Beshalach
Parshat Beshalach
- Shabbat Shira
In this morning’s Torah portion, we read about the crossing of the Red Sea. This was a momentous occasion in the lives of the people and in Jewish history, and it was marked by Moses composing a poem. Therefore, this Shabbat is also called Shabbat Shira, the Sabbath of the poem/song at the sea.
First Aliyah Exodus chapter 13:17-14:8 pp. 399-402
God takes the people on a detour out of Egypt in order to avoid the land of the Philistines. God knew the Philistines would cause trouble. Moses takes the bones of Joseph with him fulfilling the promise to Joseph that he would be buried in Israel. God hardens Pharaoh’s heart again and Pharaoh decides to chase after the Israelites. The Israelites are camped on the banks of the Red Sea.
Second Aliyah 14:9-14 pp. 402-403
The people see the Egyptians coming and they cry out to God. The people say that it would have been better to remain slaves in Egypt than to die in the desert. Moses tells the people to be quiet because God will fight for them.
Third Aliyah 14:15-25 pp. 403-405
God tells Moses to lift up his staff and in that way the sea will split. God will cause a cloud to come between the Israelites and the Egyptians. The Egyptians see God’s power and they want to flee.
Fourth Aliyah - 14:26-15:26 pp. 405-414
Moses lifts up his staff again and the sea goes back to normal, drowning the Egyptians. The people see God’s power and they believe in Him. Moses and the people recite the poem (which is included in the daily morning service). Then Miriam and all the women sing a one line song. The people continue their journey for three days in the desert without finding water. They arrive at an oasis which has bitter water. The people complain to Moses, so upon God’s command, Moses throws in a branch and the water becomes sweet. Moses tells them to follow God’s way, then only good will come to them.
Fifth Aliyah - 15:27-16:10 pp. 414-416
Now the people complain of hunger. So God causes manna to fall from heaven every day to feed the people. A double portion falls on Friday so that they won’t have to gather on the Sabbath.
Sixth Aliyah - 16:11-36 pp. 416-419
The manna falls and its taste is described as wafers made with honey. Moses tells Aaron to put some in a jar to keep for all generations. The manna falls every day for 40 years while the Israelites are in the desert.
Seventh Aliyah - 17:1-16 pp. 419-422
The people complain of thirst again. God tells Moses to take his staff and hit a rock. Moses does so and water gushes forth. Then the Amalekites attack. Moses tells Joshua to get men to fight. Moses, Joshua, and Hur go up a hill to observe. When Moses raises his arms the Israelites have the upper hand, when he puts his arms down the Amalekites have the upper hand. The Israelites defeat them.
Maftir - 17:14-16 pp. 421-422
Haftorah -Judges 4:4-5:31 pp. 424 (or 426) - 430
The Haftorah, taken from the book of Judges, describes an Israelite military victory over the Canaanites. It also contains a poem. This poem, composed by the judge, Deborah, praises God for helping the Israelites defeat the Canaanites in battle. It is because of this poem that this selection was chosen for the Haftorah.
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