Shemos
Book 2: Exodus

BESHALACH

Chapter 13

Verse 17: When Pharaoh sent away the people El-him did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines although it was the shortest route; for El-him said, "The people might change their minds should they encounter war, and return to Egypt.

Verse 18: And so El-him led the people round-about by way of the Reed Sea Desert, and the B'nei Yisrael went up armed from the land of Egypt.

Verse 19: Moshe took the bones of Yoseif with him, for [Yoseif] had bound the B'nei Yisrael by oath saying, "El-him will surely remember you, and [then] you must carry up my bones out of here with you.

Verse 20: They journeyed from Sukkos and camped at Eisom at the edge of the desert.

Verse 21: Ad-noy went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them on the way, and at night in a pillar of fire to provide them with light, so that they could travel by day and by night.

Verse 22: He did not remove the pillar of cloud by day, or the pillar of fire at night, from before the people.

Chapter 14

Verse 1: Ad-noy spoke to Moshe saying:

Verse 2: "Speak to the B'nei Yisrael and have them turn back and camp before Pi haChiros, between Migdol and the sea, facing Ba'al Tzephon. Camp opposite it, near the sea."

Verse 3: Pharaoh will then say of the B'nei Yisrael, "They are confused in the land, the desert has shut [trapped] them in."

Verse 4: I will harden Pharaoh's heart and he will pursue them. and I will be glorified through Pharaoh and his entire army. Egypt will [then] know that I am Ad-noy." They [the B'nei Yisrael] did just that.

Verse 5: The king of Egypt was told that the people had fled. Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart regarding the people, and they said, "What have we done? [How did] we release Israel from serving us?

Verse 6: He [Pharaoh] harnessed his chariot and he took his people with him.

Verse 7: He took six hundred elite chariots [and crews], and all the [other] chariots of Egypt, and commanders over all of them.

Verse 8: Ad-noy hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he pursued the B'nei Yisrael. The B'nei Yisrael went out high handedly [in triumph].

Sheini (Second Aliyah)

Verse 9: The Egyptians pursued them and overtook them as they were encamped by the sea. There were all Pharaoh's chariot horses, his cavalry and his army [infantry], at Pi haChiros, facing Ba'al Tzephon.

Verse 10: Pharaoh drew near, and the B'nei Yisrael looked up, and beheld the Egyptians coming after them. They were very frightened, and the B'nei Yisrael cried out to Ad-noy.

Verse 11: They said to Moshe, "Were there not enough graves in Egypt that you took us out to die in the desert? What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt?

Verse 12: This is the [exact] thing that we told you in Egypt saying, 'Leave us alone and let us serve the Egyptians.' It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than we should die in the desert."

Verse 13: Moshe said to the people, "Do not be afraid, stand firm and you will see the deliverance of Ad-noy, which He will perform for you this day, for the Egyptians you have seen this day you will never again see them, even to eternity.

Verse 14: Ad-noy will fight for you, and you [must] remain silent.

Sh'lishi (Third Aliyah)

Verse 15: Ad-noy said to Moshe, "Why do you cry to Me? Speak to the B'nei Yisrael and let them move on.

Verse 16: And you [do as follows], raise your staff and extend your hand over the sea and split it. The B'nei Yisrael will then come [across] in the midst of the sea on dry land.

Verse 17: I will harden the heart of the Egyptians and they will follow after them. I will be glorified through Pharaoh and his entire army, his chariots and his cavalry.

Verse 18: The Egyptians will know that I am Ad-noy when I am glorified through Pharaoh, his chariots and cavalry.

Verse 19: The angel of El-him moved [from its position] when it traveled in front of the camp of Israel, and went behind them. The pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and it stood behind them.

Verse 20: It came between the Egyptian camp and the camp of Yisrael. There was the cloud and darkness [for the Egyptians] and it [the pillar of fire] lit up the night. The camps did not approach each other all that night.

Verse 21: Moshe extended his hand over the sea and Ad-noy turned back the sea with a strong east wind [blowing] all through the night. He made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided.

Verse 22: The B'nei Yisrael went into the midst of the sea on dry land. The waters were like a wall to them, to their right and to their left.

