(Exodus 15:7) "And in the greatness of Your grandeur You break those who rise up against You": You have magnified Your grandeur against those who rise up against You. And who are those? Those who rise up against Your children.
It is not written "those who rise up against us," but "those who rise up against You," whereby we are apprised that all who rise up against Israel are rising up, as it were, against the Holy One Blessed be He. Similarly, (Psalms 74:23) "Do not forget the vice of Your foes, the roar of those who rise against You always." Why? (Ibid. 83:4) "They have been subtle in counsel against Your people, etc." (Ibid. 139:21) "Will I not hate Your haters, O L–rd, and battle with those who rise up against You?" Why? (Ibid. 22) (For) "I have hated them to the heights of hatred. I have deemed them my (own) enemies." Similarly, (Zechariah 2:12) "for whoever touches you touches the pupil of His eye."
R. Yehudah says: It is not written "the pupil of the eye, but "the pupil of His eye" — the "eye" of the Holy One, as it were. Similarly, (Malachi 1:13) "And you say (of an offering) 'What a burden it is!' and you (thereby) sully it." It is actually written "Him," but Scripture here is euphemistic. Similarly, (I Samuel 3:13) "because of his knowing that his sons were blaspheming them and his not censuring them" — a euphemism (for "Me"). Similarly, (Iyyov 7:20) "Why did You make me a target for Yourself and a burden to myself" — a euphemism (for "You"). Similarly (Habakkuk 1:12) "Are You not of yore, O L–rd my G–d, my Holy one — we shall not die" — a euphemism (for "You"). Similarly, (Jeremiah 2:11) "Has a nation ever exchanged (its) god though they be no god? Yet My people has exchanged its glory" — a euphemism (for "My"). Similarly, (Psalms 106:20) "And they exchanged their glory for the image of an ox, etc." — a euphemism (for "Your"). (Numbers 11:15) "and let me not see my misfortune" — a euphemism (for "their"). Similarly, (II Samuel 20:1) "We have no portion in David … Each man to his tent ("ohalav"), O Israel" — a euphemism (for "god" ["elohav"]). (Ezekiel 8:17) "And, behold, they thrust the branch to their nostrils" — a euphemism (for "My"). (Numbers 12:13) "who leaves his mother's womb" — a euphemism (for "our"). Here, (Zechariah 2:12) likewise, "One who touches him (a Jew) touches the pupil of his eye"
And all who help Israel, help, as it were, the Holy One Blessed be He, viz. (Judges 5:23) "Curse Meroz, said the angel of the L–rd. Curse bitterly its dwellers. For they came not to the aid of the L–rd, to the aid of the L–rd among the warriors." He who rises up against Your children rises up against You. And who were they (who rose up against Him?) (Genesis 14:9) "Kedarlaomer and Tidal king of Goyim, etc." (Ibid. 15) "And he (Avram) deployed against them at night, he and his servants, and he smote them." And thus is it written (Isaiah 41:2-3) "Who roused (the exemplar of) righteousness, (i.e., Avram) from the east, summoned him to His service? … He pursues them. He passes on, unscathed." And thus is it written (Psalms 110:1-5) "This is the word of the L–rd to my master (David). Sit at My right hand until I make your foes your footstool. The sceptre of your strength will the L–rd send from Zion. Your people will offer themselves on the day of (the gathering of) your army. The L–rd has sworn and He will not retract … The L–rd is at your right hand, etc." You magnified Yourself greatly against Pharaoh and his army, viz. (Exodus 14:7) "And he (Pharaoh) took six hundred choice chariots, etc." — (Ibid. 15:4) "The chariots of Pharaoh and his host He cast into the sea."
And thus Sisra and all his chariots, viz. (Judges 4:13) "And Sisra called up all his chariots" — (Ibid. 5:20) "From the heavens they warred" (against Sisra).
Sancheriv and all of his ranks, viz. (Isaiah 37:24) "Through your servants you have blasphemed my L–rd, etc.) — (II Chronicles 32:21) "and the L–rd sent an angel who annihilated every warrior, etc."
Nevuchadnezzar and all his hosts," viz. (Isaiah 14:83) "You said in your hearts: I will climb to the heavens, etc." Nevuchadnezzar said: I will make myself a little cloud and I will live within it, viz. (Ibid. 14) "I will mount the heights of a cloud, etc." The Holy One Blessed be He said: You wished to separate yourself from men. In the end, they will separate themselves from you, viz. (Daniel 4:25-30) "All this befell King Nevuchadnezzar, etc."
(Ibid. 8:1-6) "King Belshazzar made a great banquet, etc." About this it is written (Habakkuk 2:15) "Woe unto him who makes his neighbor drink! You pour out your wrath even unto intoxication," and (Ibid. 16) "You will be sated with shame rather than glory." (Daniel 5:30) "That very night King Belshazzar was killed."
(Exodus 15:7) It is not written "You have destroyed those who rose up against You," but "You will destroy ('taharos') those who rise up against You" — in the future, viz. (Psalms 58:7) "O G–d, smash ('haras') their teeth in their mouth." Why? (Ibid. 58:5) "For they do not consider the deeds of the L–rd and His handiwork. He will tear them down ('yeharsem') and not rebuild them": He will tear them down in this world and not rebuild them in the world to come.
