Beshalach 2022
Isaac’s Parsha Corner · 2022
“And it was when Pharaoh send out the nation, VELOH NACHAM, that God did not lead them directly to Israel on the road through Pelishtim for that way was closer. God said, “lest they encounter war (with the Pelishtim) and have a change of heart and return to Egypt.” And He took them on a roundabout way through the desert along the Sea of Reeds. And the Children of Israel were armed when they left Egypt.” (Ex 13:17-18)
This Pasuk attributes the decision to go in the direction of the Sea of Reeds entirely to worry over Jewish reticence to engage in a war with the Pelishtim. This is strange as the story evolved. First God hardened Pharaoh’s heart which resulted in a confrontation at the Sea of Reeds and with Pharaoh’s people being entirely wiped out. From the narrative it seems that the plan all along was to bait Pharaoh in order to complete the destruction of his people. The Midrash concurs:
“And God did not find comfort, (a wordplay on “VELOH NACHAM” reinterpreted to mean ‘God was not Comforted’) in the punishment of the Egyptians with the 10 plagues, Instead He led them after the Children of Israel in order to punish them that they may be drowned as were the generation of the flood”. (Midrash Rabah Ibid)
How do we reconcile these two reasons for the circuitous route? Was it to avoid the Pelishtim or was it to destroy Egypt? It may be that the Jewish experience at the Reed Sea was in order to embolden the Jewish nation so as to reduce their fear of the Pelishtim. Indeed, the Song of the Sea does seem to bear this out:
“The nations have heard and have trembled; fear has taken hold the dwellers of Pelashet (aka Pelishtim). Then the princes of Edom were terrified, and the strong ones of Moab were filled with trembling and the hearts of the dwellers of Canaan have been melted” (Ex 15:14-15)
In order to demonstrate this point, soon afterwards: “And Joshua weakened Amalek and his people with the mouth of the sword” (ibid 17:13) The newly emboldened nation was able to overcome an attack from Amalek.
On the other hand, the Midrash is quite explicit: “For what reason had God directed the people towards the desert at the Sea of Reeds? He did so in order to perform miracles on their behalf. The Manna, the quail, and the magic well and the miracles at the Sea”. (Midrash Rabbah Ibid)
The forty years of wandering in the desert was punishment following the report of the spies. We were punished for rejecting the land of Israel and wishing to return to Egypt. This despite the Torah having told us in this week’s Parsha that God fully expected that the nation would be fearful and want to return to Egypt. The Midrash describes the forty years as a time when the Jews lived a charmed existence. that enabled them to absorb the manna, drink from the holy well and study torah. Another Midrash assigned the forty years as a time for rebuilding Canaan. “When the Canaanites heard that the Jews were coming they cut down the trees, and burned the crops.” The forty years was needed to repair the land. Another Midrash assigned the forty years as a necessary time to complete the sin of the inhabitants of the land of Canaan.
On the one hand there is an explicit direct cause for an event. (Fear of war, fear of giants etc.) On the other hand, there are factors or benefits from events. Often that which we don’t see is what matters most. The wandering in the desert may have been a punishment but there were benefits often unseen that accrued to our people. The land was rebuilt, the nation developed a closer connection to God by experiencing the miracles, and we were able to study Torah as taught by our greatest of teachers Moshe. We often struggle to find historical causes for events. However, it may be more important to try and understand the purpose of the event. It was true that the way around was to avoid Pelishtim yet there were miracles and wonderous events all along the way.
Dedicated to the memory of Joel Shulman A’H