Verse 23: The Egyptians pursued and followed them--- all of Pharaoh's horses, his chariots and his cavalry--- into the middle of the sea.

Verse 24: It was the morning watch [the end of the night] Ad-noy gazed down at the Egyptians camp through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He caused panic in the Egyptian camp.

Verse 25: He removed the wheels of their chariots and made them move heavily [clumsily]. The Egyptians said, "Let us flee the [B'nei] Yisrael, for Ad-noy is fighting for them against Egypt."

Revi'i (Fourth Aliyah)

Verse 26: Ad-noy said to Moshe, "Extend your hand over the sea, and the water will come back over the Egyptians, [over] their chariots and their cavalry."

Verse 27: Moshe extended his hand over the sea, and, toward morning, the sea returned to its strength while the Egyptians were fleeing toward it. Ad-noy overturned the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.

Verse 28: The waters returned and covered the chariots, and the cavalry, including Pharaoh's entire army which had followed them into the sea. Not one of them remained [alive].

Verse 29: The B'nei Yisrael walked on dry land in the midst of the sea. For them the waters were a wall to their right and to their left.

Verse 30: On that day Ad-noy delivered [B'nei] Yisrael from the hand of Egypt. [B'nei] Yisrael saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.

Verse 31: [B'nei] Yisrael saw the great hand which Ad-noy wielded against Egypt. The people feared Ad-noy, and believed in Ad-noy and [that] Moshe [was] His servant.

Chapter 15

Verse 1: Then Moshe and the B'nei Yisrael sang this song to Ad-noy and they said, I will sing to Ad-noy for He is most high, horse and its rider He threw into the sea.

Verse 2: The strength and retribution of G-d was the cause of my deliverance. This is my Almighty and I will glorify Him; the G-d of my father and I will exalt Him.

Verse 3: Ad-noy is the master of war, Ad-noy is His Name.

Verse 4: Pharaoh's chariots and army He hurled into the sea; his elite officers were sunk in the Reed Sea.

Verse 5: The depths covered them, they sank into the shadowy depths like stone.

Verse 6: Your right hand Ad-noy, is adorned with power, Your right hand Ad-noy, crushes the enemy.

Verse 7: In Your great majesty, You destroy Your opponents; You send forth Your fury, it consumes them like straw.

Verse 8: Through the wind [breath] of Your nostrils, the waters were heaped up, flowing water stood like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.

Verse 9: The enemy said, "I will pursue [them], I will overtake [them], I will divide the spoils, I will satisfy myself; I will draw my sword, my hand will destroy them."

Verse 10: You made Your wind blow, the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

Verse 11: Who is like You among the mighty, Ad-noy! Who is like You, adorned in holiness, Awesome in praise, doing wonders?

Verse 12: You extended Your right hand, the earth swallowed them.

Verse 13: In Your kindliness You led the people You redeemed; with Your might You guided them to Your holy dwelling place.

Verse 14: Peoples heard and they tremble, terror gripped the inhabitants of Philistia.

Verse 15: Then the chiefs of Edom panicked, the mighty men of Moav were seized with trembling; all the inhabitants of Canaan melted away.

Verse 16: Horror and dread fall upon them, at the greatness of Your arm, they are still as stone; until this people cross over, Ad-noy, until Your people You acquired cross over.

Verse 17: You will bring them and plant them on the mountain of Your inheritance, the place for Your habitation, which You, Ad-noy have made; the Sanctuary---my Master--- [which] Your hands established.

Verse 18: Ad-noy will reign forever and ever.

Verse 19: When Pharaoh came with his horse and chariot and his cavalry into the sea, Ad-noy returned the waters of the sea on them; and the B'nei Yisrael walked on dry land in the midst of the sea.

Verse 20: Miriam the prophetess, sister of Aharon, took the drum in her hand; and all the women followed her with drums and dancing.

Verse 21: Miriam led them in the response: "Sing to Ad-noy for He is most high; horse and its rider He hurled into the sea."

Verse 22: Moshe led [B'nei] Yisrael away from the Reed Sea, and they went out into the desert of Shur, they traveled for three days in the desert and they did not find any water.