It is not written "You have sent forth Your wrath," but "You will send forth Your wrath" — in time to come. (Psalms 69:25) "Pour Your wrath upon them, etc." (Jeremiah 10:25) :Pour Your wrath upon the nations": Why? (Ibid.) "For they have consumed Yaakov, etc"
It is not written (Exodus 15:7) "He has consumed them as stubble," but "He will consume them as stubble" — in time to come, viz. (Ovadiah 1:18) "And the house of Yaakov will be fire, and the house of Joseph, flame, and the house of Esav, stubble, and they will ignite them and consume them, etc." And it is written (Zechariah 12:6) "On that day I will make the chieftains of Judah like a stove — fire (burning) wood, torch (burning) sheaf, etc."
All woods, when they burn, their sound is not heard; but stubble, when it burns, it crackles and is heard. Thus did the sound of Egypt, in its destruction, make itself heard. All woods, when they burn, leave a trace; but stubble, when it burns, leaves no trace. And the L–rd said (Isaiah 43:17) "They (the chariots of Egypt) all lie together, never to rise, snuffed out like flax" — to teach that there was no kingdom so abject as that of Egypt, but it seized power for the moment towards the aggrandizement of Israel.
When the (other) kingdoms are symbolized, they are symbolized as cedars, viz. (Ezekiel 31:3) "Behold, Ashur, a cedar in the Levanon," and (Amos 2:9) "And I destroyed the Emori from before them, whose height was as the height of cedars, etc.", and (Daniel 4:17) "The tree (Bavel) that you have seen, etc." And when Egypt is symbolized, it is symbolized only as stubble, viz. "He will consume them as stubble." And when the (other) kingdoms are symbolized, they are symbolized as silver and gold (Ibid. 2:32) "This statue, its head of fine gold, etc." And when Egypt is symbolized, it is symbolized only as lead, viz. (Exodus 15:10) "they sank as lead." And when the (other) kingdoms are symbolized, they are symbolized as beasts, viz. (Daniel 7:3) "and four immense beasts, etc." And when Egypt is symbolized, it is symbolized only as a fox, viz. (Song of Songs 2:15) "Seize for us the foxes, etc."
Antoninus asked Rabbeinu Hakadosh: I want to go to Alexandria. Is it possible that a king will arise there who will beat me? He answered: I do not know. In any event, we have it in writing that Egypt is incapable of establishing either a king or a governor, viz. (Ezekiel 29:15) "Of all the kingdoms it (Egypt) will be the lowest, and it will not exalt itself again among the nations. And I will diminish them, so that they not dominate the nations."
(Exodus 15:8) "And with the breath of Your nostrils, the waters ne'ermu": "With their measure was it meted out to them." They said (Ibid. 1:10) "Come and let us outsmart them." You, likewise, gave wisdom ("armah" [as in "ne'ermu"]) to the waters, and the waters embattled them in all kinds of torrents.
(Ibid.) "They stood up like a flask": Just as a bound flask neither emits nor admits, so, the spirits of the Egyptians were bound up within them, neither emitting nor admitting — while Israel ate and drank and rejoiced. Sweet water issued forth for them from salted water, viz. (Psalms 78:160) "and He brought forth nozlim from the rock," "nozlim" being living waters, as in (Song of Songs 4:15) "a garden spring, a well of living waters," and (Mishlei 5:15) "Drink water from your pit and nozlim from your well."
Variantly: Just as a bound flask stands, neither emitting nor admitting, so, the spirits of the Egyptians were bound up within them, neither emitting nor admitting, faint from the smell of the sea, viz. (Job 41:23) "He bubbles up the sea like a pot, etc." And to Israel, the sea was like a bed of spices, viz. (Ibid.) "He makes the sea like a spice-bed." (Song of Songs 4:16) "Awake, O north wind, and come, O south, blow over my garden that its spices may flow."
(Exodus, Ibid.) "The depths were congealed ("kafu") in the heart of the sea, etc." He made them like a kippah (a dome) in the midst of the sea. How so? A man's heart consists of two chambers and its arch. Thus did He arch the sea over them.
The sea has no heart, and He gave it a heart. A terebinth has no heart, and He gave it a heart, viz. (II Samuel 18:4) "He (Avshalom) was yet alive in the heart of the terebinth." The heavens have no heart, and He gave them a heart, viz. (Devarim 4:11) "And the mountain (Sinai) burned with fire until the heart of heaven." Let the sea come, which had no heart and was given a heart, and exact payment of the Egyptians, who had a heart and subjugated Israel with all kinds of ("heartless") torments, viz. (Exodus 1:13) "And Egypt subjected the children of Israel to grueling toil." Let the terebinth come, which had no heart and was given a heart and exact punishment of Avshalom, who had a heart and "stole" three hearts — the heart of his father, the heart of beth-din, and the heart of Israel, viz. (II Samuel 15:6) ("And Avshalom did this) … and Avshalom stole the heart of the men of Israel." Let the heavens come, which have no heart and were given a heart, and drop manna like dew upon Israel, who had a heart and accepted the Torah and served the L–rd with all their hearts and all their souls, viz. (Devarim 6:3) "And you shall love the L–rd your G–d with all of your heart and all of your soul, etc."
