Esnoga Bet Emunah - 227 Millset Chase# - San Antonio, Texas 78253

Targum Pseudo-Jonathan

Shemot (Exodus) 13:17 – 15:26

AND it was when Pharoh had released the people, that the Lord did not conduct them by the way of the land of the Phelishtaee though. that was the near one; for the Lord said, Lest the people be afraid in seeing their brethren who were killed in war, two hundred thousand men of strength of the tribe of Ephraim, who took shields, and lances, and weapons of war, and went down to Gath to carry off the flocks of the Phelishtaee; and because they transgressed against the statute of the Word of the Lord, and went forth from Mizraim three years before the (appointed) end of their servitude, they were delivered into the hand of the Phelishtaee, who slew them. These are the dry bones which the Word of the Lord restored to life by the ministry (hand) of Yechezekel the prophet, in the vale of Dura; but which, if they (now) saw them, they would be afraid, and return into Mizraim. But the Lord led the people round by the way of the desert of the sea of Suph; and every one of the sons of Israel, with five children, went up from the land of Mizraim. And Mosheh carried up the ark in which were the bones of Joseph, from out of the Nile, and took them with him; because, adjuring, he adjured the sons of Israel, saying, The Lord will surely remember you, and you shall carry up my bones with you.

And they journeyed from Succoth, the place where they had been covered with the clouds of glory, and sojourned in Ethan, which is on the side of the desert. [[JERUSALEM. And the Word of the Lord conducted the people by the way of the desert of the sea of Suph; armed with good works went up the sons of Israel, free from the land of Mizraim. 19. For, adjuring, he adjured the sons of Israel, saying, The Lord remembering; will remember you in His Word, and in His good mercies. 20. Which comes upon the end of the desert.] And the glory of the Shekinah of the Lord went before them by day in the column of the Cloud to lead them in the way, and at night the column of the Cloud removed behind them to darken on their pursuers behind them; but to be a column of fire to enlighten them before, that they might go forward by day and by night. The column of the Cloud departed not by day, nor the column of fire by night, in leading on before the people. [JERUSALEM. It ceased not.]

XIV. And the Lord spoke to Mosheh, saying, Speak to the sons of Israel, that they return back, and encamp before the Mouths of Hiratha, as they lie, created after the manner (likeness) of the children of men, male and female, and their eyes open to them: it is the place of Tanes, which is between Migdol and the sea, before the idol Zephon (Typhon), that is left of all the idols of Mizraim. For the Mizraee will say, More excellent is Baal Zephon than all idols, because it is left, and not smitten; and therefore will they come to worship it, and will find that you are encamped nigh unto it, on the border of the sea.

And Pharoh said to Dathan and Abiram, sons of Israel, who had remained in Mizraim, The people of the house of Israel are bewildered in the land: the idol Zephon hath shut them in close upon the desert. [JERUSALEM. 2. And they shall return and encamp before the caravans of Hiratha, between Migdol and the sea, before the idol of Zephon, ye shall encamp over against it. And Pharoh will say concerning the people of the sons of Israel, They are losing themselves in the wilderness: the idol of Peor hath shut them in before the desert.] And I will strengthen the design of Pharoh's heart to pursue after them, and I will be glorified upon Pharoh and upon his hosts, and the Mizraee shall know that I am the Lord. And they did so.

And the officers who went with Israel announced that the people had fled. [JERUSALEM. And it was declared to the king.] And the heart of Pharoh and his servants was turned unto evil against the people; and they said, What is this that we have done? For we have released Israel from serving us. And he himself prepared his chariot, and his people led he with him by soft words. And he took six hundred choice chariots, and all the chariots of the Mizraee his servants, who were afraid of the Word of the Lord, lest they should be killed with pestilence, if not with hail: and a third mule, for drawing and following swiftly, he added to each chariot. And the Lord hardened the design of the heart of Pharoh king of Mizraim, and he pursued after the sons of Israel. But the sons of Israel, going out with a high hand, were stronger than the Mizraee. And the Mizraee followed after them, and came upon them as they were encamped by the sea, gathering of pearls and goodly stones, which the river Pishon had carried from the garden of Eden into the Gihon, and the Gihon had carried into the sea of Suph, and the sea of Suph bad cast upon its bank. But all the chariot horses of Pharoh, and his horsemen, and his hosts (were coming) towards the Mouths of Hiratha, which are before the idol Zephon. And Pharoh saw the idol Zephon (still) preserved, and offered oblations before it. And the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, beheld, the Mizraee were pursuing them; and they were sorely afraid, and the children of Israel prayed before the Lord. But the wicked generation said to Mosheh, Because there were no places of burial for us in Mizraim, have you led us forth to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, in bringing us out of Mizraim? Was not this the word that we spoke to you in Mizraim, Let the Lord manifest Himself over us and judge, saying, Desist from us, and we will serve the Mizraee? For it is better for us to serve the Mizraee than to perish in the desert. [JERUSALEM. 9. But the sons of Israel had gone out free.... Before the caravans of Hiratha, before the idol Zephon.]