Verse 23: They came to Marah but they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter. The place was therefore called Marah [bitter].

Verse 24: The people complained to Moshe saying, "What shall we drink?"

Verse 25: He [Moshe] cried out to Ad-noy, Ad-noy showed him a tree and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There He set before them statutes and ordinances, and there He tested them.

Verse 26: He said [to them,] "If you vigilantly obey the voice of Ad-noy, your G-d, and do what is upright in His eyes, give ear to His commandments, and preserve all His statutes; [then], every sickness that I brought upon Egypt, I will not bring upon you, for I am Ad-noy, Who heals you.

Chamishi (Fifth Aliyah)

Verse 27: Then they came to Eilim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy date palms. and they camped the by the water.

Chapter 16

Verse 1: They journeyed from Eilim, and the entire community of the B'nei Yisrael came to the desert of Sin, which is between Eilim and Sinai. It was the fifteenth day of the second month after they went out of the land of Egypt.

Verse 2: The entire community of the B'nei Yisrael complained against Moshe and Aharon in the desert.

Verse 3: The B'nei Yisrael said to them, "If only we had died by the hand of Ad-noy in the land of Egypt, when we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, for you have brought us out to this desert to cause this entire congregation to die of starvation."

Verse 4: Ad-noy said to Moshe, "Behold, I will make bread rain from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather enough for each day, that I may test them [to see] if they will walk in [the way of] My teaching or not.

Verse 5: On the sixth day [when] they prepare what they bring [home], it will be twice as much as they gather every [other] day."

Verse 6: Moshe and Aharon said to all the B'nei Yisrael, "In the evening you will know that [it is] Ad-noy [Who] brought you out from the land of Egypt.

Verse 7: And in the morning you will see the glory of Ad-noy, for He has heard your complaints against Ad-noy. But what are we that you cause complaints against us?"

Verse 8: [Then] Moshe said, "When Ad-noy gives you meat to eat in the evening, and a filling meal of bread in the morning, Ad-noy will have heard your complaints, that you cause complaints against Him. What are we? Your complaints are not against us but against Ad-noy."

Verse 9: Then Moshe said to Aharon, "Say to the entire community of the B'nei Yisrael: Come near before Ad-noy, for He has heard your complaints."

Verse 10: As Aharon spoke to the entire community of the B'nei Yisrael, they turned toward to the desert, and behold the glory of Ad-noy was visible in the cloud.

Shishi (Sixth Aliyah)

Verse 11: Ad-noy spoke to Moshe saying,

Verse 12: "I have heard the complaints of the B'nei Yisrael. Speak to them saying, 'Between evenings [afternoon] you will eat meat, and in the morning you will have your fill of bread, and you will know that I am Ad-noy, your G-d.

Verse 13: It was evening and quails rose up and covered the camp. In the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp.

Verse 14: The layer of dew had risen, and behold, on the surface of the desert were thin [uncovered] flakes. It was as fine as frost on the ground.

Verse 15: The B'nei Yisrael saw it and said to one another, "It is a food," for they did not know [exactly] what [kind] it was. Moshe said to them, "This is the bread that Ad-noy is giving you to eat.

Verse 16: This is what Ad-noy has commanded: Each man shall gather his requirement of food. An omer per person, according to the number of your people. shall each man take for those in his tent."

Verse 17: The B'nei Yisrael did so. They gathered it, some more, some less.

Verse 18: However when they measured it with an omer, the one who had taken more had no extra, and the one who had taken less, was not lacking. They had gathered exactly enough for each one to eat.

Verse 19: Moshe said to them, "Let no man leave any over until morning."

Verse 20: They did not listen to Moshe, and some men left some over until morning. It became wormy and putrid, and Moshe was angry with them.

Verse 21: They gathered it each morning., each man according to what he would eat. [When] the sun became hot, it melted.

Verse 22: When the sixth day came, what they had gathered [was a] double [portion of] bread, two omers for each individual. All the leaders of the community came and told Moshe [about it].

Verse 23: He said to them, "This is what Ad-noy has said: Tomorrow is a [day of] rest, Ad-noy's holy Shabbos. Bake what you want to bake, and cook what you want to cook, and whatever is left over, put aside for yourselves, to preserve it until the morning."