And not the heavens alone rejoiced in the redemption of Israel, but also the mountains and all of the hills, the fruit trees and all of the cedars, viz. (Isaiah 44:23) "Sing, O heavens, for the L–rd has wrought! Shout, O depths of the earth. Mountains, break out in song, forest and all that is in it. For the L–rd has redeemed Yaakov", and (Ibid. 49:13) "Sing, O heavens and rejoice, O earth — Break out in song! For the L–rd has consoled His people, etc."
(שמות טו,ז) "וּבְרֹב גְּאוֹנְךָ תַּהֲרֹס קָמֶיךָ, תְּשַׁלַּח חֲרֹנְךָ יֹאכְלֵמוֹ כַּקַּשׁ." הִרְבֵּיתָ לְהִתְגָּאוֹת נֶגֶד מִי שֶׁקָּמוּ נֶגְדָּךְ, וּמִי הֵם שֶׁקָּמוּ נֶגְדָּךְ? הֵם שֶׁקָּמוּ נֶגֶד בָּנֶיךָ.
(Exodus 15:7) "And in the greatness of Your grandeur You break those who rise up against You": You have magnified Your grandeur against those who rise up against You. And who are those? Those who rise up against Your children.
"תַּהֲרֹס קָמֶיךָ", 'תַּהֲרֹס קָמֵינוּ' אֵין כָּתוּב כָּן, אֶלָּא "תַּהֲרֹס קָמֶיךָ". מַגִּיד הַכָּתוּב שֶׁכָּל מִי שֶׁהוּא קָם כְּנֶגֶד יִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּאִלּוּ קָם כְּנֶגֶד מִי שֶׁאָמַר וְהָיָה הָעוֹלָם. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר: (תהלים עד,כג) "אַל תִּשְׁכַּח קוֹל צֹרְרֶיךָ, שְׁאוֹן קָמֶיךָ עֹלֶה תָמִיד." (תהלים צב,י) "כִּי הִנֵּה אֹיְבֶיךָ יי, כִּי הִנֵּה אֹיְבֶיךָ יֹאבֵדוּ, יִתְפָּרְדוּ כָּל פֹּעֲלֵי אָוֶן." (תהלים פג,ג) "כִּי הִנֵּה אוֹיְבֶיךָ יֶהֱמָיוּן, וּמְשַׂנְאֶיךָ נָשְׂאוּ רֹאשׁ."*יֶהֱמָיוּן: הומים וחורשים מזימות. מִפְּנֵי מָה? (תהלים פג,ד) "עַל עַמְּךָ יַעֲרִימוּ סוֹד, וְיִתְיָעֲצוּ עַל צְפוּנֶיךָ." (תהלים קלט,כא) "הֲלוֹא מְשַׂנְאֶיךָ יי אֶשְׂנָא, וּבִתְקוֹמְמֶיךָ אֶתְקוֹטָט."*וּבִתְקוֹמְמֶיךָ: ובמתקוממים נגדך. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר: (תהלים קלט,כב) "תַּכְלִית שִׂנְאָה שְׂנֵאתִים לְאוֹיְבִים הָיוּ לִי." וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר: (זכריה ב,יב) "כִּי הַנֹּגֵעַ בָּכֶם נֹגֵעַ בְּבָבַת עֵינוֹ."
It is not written "those who rise up against us," but "those who rise up against You," whereby we are apprised that all who rise up against Israel are rising up, as it were, against the Holy One Blessed be He. Similarly, (Psalms 74:23) "Do not forget the vice of Your foes, the roar of those who rise against You always." Why? (Ibid. 83:4) "They have been subtle in counsel against Your people, etc." (Ibid. 139:21) "Will I not hate Your haters, O L–rd, and battle with those who rise up against You?" Why? (Ibid. 22) (For) "I have hated them to the heights of hatred. I have deemed them my (own) enemies." Similarly, (Zechariah 2:12) "for whoever touches you touches the pupil of His eye."
רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: 'בְּבָבַת עַיִן' אֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר כָּן, אֶלָּא "בְּבָבַת עֵינוֹ". כִּבְיָכֹל כְּלַפֵּי מַעְלָה הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, אֶלָּא שֶׁכִּנָּה הַכָּתוּב. כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ אַתְּ אוֹמֵר: (מלאכי א,יג) "וַאֲמַרְתֶּם: הִנֵּה מַתְּלָאָה*מַתְּלָאָה: בהמה לאה ורזה. וְהִפַּחְתֶּם אוֹתוֹ",*וְהִפַּחְתֶּם: גרמתם שהיא תיראה שמנה. אֶלָּא שֶׁכִּנָּה הַכָּתוּב. כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ אַתְּ אוֹמֵר: (שמואל א ג,יג) "וְהִגַּדְתִּי לוֹ, כִּי שֹׁפֵט אֲנִי אֶת בֵּיתוֹ עַד עוֹלָם, בַּעֲוֹן אֲשֶׁר יָדַע כִּי מְקַלְלִים לָהֶם בָּנָיו, וְלֹא כִהָה בָּם." אֶלָּא שֶׁכִּנָּה הַכָּתוּב. כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ אַתְּ אוֹמֵר: (איוב ז,כ) "לָמָה שַׂמְתַּנִי לְמִפְגָּע לָךְ וָאֶהְיֶה עָלַי לְמַשָּׂא." אֶלָּא שֶׁכִּנָּה הַכָּתוּב. כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ אַתְּ אוֹמֵר: (חבקוק א,יב) "הֲלוֹא אַתָּה מִקֶּדֶם יי אֱלֹהַי קְדֹשִׁי, לֹא נָמוּת". אֶלָּא שֶׁכִּנָּה הַכָּתוּב. כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ: (ירמיה ב,יא) "הַהֵימִיר גּוֹי אֱלֹהִים, וְהֵמָּה לֹא אֱלֹהִים, וְעַמִּי הֵמִיר כְּבוֹדוֹ". אֶלָּא שֶׁכִּנָּה הַכָּתוּב. כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ: (תהלים קו,כ) "וַיָּמִירוּ אֶת כְּבוֹדָם בְּתַבְנִית שׁוֹר", אֶלָּא שֶׁכִּנָּה הַכָּתוּב. כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ: (מלכים א יב,טז) "אֵין לָנוּ חֵלֶק בְּדָוִד, וְלֹא נַחֲלָה לָנוּ בְּבֶן יִשַׁי! אִישׁ לְאֹהָלָיו יִשְׂרָאֵל!" אֶלָּא שֶׁכִּנָּה הַכָּתוּב. כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ: (במדבר יב,יב) "אֲשֵׁר בְּצֵאתוֹ מֵרֶחֶם אִמּוֹ" 'מֵרֶחֶם אִמֵּנוּ' יָצָא! אֶלָּא שֶׁכִּנָּה הַכָּתוּב. וְאַף כָּן אַתָּה אוֹמֵר: (זכריה ב,יב) "כִּי הַנֹּגֵעַ בָּכֶם נֹגֵעַ בְּבָבַת עֵינוֹ."
R. Yehudah says: It is not written "the pupil of the eye, but "the pupil of His eye" — the "eye" of the Holy One, as it were. Similarly, (Malachi 1:13) "And you say (of an offering) 'What a burden it is!' and you (thereby) sully it." It is actually written "Him," but Scripture here is euphemistic. Similarly, (I Samuel 3:13) "because of his knowing that his sons were blaspheming them and his not censuring them" — a euphemism (for "Me"). Similarly, (Iyyov 7:20) "Why did You make me a target for Yourself and a burden to myself" — a euphemism (for "You"). Similarly (Habakkuk 1:12) "Are You not of yore, O L–rd my G–d, my Holy one — we shall not die" — a euphemism (for "You"). Similarly, (Jeremiah 2:11) "Has a nation ever exchanged (its) god though they be no god? Yet My people has exchanged its glory" — a euphemism (for "My"). Similarly, (Psalms 106:20) "And they exchanged their glory for the image of an ox, etc." — a euphemism (for "Your"). (Numbers 11:15) "and let me not see my misfortune" — a euphemism (for "their"). Similarly, (II Samuel 20:1) "We have no portion in David … Each man to his tent ("ohalav"), O Israel" — a euphemism (for "god" ["elohav"]). (Ezekiel 8:17) "And, behold, they thrust the branch to their nostrils" — a euphemism (for "My"). (Numbers 12:13) "who leaves his mother's womb" — a euphemism (for "our"). Here, (Zechariah 2:12) likewise, "One who touches him (a Jew) touches the pupil of his eye"
רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: 'בְּבָבַת עַיִן' אֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר, אֶלָּא "בְּבָבַת עֵינוֹ", כִּבְיָכֹל כְּלַפֵּי מַעְלָה הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, אֶלָּא שֶׁכִּנָּה הַכָּתוּב.
— a euphemism (for "G–d's") eye.