Four parties were made (among) the sons of Israel on the shore of the Weedy Sea: one said, Let us go down into the sea; another said, Let us return into Mizraim; another said Let us set against them the line of battle; and another said Let us raise a cry against them, and confound them. Unto the company which said, Let us go down to the sea, spoke Mosheh, Fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which will be wrought for you today. To the company which said, Let us return into Mizraim Mosheh said, You shall not return; for, though you see the Mizraee today, you will see them no more for ever. To the company who said, Let us set against them the line of battle, said Mosheh, Contend not; for the victory shall be wrought among you from the presence of the Lord. And to the company who said. Let us raise a cry against them, Mosheh said, Be silent; and give the glory, and praise, and exaltation to your God.

And the Lord said to Mosheh, Why do you stand praying before Me? Behold, the prayers of My people have come before your own: speak to the sons of Israel, that they go forward; and you, lift up your rod, and stretch forth your hand with it over the sea, and divide it: and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of ,the sea upon the ground. For, behold, I will harden the design of the heart of the Mizraee, and they will go in after them; and I will be glorified upon Pharoh and upon all his hosts, upon his chariots and his horsemen; that the Mizraee may know that I am the Lord, when I am glorified upon Pharoh, upon his chariots and horsemen.

[JERUSALEM. 13. Four companies made the sons of Israel, standing by the Weedy Sea. One said, Let us fall upon the sea; another said, Let us return to Mizraim; another said, Let us array battle against them; and another said, Let us shout against them to confuse them. To that company who said, Let us fall upon the sea, Mosheh said, Fear not; stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord which shall be wrought for you this day. To the company who said, We will return unto Mizraim, Mosheh said, Fear not; for as you have seen the Mizraee today, you will see them no more in bondage for ever. To the company who said, We will array battle against them, Mosheh said, Fear not; the Lord, in the glory of His Shekinah, will work the victory for your hosts. To the company who had said, Let us shout against them to confound them, Mosheh said, Fear not; stand and be silent; and give the glory, and praise, and exaltation unto Eloha. 15. And the Word of the Lord said to Mosheh, How long will you stand praying before Me ? Heard before Me are your prayers; but the prayers of My people have preceded yours. Speak to the sons of Israel that they go forward; and you, lift, up your rod and stretch forth your hand.]

And the Angel of the Lord who led the way before the hosts of Israel went and came behind them; and the column of the Cloud went from before and stood behind them: because the Mizraee threw darts and stones at the Israelites, but the Cloud intercepted them and it came between the host of Israel and the host of the Mizraee; a cloud, one half of which was light and one half darkness. On the one side it darkened upon the Mizraee, and on the other side it shined upon Israel all night; and one host did not attack the other all the night.

And Mosheh stretched out his hand over the sea, with the great and glorious rod which was created at the beginning, and on which were engraven and set forth the Great and Glorious Name, and the ten signs which had smitten the Mizraee, and the three fathers of the world, and the six mothers, and the twelve tribes of Jakob: and straightway the Lord brought a vehement east wind upon the sea all night, and made the sea dry; and divided the waters into twelve divisions according to the twelve tribes of Jacob. [JERUSALEM. 20. And the cloud was half light and half darkness: light, it enlightened upon Israel; and darkness, it darkened upon Mizraim. And those came not against these, to set battle in order, all the night. 21. And he stretched forth.] And the children of Israel went through the midst of the sea upon the ground, and the waters were congealed like a wall, three hundred miles on their right hand and on their left.

And the Mizraee followed and went in after them, all the horses of Pharoh, and his chariots and horsemen, into the midst of the sea. And it was that in the morning watch, at the time that the powers on high come to offer praise, the Lord looked forth with anger upon the hosts of the Mizraee from the column of fire, to hurl upon them flakes of fire and hail, and from the column of cloud, and confounded the host of the Mizraee and He brake (or, made rough) the wheels of Pharoh's carriages, so that they drove them with hardship, and that they went on and left them behind. And the Mizraee said one to another, Let us flee from the people of the house of Israel; for this is the Word of the Lord who fought for them in Mizraim.

