1)

What are the implications of "u'Par'oh Hikriv" (brought near) instead of 'Karav' (approached)?

1.

Rashi: Having promised his troops that he would fight at their head, he had to force himself (to bring himself, as it were) to fulfill his word.

2.

Seforno: It implies that he moved his troops and their chariots forward.

3.

Targum Yonasan and Da'as Zekenim (in Pasuk 2) #1: As soon as Par'oh set his eyes on Ba'al Tz'fon, he offered sacrifices to it. 1

4.

Da'as Zekenim (in Pasuk 2) #2: It implies thstr he caused Yisrael to repent (and come close to Hashem).

5.

Hadar Zekenim (in Pasuk 2): It implies that he brought himself close to the idol Ba'al Tz'fon.


1

See also Ba'al ha'Turim.

2)

Why does the Torah write "Mitzrayim Nose'a", in the singular?

1.

Rashi #1: Because the Egyptians chased after them 'with one heart, as one man'.

2.

Rashi #2 and Hadar Zekenim #1: It refers to Uza, the angel of Egypt, who had descended from heaven to assist his nation. 1

3.

Hadar Zekenim #2: This was the elder Mitzrayim, the son of Cham. 2


1

Hadar Zekenim: Uza complained that the decree of four hundred years had not been completed. Hashem took him to court, and refuted his claim - See Hadar Zekenim. And the judges cast him down.

2

The Hadar Zekenim rejects this howeever, since it is unlikely that he lived so long (Mitzrayim was born before Cana'an, who was already a nation - See Bereishis, 12:6 - before Yitzchak was born, four hundred years before Keri'as Yam Suf. So it is reasonable to assume that Mitzrayim was born shortly after the flood, almost eight hundred years before Keri'as Yam Suf! - PF)

3)

What are the connotations of "Vayitz'aku"?

1.

Rashi, Ramban #1, Seforno (Pasuk 15) and Targum Yonasan: They seized the trade of their fathers - they Davened. 1

2.

Ramban #2 (citing Targum Onkelos): They complained to Hashem 2 for taking them out of Egypt, before turning on Moshe.

3.

Ramban #3 (citing the Mechilta): Initially, they Davened to Hashem for Par'oh to withdraw. However, when he saw that he continued to approach them, the Yeitzer-ha'Ra got the b etter of them and they turned on Moshe.


1

Rashi (in Shir Hashirim, 2:14: Like Avraham, Yitzchak and Ya'akov - See Bereishis 19:27, 28:11 & 24:63. With the sea in front of them, the Egyptians behind them and the wild animals of the desert at the side, the Midrash compares them to a dove that tries to escape from the clutches of a vulture by entering into a crack in the rocks, only to be confronted by a hissing snake. That is when Hashem said to Yisrael "Show Me how you look (your deeds) - to whom you turn when you are in trouble! (Rashi in Shir ha'Shirim, 2:14).

2

We find the same Lashon above in Sh'mos (5:15) and in Nechemyah 5:1 (Ramban).

4)

How can we reconcile this Pasuk with the following Pasuk, where they complained to Hashem in a derogatory manner?

1.

Ramban and Targum Yonasan: There were two groups 1 in Yisrael - The Tzadikim 2 among them prayed to Hashem, and it was the Resha'im who failed to acknowledge the miracle that they were experiencing, who grumbled and spoke harshly to Moshe. 3


1

Refer also to 14:13:1:1*.

2

See Ramban, who explains why the Torah uses the term "Tzadikim" here twice.

3

As the Pasuk writes in Tehilim, 106:7 (Ramban).

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