וְכָל מִי שֶׁעוֹזֵר אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּאִלּוּ עוֹזֵר לְמִי שֶׁאָמַר וְהָיָה הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (שופטים ה,כג) "אוֹרוּ מֵרוֹז, אָמַר מַלְאַךְ יי, אֹרוּ אָרוֹר יֹשְׁבֶיהָ!*אוֹרוּ מֵרוֹז: קללו את העיר מרוז! כִּי לֹא בָאוּ לְעֶזְרַת יי, לְעֶזְרַת יי בַּגִּבּוֹרִים." הִרְבֵּיתָ לְהִתְגָּאוֹת כְּנֶגֶד מִי שֶׁקָּם לְנֶגְדָּךְ, וּמִי הֵם שֶׁקָּמוּ לְנֶגְדָּךְ? מִי שֶׁקָּמוּ כְּנֶגֶד יְדִידֶיךָ. וּמַה טִּיבָן? (בראשית יד,א) "וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אַמְרָפֶל מֶלֶךְ שִׁנְעָר, אַרְיוֹךְ מֶלֶךְ אֶלָּסָר, כְּדָרְלָעֹמֶר מֶלֶךְ עֵילָם, וְתִדְעָל מֶלֶךְ גּוֹיִם." (בראשית יד,טו) "וַיֵּחָלֵק עֲלֵיהֶם לַיְלָה הוּא וַעֲבָדָיו וַיַּכֵּם". (ישעיה מא,ב) "מִי הֵעִיר מִמִּזְרָח צֶדֶק, יִקְרָאֵהוּ לְרַגְלוֹ". מַהוּ אוֹמֵר? (ישעיה מא,ג) "יִרְדְּפֵם יַעֲבוֹר שָׁלוֹם, אֹרַח בְּרַגְלָיו לֹא יָבוֹא." וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר: (תהלים קי,א-ד) "נְאֻם יי לַאדֹנִי: שֵׁב לִימִינִי! עַד אָשִׁית אֹיְבֶיךָ הֲדֹם לְרַגְלֶיךָ. מַטֵּה עֻזְּךָ יִשְׁלַח יי מִצִּיּוֹן רְדֵה בְּקֶרֶב אֹיְבֶיךָ. עַמְּךָ נְדָבֹת בְּיוֹם חֵילֶךָ, בְּהַדְרֵי קֹדֶשׁ מֵרֶחֶם מִשְׁחָר לְךָ טַל יַלְדֻתֶיךָ. נִשְׁבַּע יי וְלֹא יִנָּחֵם: אַתָּה כֹהֵן לְעוֹלָם, עַל דִּבְרָתִי מַלְכִּי צֶדֶק!" מַהוּ אוֹמֵר? (תהלים קי,ה) "אֲדֹנָי עַל יְמִינְךָ, מָחַץ בְּיוֹם אַפּוֹ מְלָכִים." הִרְבֵּיתָ לְהִתְגָּאוֹת כְּנֶגֶד מִי שֶׁקָּמוּ כְּנֶגְדָּךְ. וּמִי הֵם שֶׁקָּמוּ כְּנֶגְדָּךְ? מִי שֶׁקָּמוּ כְּנֶגֶד בָּנֶיךָ. פַּרְעֹה וְחֵילוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (שמות יד,ז) "וַיִּקַּח שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת רֶכֶב בָּחוּר, וְכֹל רֶכֶב מִצְרָיִם, וְשָׁלִשִׁם עַל כֻּלּוֹ." מַהוּ אוֹמֵר? (שמות טו,ד) "מַרְכְּבֹת פַּרְעֹה וְחֵילוֹ יָרָה בַיָּם, וּמִבְחַר שָׁלִשָׁיו טֻבְּעוּ בְיַם סוּף."
And all who help Israel, help, as it were, the Holy One Blessed be He, viz. (Judges 5:23) "Curse Meroz, said the angel of the L–rd. Curse bitterly its dwellers. For they came not to the aid of the L–rd, to the aid of the L–rd among the warriors." He who rises up against Your children rises up against You. And who were they (who rose up against Him?) (Genesis 14:9) "Kedarlaomer and Tidal king of Goyim, etc." (Ibid. 15) "And he (Avram) deployed against them at night, he and his servants, and he smote them." And thus is it written (Isaiah 41:2-3) "Who roused (the exemplar of) righteousness, (i.e., Avram) from the east, summoned him to His service? … He pursues them. He passes on, unscathed." And thus is it written (Psalms 110:1-5) "This is the word of the L–rd to my master (David). Sit at My right hand until I make your foes your footstool. The sceptre of your strength will the L–rd send from Zion. Your people will offer themselves on the day of (the gathering of) your army. The L–rd has sworn and He will not retract … The L–rd is at your right hand, etc." You magnified Yourself greatly against Pharaoh and his army, viz. (Exodus 14:7) "And he (Pharaoh) took six hundred choice chariots, etc." — (Ibid. 15:4) "The chariots of Pharaoh and his host He cast into the sea."
סִיסְרָא וְכָל רִכְבּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (שופטים ד,יג) "וַיַּזְעֵק סִיסְרָא אֶת כָּל רִכְבּוֹ, תְּשַׁע מֵאוֹת רֶכֶב בַּרְזֶל, וְאֶת כָּל הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ, מֵחֲרֹשֶׁת הַגּוֹיִם אֶל נַחַל קִישׁוֹן." מַהוּ אוֹמֵר? (שופטים ה,כ) "מִן שָׁמַיִם נִלְחָמוּ".
And thus Sisra and all his chariots, viz. (Judges 4:13) "And Sisra called up all his chariots" — (Ibid. 5:20) "From the heavens they warred" (against Sisra).