And the Lord said to Mosheh, Stretch forth your band over the sea that the waters may return upon the Mizraee, upon their chariots and upon their horsemen. And Mosheh stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned at the time of the morning unto its strength; and the Mizraee fled from before its waves. And the Lord strengthened the Mizraee in the midst of the sea, that they should not (soon) die in the midst of it, that they might receive the punishment which had been sent to them. [JERUSALEM. 24. And it was in the time of the morning that the Word of the Lord looked upon the host of the Mizraee, and hurled upon them bitumen (naphtha), and fire, and stones of hail, and conturbed the host of the Mizraee. And he unloosed the wheels of their carriages, so that they went, dragging them after the mules, going after their way before the wheels, were turned, so as that the wheels went before the mules, and they were cast into the sea. The Mizraee answered and said on to another, Let us flee from before the people of the sons of Israel; for this is the Word of the Lord who works victory for them in their battles; so that they set the back against Mizraim. 26. Stretch forth. 27. And Mosheh stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned at the time of the morning to its place.] And the waves of the sea returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharoh who had gone in after them, into the sea, not one among them was left. But the sons of Israel walked on the ground in the midst of the sea, and the waters to them were as walls on their right band and on their left. That day the Lord redeemed and saved Israel from the hand of the Mizraee; and Israel saw the Mizraee, dead and not dead, cast upon the shore of the sea. And Israel saw the power of the mighty hand by which the Lord had wrought the miracles in Mizraim; and the people feared before the Lord, and believed in the Name of the Word of the Lord, and in the prophecies of Mosheh His servant.

XV. Behold: then sang, Mosheh and the sons of Israel this song of praise before the Lord and saying they said:

Thanksgiving and praise we bring before the Lord Most High, who is glorified above the glorious, and exalted above the exalted; who punishes by His Word whomsoever glorifies himself before Him.

Therefore when Pharaoh the wicked bare himself proudly before the Lord, and, being uplifted in his heart, followed after the people of the sons of Israel, their horses and their chariots He threw and buried in the sea of Suph.

[JERUSALEM. Then sang Mosheh and the sons of Israel the praise of this song, before the Lord, saying, to say: Thanksgiving and praise bring we before the Lord, who is high above the highest, and glorified above the glorious, and who punishes by His Word whomsoever glorifies himself before Him. The horses and their riders, because they bare themselves proudly and followed after the people of the house of Israel, He has thrown and buried in the sea of Suph.]

The Lord is Mighty, and greatly to be feared over all the world. He spoke in His Word, and became to me a God of salvation.

From their mothers' breasts even the children have given signs with their fingers to their fathers, and said This is our God, who nourished us with honey from the rock, and with oil from the stone of clay, at the time when our mothers went forth upon the face of the field to give us birth, and leave us there; and He sent an angel who washed us and enwrapped us; and now will we praise Him: He is the God of our fathers, and we will exalt Him.

The sons of Israel said, The Lord is a man making war for us: from generation to generation He makes known His power unto the people of the house of Israel. The Lord is His Name; according to His Name, so is His power; His Name shall be blessed for ever and ever.

The chariots of Pharoh and his hosts He has cast into the sea; the goodliest of his young men hath He thrown and drowned in the sea of Suph. The deep covered them over, they went down and are buried in the depths of the sea, and are as silent as a stone.

Your right hand, O Lord, how glorious is it in power! Your right hand, O Lord, hath cut off the adversaries of Your people who rose against them to do them harm. And in the plenitude and greatness of Your majesty You have destroyed the walls of the enemies of Your people.

You wilt pour upon them Your fierce anger, You will consume them as the burning fire prevails over the stubble. For by the Word from before You the waters became heaps; they stood, as if bound like skins that confine flowing water, and the depths were congealed in the flood of the great sea.

Pharoh the wicked, the hater and adversary, did say, I will follow after the people of the sons of Israel, and will lay waste their camp on the bank of the sea: I will set war in array against them, and kill them, small and great, despoil them of much spoil, bring them back into great captivity, and divide their substance among my people who make war: and when my soul is satisfied with the blood of their slain, I will sheathe my sword, having, destroyed them with my right hand.

[JERUSALEM. The Lord is Mighty, and greatly to be praised and feared over all the world. He spoke in His Word, and for us became salvation.

[From their mothers' breasts have even the children given signs with their fingers unto the fathers, and have said to them, This is our Father, who nourished us with honey from the rock, and gave us oil from the stone of clay.

[The sons of Israel answered and said one to another, He is our God, and we will praise Him; the God of our fathers, and we will exalt Him.

[The Lord in the glory of His Shekinah is He who works victory for your arms. From one generation to another He makes known His power to the people of the house of Israel.

[His Name is the Lord: as is His Name, so is His power; let His name be glorified for ever and ever.

[Upon the chariots of Pharoh and his host He shot arrows in the sea; his goodly young men and his men of strength He hath drowned in the sea of Suph. How glorious is Your right hand, O Lord, in power, which has broken and shattered the walls of the enemies of Your people!

