What was the significance of Moshe's staff (which he held in his hand, as mentioned earlier in Pasuk 16) regarding the splitting of the sea?
Targum Yonasan: This was the precious staff that was created on Erev Shabbos of the creation, on which was engraved the Holy Name of Hashem (Havayah), the ten plagues, the three Avos, the six Imahos 1 and the twelve tribes. 2
Tosfos ha'Shalem (in Pasuk 16, citing Moshav Zekenim): Refer to 14:16:1:2.
Rosh (in Pasuk 26, citing his father): Yisrael were mocking Moshe, and saying that [anyone] could do wonders if he had Hashem's staff. Therefore, Hashem commanded him to remove staff from his hand', and Moshe split and returned the sea without it. 3
Including Bilhah and Zilpah.
Refer also to 2:21:1:1**..
As a result of which the people believed in Moshe - See Pasuk 31 - and realized that also the previous miracles were not merely due to the staff.
Why does the Torah describe the east wind as 'Azah'?
Rashi: Because the east wind, the most powerful of all the winds, is the wind with which Hashem punishes the Resha'im. 1
Rashi: As the Navi indicates in Yirmiyah, 18:17, Hoshe'a, 13:15, Yechezkel, 27:26 and Yeshayah, 27:8.
Why did Hashem spend the whole night drying the sea using the east wind, rather than doing so with His word, which would have taken a split second?
Ramban: In order to trick Par'oh into believing that the splitting of the sea was the work of the wind and not of Hashem, thereby removing the fear of Hashem that would otherwise have prevented him from chasing Yisrael into the sea. 1
See Ramban - Refer also to 15:2:2:2**.
What are the ramifications of the statement "and the water split"?
Targum Yonasan: It split into twelve pathways (tunnels), corresponding to the twelve tribes. 1
One for each tribe.
Which water split?
Rashi: All gatherings of water throughout the world split. 1
So that the entire world became aware of the great miracle. See Sifsei Chachamim.
How will we reconcile the current Pasuk - that the water split, with the Pasuk later, in 15:8, which states that it froze?
Moshav Zekenim: Had all the water split, Yisrael would have had to descend to the sea- floor; Da'as Zekenim 15:8 and they would not have been able to get out 1 ). Had all the water frozen, they would have had to ascend to the sky. Therefore, one third (Godesh) 2 split, and the rest froze, so they did not need to ascend or descend. 3
Refer to 15:8:4:2 and the note there.
Due to the steepness of the slope (PF).
When water freezes, it expands. We say (Shabbos 35a) that the Godesh (the amount that one can pile up above the walls of the Kli) is a third. These Meforshim learned from the Piyut that the same applies to the Godesh of ice. Also for dry, it is a third only for a Kli of a standard shape! Nowadays, ice is only about a 10th bigger than the water from which it came! (PF)
A Piyut alludes to this - 'Kan ve'Kan Rom Sh'lish Mayim So'os ha'Nosarim Midras Pe'amos'. See Kerovah le'Pesach of R. Moshe ben Klonimus (Tehom El Tehom), p. 206 in Piyutei R. Shimon be'R. Yitzchak, with minor changes.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes that all water in the world split. Why does the Gemara in Chulin 7a then say that R. Pinchas ben Ya'ir was as great as Moshe, because a river split for him?
Based on Daf al ha'Daf (Chulin 7a, citing Botzina de'Nehura): Once a Chacham brings a Chidush to the world, it is easy for others to access it. The Gemara means that R. Pinchas ben Ya'ir was 'Nafish mi'Moshe', great due to Moshe - Because Moshe split the sea (and all water), R. Pinchas ben Ya'ir was able to split the river. 1
This is fine for the Havah Amina, that he was Nafish mi'Moshe. However, the conclusion is that he was 'ke'Moshe'! Perhaps that explains why Moshav Zekenim left this question difficult (PF)