סַנְחֵרִיב וְכָל אֲגַפָּיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (ישעיה לז,כה) "בְּיַד עֲבָדֶיךָ חֵרַפְתָּ אֲדֹנָי, וַתֹּאמֶר: בְּרֹב רִכְבִּי אֲנִי עָלִיתִי מְרוֹם הָרִים, יַרְכְּתֵי לְבָנוֹן, וְאֶכְרֹת קוֹמַת אֲרָזָיו, מִבְחַר בְּרֹשָׁיו, וְאָבוֹא מְרוֹם קִצּוֹ יַעַר כַּרְמִלּוֹ. אֲנִי קַרְתִּי וְשָׁתִיתִי מָיִם, וְאַחְרִב בְּכַף פְּעָמַי כֹּל יְאֹרֵי מָצוֹר."*יְאֹרֵי מָצוֹר: נהרות מצרים. מַהוּ אוֹמֵר? (דברי הימים ב לב,כא) "וַיִּשְׁלַח יי מַלְאָךְ וַיַּכְחֵד כָּל גִּבּוֹר חַיִל".
Sancheriv and all of his ranks, viz. (Isaiah 37:24) "Through your servants you have blasphemed my L–rd, etc.) — (II Chronicles 32:21) "and the L–rd sent an angel who annihilated every warrior, etc."
נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר וְכָל הֲמוֹנוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (ישעיה יד,יג) "וְאַתָּה אָמַרְתָּ בִלְבָבְךָ, הַשָּׁמַיִם אֶעֱלֶה". אָמַר נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר: אֶעֱשֶׂה לִי עָב קְטַנָּה וְאָדוּר בְּתוֹכָהּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (ישעיה יד,יד)*עָב: ענן. "אֶעֱלֶה עַל בָּמֳתֵי עָב, אֶדַּמֶּה לְעֶלְיוֹן." אָמַר לוֹ הַקֹּדֶשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: אַתָּה רָצִיתָ לִפְרֹשׁ עַצְמָךְ מִבְּנֵי אָדָם, סוֹף בְּנֵי אָדָם נִפְרָשִׁין מִמָּךְ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: *(דניאל ד,כו-ל)** לְסוֹף חֳדָשִׁים שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר, עַל הֵיכַל הַמַּלְכוּת שֶׁל בָּבֶל מְהַלֵּךְ הָיָה. עוֹנֶה הַמֶּלֶךְ וְאוֹמֵר: הֲלֹא זֹאת הִיא בָּבֶל הַגְּדוֹלָה, אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי בְּנִיתִיהָ לְבֵית מַלְכוּת, בּחֹזֶק חָסְנִי וְלִכְבוֹד הֲדָרִי. עוֹד הַדָּבָר בְּפִי הַמֶּלֶךְ, קוֹל מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם נָפַל: לְךָ אוֹמְרִים, נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר הַמֶּלֶךְ: הַמַּלְכוּת עָבְרָה מִמְּךָ, וּמִן הָאָדָם אוֹתְךָ מְגָרְשִׁים, וְעִם חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה מִשְׁכָּנְךָ, הָעֵשֶׂב כִּשְׁוָרִים אוֹתְךָ יַאֲכִילוּ, וְשִׁבְעָה זְמַנִּים יַעַבְרוּ עָלֶיךָ, עַד אֲשֶׁר תֵּדַע שֶׁמּוֹשֵׁל הָעֶלְיוֹן בְּמַלְכוּת הָאָדָם, וּלְמִי שֶׁיִּרְצֵא יִתְּנֶנָּה. בָּהּ בַּשָּׁעָה, הַדָּבָר כָּלָה עַל נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר, וּמִן הָאָדָם גֹרַשׁ, וְהָעֵשֶׂב כִּשְׁוָרִים יֹאכַל, וּמִטַּל הַשָּׁמַיִם גּוּפוֹ יֵרָטֵב, עַד שֶׁשְּׂעָרוֹ כְּנְשָׁרִים גָדַל וְצִפָּרְנָיו כְּצִפֳּרִים. "לִקְצָת יַרְחִין תְּרֵי עֲשַׂר, עַל הֵיכַל מַלְכוּתָא דִּי בָבֶל מְהַלֵּךְ הֲוָה. עָנֵה מַלְכָּא וְאָמַר: הֲלָא דָא הִיא בָּבֶל רַבְּתָא, דִּי אֲנָה בֱנַיְתַהּ לְבֵית מַלְכוּ בִּתְקַף חִסְנִי וְלִיקָר הַדְרִי? עוֹד מִלְּתָא בְּפֻם מַלְכָּא, קָל מִן שְׁמַיָּא נְפַל לָךְ אָמְרִין: נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר מַלְכָּא! מַלְכוּתָא עֲדָת מִנָּךְ. בַּהּ שַׁעֲתָא מִלְּתָא סָפַת עַל נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר, וּמִן אֲנָשָׁא טְרִיד, וְעִשְׂבָּא כְתוֹרִין יֵאכֻל, וּמִטַּל שְׁמַיָּא גִּשְׁמֵהּ יִצְטַבַּע, עַד דִּי שַׂעְרֵהּ כְּנִשְׁרִין רְבָה, וְטִפְרוֹהִי כְצִפְּרִין." מַהוּ אוֹמֵר? *(דניאל ד,כה)** הַכֹּל הִגִּיעַ עַל נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר הַמֶּלֶךְ. "כֹּלָּא מְּטָא עַל נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר מַלְכָּא."