[Pharaoh the wicked, the hater and adversary, did say, I will follow after the people of the sons of Israel and will overtake them encamped at the side of the sea. I will lead them captive into great captivity, and despoil, them of great spoil; I will divide their substance among my men of war; and when my soul shall be satisfied with them, I will sheathe my sword, when I shall have destroyed them with my right hand.]

You did blow with the wind from before You, O Lord, and the waves of the sea covered them; they went down, and sank as lead in the proud waters.

Who is like unto You among the exalted gods, O Lord, who is like unto You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders and manifestations for Your people, the house of Israel?

The sea spoke to the earth, Receive but the earth spoke to the sea, Receive your murderers. And the sea was not willing to overwhelm them, and the earth was not willing to swallow them up. The earth was afraid to receive them, lest they should be required from her in the day of the great judgment in the world to come, even as the blood of Habel will be required of her: whereupon You, O Lord, did stretch forth Your right hand in swearing to the earth that in the world to come they should not be required of her. And the earth opened her mouth and consumed them.

[JERUSALEM. The sea and the earth had controversy one with the other. The sea said to the earth, Receive your children; and the earth said to the sea, Receive your murderers. But the earth willed not to swallow them, and the sea willed not to overwhelm them. And by the Word from before You, You did stretch forth Your right hand in oath, and did swear unto the earth that You will not require them of her in the world to come. Then did the earth open her mouth and swallow them up.]

You have led in Your mercy the people whom You have redeemed, and given them the heritage of the mountain of Your sanctuary, the place of the dwelling of Your holy Shekinah.

The nations will hear and be afraid; terror will lay hold upon them, even upon all the pillars of the inhabitants of the Palestinian land. Behold, then will the princes of the Edomites be confounded, the strong ones of Moaba will be seized with fear, their heart within them will melt away, even all the pillars of the inhabitants of the Kenaanian land.

Through the power of Your mighty arm, let the terrors of death fall upon them, let them be silent as a stone, till the time when Your people, O Lord, shall have passed the streams of Arnona, till the time when Your people whom You did ransom shall have crossed the dividing current of Jabeka.

You wilt bring them in, and plant them on the mountain of Your sanctuary, the place which You have provided before the throne of Your glory, the house of Your holy Shekinah, which You, O Lord, has prepared, Your sanctuary that with both hands You have established.

When the people of the house of Israel beheld the signs and manifestations which the Holy One, whose Name be praised, had done at the sea of Suph, and the power of His hand, the children of the captives answering said one to the other, Come, and let us set the crown of majesty on the head of our Redeemer, who makes to pass over, and passes not; who changes, and is not changed; whose is the crown of the kingdom; the King of kings in this world; whose, too, is the kingdom in the world to come, for ever and ever.

[JERUSALEM. 16. You will make the terror of death to fall upon them and undoing, by the power of Your mighty arm, that they shall be as silent as a stone, until this people whom You have redeemed shall have gone over the dividing stream of Jobeka and that of Jardena; till this people shall have passed over whom You have ransomed for Your Name. 17. You will bring them in, and will plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, the dwelling of the glory of Your holiness, which You O Lord, has prepared for Yourself, the sanctuary of the Lord that with both hands He has established. 18. When the house of Israel had beheld the signs and wonders that the Holy One, Blessed be He, had wrought for them at the border of the sea, let His great Name be blessed for ever and ever, they gave glory and thanksgiving and exaltation unto their God. The sons of Israel answered and said one to another, Come, let us set the crown upon the head of the Redeemer, who causes to pass over, but is not passed; who changes, but is not changed; the King of kings in this world; whose, too, is the crown of the kingdom of the world to come, and whose it will be for ever and ever.]

For Pharoh's horses with his chariots and horsemen went into the sea, and the Lord made the waters of the sea to return upon them; but the sons of Israel walked upon the land in the midst of the sea, and there did spring up sweet fountains and trees yielding food and verdure and ripe fruits, (even) on the ground of the sea.

And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aharon, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women came out after her, dancing with tambourines and playing on instruments. [JERUSALEM. With tambourines dancing.] And Miriam sang to them, Let us give thanks and praise before the Lord, for might and supremacy are His; above the proud He is glorified, and above the lofty He is exalted. When the wicked, Pharoh in his pride followed after the people of the sons of Israel, his horses and his chariots did He cast and drown in the sea of Suph.

