽׁה׃

And you, raise your staff, and extend your hand over the sea, and you will thereby split it; and the children of Israel will go into the sea on dry land. That is, they will march into the sea, and it will turn into dry land.

וַאֲנִ֗י הִנְנִ֤י מְחַזֵּק֙ אֶת־לֵ֣ב מִצְרַ֔יִם וְיָבֹ֖אוּ אַחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם וְאִכָּבְדָ֤ה בְּפַרְעֹה֙ וּבְכָל־חֵיל֔וֹ בְּרִכְבּ֖וֹ וּבְפָרָשָֽׁיו׃

As for me, behold, I am hardening the heart of Egypt, and they will come after them. Were the Egyptians to act rationally, they would not choose to enter the sea in pursuit of the Israelites, since they had already been stricken by plagues that targeted them selectively. But because I am hardening their hearts, they will enter the sea. And I will be exalted through the demise of Pharaoh and through his entire army, through his chariots and through his horsemen.

וְיָדְע֥וּ מִצְרַ֖יִם כִּי־אֲנִ֣י יְהוָ֑ה בְּהִכָּבְדִ֣י בְּפַרְעֹ֔ה בְּרִכְבּ֖וֹ וּבְפָרָשָֽׁיו׃

Egypt will know that I am the Lord, when I am exalted through Pharaoh, through his chariots, and through his horsemen. All the power of Egypt is concentrated here. When I break that power, My honor will grow in the eyes of those Egyptians left alive who will hear of these events.

וַיִּסַּ֞ע מַלְאַ֣ךְ הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים הַהֹלֵךְ֙ לִפְנֵי֙ מַחֲנֵ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם וַיִּסַּ֞ע עַמּ֤וּד הֶֽעָנָן֙ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֔ם וַיַּֽעֲמֹ֖ד מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃

The angel of God, who was going before the camp of Israel, traveled and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud, which during the day embodied the angel of God and was always in front of the camp, traveled from before them and stood behind them, at the back of the camp.

וַיָּבֹ֞א בֵּ֣ין ׀ מַחֲנֵ֣ה מִצְרַ֗יִם וּבֵין֙ מַחֲנֵ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיְהִ֤י הֶֽעָנָן֙ וְהַחֹ֔שֶׁךְ וַיָּ֖אֶר אֶת־הַלָּ֑יְלָה וְלֹא־קָרַ֥ב זֶ֛ה אֶל־זֶ֖ה כָּל־הַלָּֽיְלָה׃

It, the cloud, came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel and there was the cloud and the darkness in the space between the camps, and it illuminated the night. erhaps the pillar of fire shone from within the cloud, or the pillar of cloud turned to fire, and thus lit up the night. On the Egyptian side, the cloud and darkness hid the Israelites from the view of the Egyptians; on the Israelite side, the fire illuminated the night. And one, the Egyptian camp, did not approach the other, the Israelite camp, the entire night, due to the thick fog separating them.

וַיֵּ֨ט מֹשֶׁ֣ה אֶת־יָדוֹ֮ עַל־הַיָּם֒ וַיּ֣וֹלֶךְ יְהוָ֣ה ׀ אֶת־הַ֠יָּם בְּר֨וּחַ קָדִ֤ים עַזָּה֙ כָּל־הַלַּ֔יְלָה וַיָּ֥שֶׂם אֶת־הַיָּ֖ם לֶחָרָבָ֑ה וַיִּבָּקְע֖וּ הַמָּֽיִם׃

Moses extended his hand over the sea, and the Lord moved the sea with a powerful east wind the entire night, and it rendered the sea dry land, and the water split.

וַיָּבֹ֧אוּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל בְּת֥וֹךְ הַיָּ֖ם בַּיַּבָּשָׁ֑ה וְהַמַּ֤יִם לָהֶם֙ חֹמָ֔ה מִֽימִינָ֖ם וּמִשְּׂמֹאלָֽם׃

The children of Israel came into the sea , but on dry land; and the water was a wall for them on their right and on their left. The sea did not disappear entirely. Rather, a path, or perhaps several paths, took shape, through which the Israelites could pass. Although dry strips of land may naturally appear in the water during low tide, here the water stood up like walls on either side of the Israelites.

וַיִּרְדְּפ֤וּ מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ אַחֲרֵיהֶ֔ם כֹּ֚ל ס֣וּס פַּרְעֹ֔ה רִכְבּ֖וֹ וּפָרָשָׁ֑יו אֶל־תּ֖וֹךְ הַיָּֽם׃

Egypt pursued and came after them. It is probable that as morning approached, the pillars of fire and cloud disappeared, and the Egyptians caught sight of the Israelites marching into the sea and gave chase. All Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen pursued them into the sea.

וַֽיְהִי֙ בְּאַשְׁמֹ֣רֶת הַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיַּשְׁקֵ֤ף יְהוָה֙ אֶל־מַחֲנֵ֣ה מִצְרַ֔יִם בְּעַמּ֥וּד אֵ֖שׁ וְעָנָ֑ן וַיָּ֕הָם אֵ֖ת מַחֲנֵ֥ה מִצְרָֽיִם׃

It was at the morning watch, the final third of the night, and the Lord looked down at the camp of Egypt and struck at them with a pillar of fire and cloud that approached the camp, and the Lord confounded the camp of Egypt.

וַיָּ֗סַר אֵ֚ת אֹפַ֣ן מַרְכְּבֹתָ֔יו וַֽיְנַהֲגֵ֖הוּ בִּכְבֵדֻ֑ת וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מִצְרַ֗יִם אָנ֙וּסָה֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּ֣י יְהוָ֔ה נִלְחָ֥ם לָהֶ֖ם בְּמִצְרָֽיִם׃ (פ)

He removed the wheels of its chariots and caused them to drive with difficulty. The pillars of fire and cloud caused the wheels to separate from their chariots. Even if only some of the wheels fell off, it caused the chariots to lose their balance, so that the horses could not pull them. This caused panic in the camp. The Egyptians could not move, let alone fight, so Egypt said: I will flee from before Israel, as the Lord is making war for them against Egypt. Now there can be no doubt that some supreme power is aiding them. This place is strange and dangerous; we would do well to flee.

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.