Nevuchadnezzar and all his hosts," viz. (Isaiah 14:83) "You said in your hearts: I will climb to the heavens, etc." Nevuchadnezzar said: I will make myself a little cloud and I will live within it, viz. (Ibid. 14) "I will mount the heights of a cloud, etc." The Holy One Blessed be He said: You wished to separate yourself from men. In the end, they will separate themselves from you, viz. (Daniel 4:25-30) "All this befell King Nevuchadnezzar, etc."
*(דניאל ה,א-ו)** בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר הַמֶּלֶךְ עָשָׂה מִשְׁתֶּה גָּדוֹל לִגְדוֹלָיו אֶלֶף, וּלְעֻמַּת הָאֶלֶף, הַיַּיִן שׁוֹתֶה. בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר אָמַר בְּצַו הַיַּיִן, לְהָבִיא אֶת כְּלֵי הַזָּהָב וְהַכֶּסֶף, שֶׁהוֹצִיא נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר אָבִיו מִן הַהֵיכָל אֲשֶׁר בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם, וְיִשְׁתּוּ בָהֶם הַמֶּלֶךְ וּגְדוֹלָיו, נָשָׁיו וּפִילַגְשָׁיו. אָז הֵבִיאוּ כְּלֵי הַזָּהָב, שֶׁהוֹצִיאוּ מִן הַהֵיכָל שֶׁל בֵית הָאֵל אֲשֶׁר בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם, וְשָׁתוּ בָהֶם הַמֶּלֶךְ וּגְדוֹלָיו, נָשָׁיו וּפִילַגְשָׁיו. שָׁתוּ הַיַּיִן, וְשִׁבְּחוּ אֶת אֱלֹהֵי הַזָּהָב וְהַכֶּסֶף, הַנְּחֹשֶׁת, הַבַּרְזֶל, הָעֵץ וְהָאֶבֶן. בָּהּ בַּשָּׁעָה, יָצְאוּ אֶצְבָּעוֹת שֶׁל יַד אִישׁ, וְכוֹתְבוֹת מוּל הַמְּנוֹרָה עַל הַסִּיד שֶׁל כֹּתֶל הַהֵיכָל שֶׁל הַמֶּלֶךְ, וְהַמֶּלֶךְ רוֹאֶה פַּס הַיָּד שֶׁכּוֹתֶבֶת. אָז הַמֶּלֶךְ מַראֵהוּ הִשְׁתַּנָּה, וּמחְשְׁבוֹתָיו יַפְחִידוּהוּ, וְקִשְׁרֵי חֲלָצָיו מִשׁתַּחְרְרִים, וּבִרְכָּיו זוֹ לְזוֹ נוֹקְשׁוֹת. "בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר מַלְכָּא עֲבַד לְחֶם רַב לְרַבְרְבָנוֹהִי אֲלַף, וְלָקֳבֵל אַלְפָּא חַמְרָא שָׁתֵה. בֵּאדַיִן הַיְתִיו מָאנֵי דַהֲבָא דִּי הַנְפִּקוּ מִן הֵיכְלָא דִּי בֵית אֱלָהָא דִּי בִירוּשְׁלֶם, וְאִשְׁתִּיו בְּהוֹן מַלְכָּא וְרַבְרְבָנוֹהִי, שֵׁגְלָתֵהּ וּלְחֵנָתֵהּ. אִשְׁתִּיו חַמְרָא וְשַׁבַּחוּ לֵאלָהֵי דַּהֲבָא וְכַסְפָּא, נְחָשָׁא פַרְזְלָא אָעָא וְאַבְנָא. בַּהּ שַׁעֲתָה נְפַקָה אֶצְבְּעָן דִּי יַד אֱנָשׁ, וְכָתְבָן לָקֳבֵל נֶבְרַשְׁתָּא עַל גִּירָא דִּי כְתַל הֵיכְלָא דִּי מַלְכָּא, וּמַלְכָּא חָזֵה פַּס יְדָא דִּי כָתְבָה. אֱדַיִן מַלְכָּא זִיוֹהִי שְׁנוֹהִי, וְרַעְיֹנֹהִי יְבַהֲלוּנֵּהּ, וְקִטְרֵי חַרְצֵהּ מִשְׁתָּרַיִן, וְאַרְכֻבָּתֵהּ דָּא לְדָא נָקְשָׁן." וְעָלָיו הוּא אוֹמֵר: (חבקוק ב,טו) "הוֹי מַשְׁקֵה רֵעֵהוּ, מְסַפֵּחַ חֲמָתְךָ וְאַף שַׁכֵּר". (חבקוק ב,טז) "שָׂבַעְתָּ קָלוֹן מִכָּבוֹד". וְאוֹמֵר: *(דניאל ה,ל)** בּוֹ בַלַּיְלָה נֶהֱרַג בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר הַמֶּלֶךְ הַכַּשְׂדִּי. "בֵּהּ בְּלֵילְיָא קְטִיל בֵּלְאשַׁצַּר מַלְכָּא כַשְׂדָּאָה."