And Mosheh made Israel go forward from the sea of Suph, and they went forth into the wilderness of Chalutsa. [JERUSALEM. The way of Chalutsa.] And they journeyed three days in the desert, empty of instruction, and found no water. And they came to Marah, but could not drink the waters of Marah because they were bitter; therefore he called the name of it Marah. And the people murmured against Mosheh, saying, What shall we drink? [JERUSALEM. And the people contended.] And he prayed before the Lord, and the Lord showed him the bitter tree of Ardiphne; and he wrote upon it the great and glorious Name, and cast it into the midst of the waters, and the waters were rendered sweet. And there did the Word of the Lord appoint to him the ordinance of the Sabbath, and the statute of honoring father and mother, the judgments concerning wounds and bruises, and the punishments wherewith offenders are punished; and there he tried (them) with the tenth trial, and said, If you will truly hearken to the Word of the Lord your God, and do that which is right before Him, and will listen to His precepts and keep all His statutes, all those evil things that I laid upon the Mizraee I will not lay upon you: but if you wilt transgress against the word of the law, upon you shall they be sent. If you convert, I will remove them from you; for I am the Lord your Healer. [JERUSALEM. 25. And Mosheh prayed before the Lord, and the Word of the Lord showed him the tree of Ardiphne, and he cast it into the midst of the waters, and the waters were made sweet. There did the Word of the Lord show unto him statutes and orders of judgment, and there He tried him with trials in the tenth trial. 26. For I am the Lord who heals you by My Word.] And they came to Elim; and in Elim were twelve fountains of water, a fountain for each tribe; and seventy palm trees, corresponding with the seventy elders of Israel: and they encamped there by the waters. [JERUSALEM. And they came to Elim, where were twelve fountains of water, answering to the twelve tribes of Israel, and seventy palm trees, answering to the seventy elders of the Sanhedrin of Israel.]

Ashlamatah Special:

II Samuel 22:1-51

1 ¶ And David spoke unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul;

2 ¶ and he said: The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

3 The God who is my rock, in Him I take refuge; my shield, and my horn of salvation, my high tower, and my refuge; my Savior, You saved me from violence.

4 Praised, I cry, is the LORD, and I am saved from mine enemies.

5 For the waves of Death compassed me. The floods of Belial {That is, the nether-world.} assailed me.

6 The cords of Sheol {That is, the nether-world.} surrounded me; the snares of Death confronted me.

7 In my distress I called upon the LORD, yea, I called unto my God; and out of His temple He heard my voice, and my cry did enter into His ears.

8 Then the earth did shake and quake, the foundations of heaven did tremble; they were shaken, because He was wroth.

9 Smoke arose up in His nostrils, and fire out of His mouth did devour; coals flamed forth from Him.

10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and thick darkness was under His feet.

11 And He rode upon a cherub, and did fly; yea, He was seen upon the wings of the wind.

12 And He made darkness pavilions round about Him, gathering of waters, thick clouds of the skies.

13 At the brightness before Him coals of fire flamed forth.

14 The LORD thundered from heaven, and the Most High gave forth His voice.

15 And He sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.

16 And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were laid bare by the rebuke of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils.

17 He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters;

18 He delivered me from mine enemy most strong, from them that hated me, for they were too mighty for me.

19 They confronted me in the day of my calamity; but the LORD was a stay unto me.

20 He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because He delighted in me.

21 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath He recompensed me.

22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

23 For all His ordinances were before me; and as for His statutes, I did not depart from them.

24 And I was single-hearted toward Him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

25 Therefore has the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in His eyes.

26 With the merciful You do show Yourself merciful, with the upright man You do show Yourself upright,

27 With the pure You do show myself pure; and with the crooked You do show Yourself subtle.

28 And the afflicted people You do save; but Your eyes are upon the haughty, that You may humble them.

29 For You are my lamp, O LORD; and the LORD does lighten my darkness.

30 For by You I run upon a troop; by my God do I scale a wall.

31 As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried; He is a shield unto all them that take refuge in Him.

32 For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a Rock, save our God?

33 The God who is my strong fortress, and who lets my way go forth straight;

34 Who makes my feet like hinds’, and sets me upon my high places;

35 Who trains my hands for war, so that mine arms do bend a bow of brass.

36 You have also given me Your shield of salvation; and Your condescension has made me great.

37 You have enlarged my steps under me, and my feet have not slipped.

38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; neither did I turn back till they were consumed.

39 And I have consumed them, and smitten them through, that they cannot arise; yea, they are fallen under my feet.

40 For You have girded me with strength unto the battle; You have subdued under me those that rose up against me.

41 You have also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me; yea, them that hate me, that I might cut them off.

42 They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but He answered them not.

43 Then did I beat them small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the streets, and did tread them down.

44 You also have delivered me from the contentions of my people; You have kept me to be the head of the nations; a people whom I have not known serve me.