Verse 24: They put it aside until morning as Moshe had commanded. It did not turn putrid and there were no worms in it.

Verse 25: Moshe said, "Eat it today, for today is Shabbos to Ad-noy. Today you will not find it [manna] in the field.

Verse 26: Six days you shall gather it, but the seventh day is Shabbos, there will be none on [that day]."

Verse 27: When the seventh day came some of the people went out to gather, but they found none.

Verse 28: Ad-noy said to Moshe, "How long will you refuse to keep My commandments and My teachings."

Verse 29: See, because Ad-noy gave you the Shabbos, therefore He gave you on the sixth day bread for two days. Every man must remain in his place. No man may go out of his place on the seventh day.

Verse 30: The people rested on the seventh day.

Verse 31: The House of Yisrael named it [the food] man[na]. It was like white coriander seed, and it tasted like wafers in honey.

Verse 32: Moshe said, "This is what Ad-noy has commanded: Fill an omer [measure] with it to preserve it for your generations. That they may see the bread with which I fed you in the desert when I brought you out of the land of Egypt."

Verse 33: Moshe said to Aharon, "Take a jar and put an omer full of manna in it, and place it before Ad-noy to be preserved for your generations."

Verse 34: As Ad-noy commanded Moshe, Aharon placed it before the Testimony for preservation.

Verse 35: The B'nei Yisrael ate the manna for forty years, until they came to an inhabited land. They ate the manna until they came to the edge of the land of Canaan.

Verse 36: The omer is a tenth of an eiphoh.

Shevi'i (Seventh Aliyah)

Chapter 17

Verse 1: The entire community of B'nei Yisrael journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, traveling according to the word of Ad-noy. They camped in Rephidim, and there was no water for the people to drink.

Verse 2: The people quarreled with Moshe, and said, "Give us water to drink." Moshe said to them, "Why are you quarreling with me? Why are you testing Ad-noy?"

Verse 3: The people were suffering thirst for [the lack of] water, and the people complained against Moshe and said, "Why did you bring us up from Egypt--- to kill me and my children, and my livestock with thirst?"

Verse 4: Moshe cried out to Ad-noy saying, "What shall I do for this people? Before long they will stone me."

Verse 5: Ad-noy said to Moshe, "Pass to the front of the people and take with you the elders of the [B'nei] Yisrael. The staff with which you struck the river; take in to your hand, and go.

Verse 6: Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Choreiv. You shall strike the rock and water will come out of it, and the people [will be able] to drink. Moshe did this in the sight [presence] of the elders of the [B'nei] Yisrael.

Verse 7: He [Moshe] named the place Massah and Merivah because the B'nei Yisrael had quarreled [Merivah] and because they had tested [Massah] Ad-noy, saying, "Is Ad-noy among us or not?"

Verse 8: Amaleik came and fought with [B'nei] Yisrael in Rephidim.

Verse 9: Moshe said to Yehoshua, "Choose men for us and go out to battle Amaleik. Tomorrow, I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of G-d in my hand."

Verse 10: Yehoshua did as Moshe told him--- to battle Amaleik. Moshe, Aharon and Chur went up to the top of the hill.

Verse 11: When Moshe raised his hand, [B'nei] Yisrael prevailed; but when he let his hand down [to rest] Amaleik prevailed.

Verse 12: Moshe's hands became heavy. They took a stone and placed it under him and he sat upon it. Aharon and Chur supported his hands, one of them on one side and one on the other side. His hands remained an expression of faith [as he prayed] until sunset.

Verse 13: Yehoshua weakened Amaleik and his people with the edge of the sword.

Maftir

Verse 14: Ad-noy said to Moshe, "Write this as a remembrance in the Book, [the Torah] and repeat it in Yehoshua's ears, for I will totally obliterate the memory of Amaleik from under the heavens.

Verse 15: Moshe built an altar and called it Ad-noy nissi [Ad-noy is my miracle].

Verse 16: He said, "The hand is on G-d's throne, Ad-noy will be at war with Amaleik for all generations."

Return to Main Search Form
Sources