45 The sons of the stranger dwindle away before me; as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.

46 The sons of the stranger fade away, and come halting out of their close places.

47 The LORD lives, and blessed be my Rock; and exalted be the God, my Rock of salvation;

48 Even the God that executes vengeance for me, and brings down peoples under me,

49 And that brings me forth from mine enemies; yea, You lift me up above them that rise up against me; You deliver me from the violent man.

50 Therefore I will give thanks unto You, O LORD, among the nations, and will sing praises unto Your name.

51 A tower of salvation is He to His king; and shows mercy to His Messiah, to David and to his seed, for evermore.

Targum on:

Psalm 107

1. ¶ Sing praise in the presence of the Lord, for he is good, for his goodness is forever.

2. The redeemed of the Lord will say [it], whom he redeemed from the hand of the oppressor.

3. And whom he gathered from the lands, from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the sea in the south.

4. Concerning the people of the house of Israel he prophesied and said, “The people of the house of Israel have wandered in the wilderness in a desolate path; they did not find an inhabited city.”

5. Thirsty, yes, and hungry, their souls will grow weary.

6. And they prayed in the presence of the Lord when it went ill with them; he delivered them from their distress.

7. And he guided them on a straight way, to come to Jerusalem, the inhabited city.

8. Let them give thanks in the presence of the Lord because of his kindness, and tell his wonders to the sons of men.

9. For he has satisfied the soul of the empty, and filled with good things the soul of the hungry.

10. ¶ Concerning Zedekiah and the leaders of Israel he prophesied and said, “O Zedekiah and the leaders of Israel, who were exiled to Babylon and dwelt in darkness and the shadow of death, and became prisoners in the pain of iron fetters.”

11. For they rebelled against the word of God, and rejected the counsel of the Most High.

12. And he broke their heart with toil; they stumbled, and there was none to help.

13. And they prayed in the presence of the Lord when it went ill with them; he redeemed them from their distress.

14. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death; and he will break their chains.

15. They will give thanks in the presence of the Lord because of his kindness, and tell his wonders to the sons of men.

16. For he shattered the doors of bronze, and cut down the bars of iron.

17. ¶ Concerning Hezekiah, king of the tribe of the house of Judah, he prophesied and said, “Hezekiah, king of the house of Judah, who refused to take a wife, was punished as the fools are punished because of their rebellious way and because of their iniquities.”

18. Their soul will reject all food, and they arrive at the portals of death.

19. And they prayed in the presence of the Lord when it went ill with them, and he will redeem them from their distresses.

20. He will send the words of his healing and will heal them, and deliver [them] from being harmed.

21. They will give thanks in the presence of the Lord because of his kindness, and tell his wonders to the sons of men.

22. And they will sacrifice thanksgiving sacrifices, and will tell of his deeds in gladness.

23. ¶ Concerning the sailors of Jonah son of Amittai, he prophesied and said, “The sailors, those who go down to the sea in ships, those who do work on many waters –

24. They saw the deeds of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.”

25. And he gave command by his word, and raised up the storm and the gale, and its waves were lifted up high.

26. They go up towards heaven, they go down to the depths of the abysses; their souls will melt in misery.

27. They will tremble, they will totter like a man drunk with wine; and all their wisdom is destroyed.

28. And they prayed in the presence of the Lord when it went ill with them, and he will bring them out of their troubles.

29. He will make the wind cease to quietness, and their waves will be silent.

30. And they rejoiced, for they are silent; and he led them to the harbor they desired.

31. They will give thanks in the presence of the Lord because of his kindness, and tell his wonders to the sons of men.

32. And they exalt him in the assembly of the people, the house of Israel; and in the Sanhedrin of the wise they will praise him.

33. ¶ Concerning the generation of Joel son of Pethuel he prophesied and said: “When the house of Israel rebelled in the days of Joel the prophet, he brought a drought into the world; he made the rivers like the desert, and the sources of water like thirst.”

34. The land of Israel that produces fruit became a waste like Sodom, which was overthrown because of the evil of its inhabitants.

35. When they returned to the Torah, he made the desert like a channel of water, and the parched land [became] sources of water.

36. And he made the hungry dwell there, and they set up an inhabited city.

37. And they sowed fields and planted vineyards, and they yielded fruit of produce.

38. And he blessed them and they multiplied greatly, and their livestock will not diminish.

39. And when they sinned, they diminished and became poor because of the affliction of misery and pain.

40. He pours contempt on the leaders, and made them wander in a void without a path.

41. But when they returned to the Torah, he exalted the needy from poverty, and made [them] like the flocks of the well-born families.

42. The upright will see and rejoice, but every liar’s mouth is closed and sealed.

43. Would that the wise man keep these things, and discern the kindnesses of the Lord!

COMMENTARY

Starting with our Torah Seder of Exodus 13:17 ff. the Pesiqta de Rab Kahana (a Midrashic compilation of homilies for the festival readings), we are at fist confronted with some short homilies concerning the topic of “Mida KeNeged Mida” (measure for measure) as a governing principle of G-d’s creation. In Pisqa XI:III we read:

“A reproof is felt by a man of discernment more than a hundred blows by a stupid man” (Proverbs 17:10). It was taught on Tannaite authority by R. Ishmael, “The matter may be compared to the case of a king who said to his servant, ‘Go and bring me a fish from the marketplace.’ The man went and brought a rotten fish. The king said to him, ‘By your life! One of these three punishments you are not going to avoid. Either you are going to eat the rotten fish, or you are going to receive a hundred strokes, or you are going to pay the value of the fish.’

He said to the king, ‘I will eat the rotten fish.’ He had scarcely begun to eat it when it turned his stomach. He said, ‘I would rather take the stripes.’ He had scarcely received fifty stripes before he said, ‘I’d rather pay the money.’ “The man turned out to eat the rotten fish, to be beaten, and to pay money.”

“So said the Holy One to wicked Pharaoh, ‘By your life! Either you are going to be smitten with ten stripes, or you are going to have to part with your money, or you will have to send out the Israelites.’ ‘You are going to be smitten with ten stripes’ – this refers to the ten plagues. ‘Or you are going to have to part with your money’ – And they despoiled the Egyptians (Exodus 12:36). ‘Or you will have to send out the Israelites’ – Now it came to pass that when Pharaoh let the people go, [G-d did not guide them by the road towards the Philistines, although that was the shortest; for He said, ‘The people may change their minds when they see war before them, and turn back to Egypt.’ So G-d made them to go round by way of the wilderness towards the Red Sea, and the fifth generation of Israelites departed from Egypt] (Exodus 13:17-18).”

This principle of “measure for measure” is even further elucidates in the following homily (Pisqa XI:IV), where we read:

“Has G-d struck him down as he struck others down? Has the slayer been slain as he slew others?” (Isaiah 27:7). Rabbi Judah and Rabbi Nehemiah: R. Judah said, “With the staff with which the Egyptians had smitten Israel were they themselves beaten [thus: G-d struck him down as he struck others down].” R. Nehemiah said, “With the sword with which the Egyptians smote the Israelites, they themselves were smitten. When in full measure before you would let Israel go, you contended (Isaiah 27:8): measure for measure.

It was taught in the name of R. Meir, “With the measure one meets out to others, one’s own measure is meted out” (Mishnah Sotah I:7). … before you would let Israel go, you contended: he was smitten and then he sent Israel out. Therefore, it is said, “Now it came to pass that when Pharaoh let the people go, [G-d did not guide them by the road towards the Philistines, although that was the shortest; for He said, ‘The people may change their minds when they see war before them, and turn back to Egypt.’ So G-d made them to go round by way of the wilderness towards the Red Sea, and the fifth generation of Israelites departed from Egypt] (Exodus 13:17-18).”

This quote in Mishnah Sotah I:7 seems to have also been in the mouth of our Master when he taught:

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you.” (Matityahu 7:1-2)

There is no escape from this overarching principle that G-d built into this universe. It is like with the law of gravity – there is no defiance of it here on earth or in other planets or heavenly spheres. If we really understood that the way we treat others is the way G-d is going to deal with us, and as well others will deal with us, we surely would be more careful and vigilant in our relationships.

Some people, in fact view relationships much like the world does – from a totally utilitarian perspective. They fail to observe that how they deal with others and G-d’s servants, in the end G-d will likewise dish it to them. There is no escape nowhere from the principle of Mida Keneged Mida, and all intent to fight against this law is futile, so not much intelligence is required to understand that we better work with this principle in mind if we really want to live a life with shalom and blessing.

Then the Pesiqta de Rab Kahana brings in another theme found in our Seder, and perfectly symbolized by the Matsot in front of us during these days of unleavened bread, three times a day. In Pisqa XI:VIII, we read:

“Now it came to pass that when Pharaoh let the people go, [G-d did not guide them by the road towards the Philistines, although that was the shortest; for He said, ‘The people may change their minds when they see war before them, and turn back to Egypt.’ So G-d made them to go round by way of the wilderness towards the Red Sea, and the fifth generation of Israelites departed from Egypt] (Exodus 13:17-18).”

This [phrase, G-d did not guide them by the road yields the meaning, in accord with accepted practice, hence it] teaches that He did not lead them in the ordinary and accepted manner. R. Levi in the name of R. Hama ben Haninah stated eight instances [of variation from the normal procedure:]

“Ordinarily, water comes from above and bread from below, but here the bread came from above and the water from below. The bread from above: Lo, I shall rain for you bread from heaven (Exodus 6:4), and water from below: Then Israel sang this song, Rise up well sing unto it (Numbers 21:17).”

“Ordinarily, the disciple holds to the lantern and goes before the master, but here, the pillar of cloud did not depart by day (Exodus 13:22).”

“Ordinarily, the disciple goes first and the master follows, but here, And the Lord went before them by day (Exodus 13:21).”

“Ordinarily, the disciple washes the master, but here, And I washed you in water (Ezekiel 16:9).”

“Ordinarily, the disciple dresses the master, but here, And I dressed you in weaving (Ezekiel 16:10).”

R. Simai said, “This refers to purple.” Aquilas translated it, “Multicolored.”

“Ordinarily, a disciple puts on the master’s shoe for him, but here, And I shod you with sealskin (Ezekiel 16:10).”

“Ordinarily, the disciple bears the master, but here, And I carried you on wings of eagles (Exodus 19:4).”

“Ordinarily, the master sleeps and the disciples wakes and watches, but here, Lo, the guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4).”

The exegesis of the signified words is fully worked out and with great force, as it is said in I Samuel 2:3 –

“Talk no more so exceeding proudly; Let not arrogance come out of your mouth; For Ha-Shem is a G-d of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.”

The last of the instances of variation from normal procedure is echoed at Gat-Shmanim where we are informed:

“Then came Jesus with them to a place called Gat-Shmanim: and he said to his disciples, Sit here, while I go and pray. And he took Tsephet and the two sons of Zavdai, and began to be dejected and sorrowful. And he said to them: There is anguish in my soul, even unto death. Wait for me here; and watch with me. And retiring a little, he fell on his face, and prayed, and said: My Father, if it can be so, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I choose, but as You will. And he came to his disciples, and found them asleep: and he said to Tsephet: So! Could you not watch with me one hour? Wake, and pray, lest you fall into temptation. The mind is prepared, but the body is infirm. Again he went away the second time, and prayed, and said: My Father, if it cannot be that this cup pass, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went again and prayed the third time, and used the same language. Then he came to his disciples, and said to them: Sleep on now, and take rest. Behold, the hour is come: and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Arise, let us go. Behold, he that betrays me has come.” (Matityahu 26:36-46).

This Lechem Oni (poor man’s bread) that we started eating on the fist night of Pesach is to remind us that we need to be like this Matzah – without arrogance and proud boasting. That is why we eat it for a whole week, a full cycle, to depict the kind of person’s that we need to be in order to become acceptable before G-d. For there is no greater blessing in one’s life but to a fully dedicated servant of G-d adorned with much Torah knowledge and many good deeds.

We started the week of Pesach by stating the teaching of Hakham Shaul:

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye commemorate the death of our Master, until his advent. He therefore, who eats of this bread and drinks of his cup, and is not worthy of it, is guilty of the blood of the Master, and of his body Yisrael. For this reason, a man should examine himself, and then eat of this bread, and drink of this cup: For, whoever eats and drinks of it, while he is unworthy, eats and drinks condemnation on himself, by not discerning his place in the body of the Master. For this cause, many among you are diseased and sickly, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged by our Lord (G-d), we are really chastised, that we may not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:26-32)

Here in this Responsa, Hakham Shaul joins for us the twin themes for this Shabbat: (1) putting away arrogance and proud boasting and becoming a cheerful servant – “by discerning our place in the body of the master,” and (2) With the measure one meets out to others, one’s own measure is meted out – “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”

Can we then understand that to follow the Master means that we need to seek to serve rather than be served, and that we need to judge ourselves and our behaviors drastically so that we mete to others what we want G-d to mete to us? If we do and internalize this lesson and act upon it then this precious lesson of the Torah for this week would be gone to waste.

Let us then avail of this wonderful opportunity to serve G-d in sincerity and truth.

Shalom Shabbat ve Chag Sameach!

Shabbat:	Torah Reading:	Weekday Torah Reading:

“Pesach 7^th Day”	Reader 1 – Shemot 13:17-19	Reader 1 – Beresheet 3:22-24
“The Seventh Day of Passover”	Reader 2 – Shemot 13:20-22	Reader 2 – Beresheet 4:1-3
“El Septimo Dia de Pascua”	Reader 3 – Shemot 14:1-4	Reader 3 – Beresheet 4:4-7
Shemot (Exodus) 13:17 – 15:26	Reader 4 – Shemot 14:5-8
Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:19-25	Reader 5 – Shemot 14:9-14
2 Samuel 22:1-51	Reader 6 – Shemot 14:15-25
Psalm 107	Reader 7 – Shemot 14:26 – 15:26
	Maftir – Bamidbar 28:19-25
N.C.: 1 Cor. 11:26-32	II Samuel 22:1-51