(Ibid. 8:1-6) "King Belshazzar made a great banquet, etc." About this it is written (Habakkuk 2:15) "Woe unto him who makes his neighbor drink! You pour out your wrath even unto intoxication," and (Ibid. 16) "You will be sated with shame rather than glory." (Daniel 5:30) "That very night King Belshazzar was killed."
"תַּהֲרֹס קָמֶיךָ". 'הָרַסְתָּ קָמֶיךָ' אֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר כָּן, אֶלָּא "תַּהֲרֹס קָמֶיךָ", לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (תהלים נח,ז) "אֱלֹהִים הֲרָס שִׁנֵּימוֹ בְּפִימוֹ". מִפְּנֵי מָה? (תהלים כח,ה) "כִּי לֹא יָבִינוּ אֶל פְּעֻלֹּת יי וְאֶל מַעֲשֵׂה יָדָיו, יֶהֶרְסֵם וְלֹא יִבְנֵם." "יֶהֶרְסֵם", בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, "וְלֹא יִבְנֵם", לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא.
(Exodus 15:7) It is not written "You have destroyed those who rose up against You," but "You will destroy ('taharos') those who rise up against You" — in the future, viz. (Psalms 58:7) "O G–d, smash ('haras') their teeth in their mouth." Why? (Ibid. 58:5) "For they do not consider the deeds of the L–rd and His handiwork. He will tear them down ('yeharsem') and not rebuild them": He will tear them down in this world and not rebuild them in the world to come.
"תְּשַׁלַּח חֲרֹנְךָ". 'שָׁלַחְתָּ חֲרֹנְךָ' אֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר כָּן, אֶלָּא "תְּשַׁלַּח חֲרֹנְךָ", לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (ירמיה י,כה) "שְׁפֹךְ חֲמָתְךָ עַל הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר לֹא יְדָעוּךָ, וְעַל מִשְׁפָּחוֹת אֲשֶׁר בְּשִׁמְךָ לֹא קָרָאוּ!" מִפְּנֵי מָה? (תהלים עט,ז) "כִּי אָכַל אֶת יַעֲקֹב, וְאֶת נָוֵהוּ הֵשַׁמּוּ."
It is not written "You have sent forth Your wrath," but "You will send forth Your wrath" — in time to come. (Psalms 69:25) "Pour Your wrath upon them, etc." (Jeremiah 10:25) :Pour Your wrath upon the nations": Why? (Ibid.) "For they have consumed Yaakov, etc"
"יֹאכְלֵמוֹ כַּקַּשׁ." 'אֲכָלֵמוֹ כַּקַּשׁ' אֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר כָּן, אֶלָּא "יֹאכְלֵמוֹ כַּקַּשׁ", לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (עובדיה א,יח) "וְהָיָה בֵית יַעֲקֹב אֵשׁ, וּבֵית יוֹסֵף לֶהָבָה". (זכריה יב,ו) "בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, אָשִׂים אֶת אַלֻּפֵי יְהוּדָה כְּכִיּוֹר אֵשׁ בְּעֵצִים, וּכְלַפִּיד אֵשׁ בְּעָמִיר, וְאָכְלוּ עַל יָמִין וְעַל שְׂמֹאול אֶת כָּל הָעַמִּים סָבִיב, וְיָשְׁבָה יְרוּשָׁלִַם עוֹד תַּחְתֶּיהָ בִּירוּשָׁלִָם."
It is not written (Exodus 15:7) "He has consumed them as stubble," but "He will consume them as stubble" — in time to come, viz. (Ovadiah 1:18) "And the house of Yaakov will be fire, and the house of Joseph, flame, and the house of Esav, stubble, and they will ignite them and consume them, etc." And it is written (Zechariah 12:6) "On that day I will make the chieftains of Judah like a stove — fire (burning) wood, torch (burning) sheaf, etc."
כָּל הָעֵצִים, כְּשֶׁהֵן דּוֹלְקִין, אֵין קוֹלָן הוֹלֵךְ, אֲבָל הַקַּשׁ, כְּשֶׁהוּא דּוֹלֵק, קוֹלוֹ הוֹלֵךְ. כָּךְ הָיָה קוֹלָן שֶׁלְּמִצְרָיִם הוֹלֵךְ, מִפְּנֵי הַפֻּרְעָנוּת שֶׁהֵבֵאתָ עֲלֵיהֶם. וְכָל הָעֵצִים, כְּשֶׁהֵן דּוֹלְקִין, יֵשׁ בָּהֶן מַמָּשׁ, אֲבָל הַקַּשׁ, כְּשֶׁהוּא דּוֹלֵק, אֵין בּוֹ מַמָּשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (שמות יד,ז) "וַיִּקַּח שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת רֶכֶב בָּחוּר, וְכֹל רֶכֶב מִצְרָיִם, וְשָׁלִשִׁם עַל כֻּלּוֹ." אוֹ שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי, שֶׁהָיָה בָּהֶם מַמָּשׁ! תִּלְמֹד לוֹמַר "יֹאכְלֵמוֹ כַּקַּשׁ". מָה הַקַּשׁ, כְּשֶׁהוּא דּוֹלֵק, אֵין בּוֹ מַמָּשׁ, כָּךְ הַמִּצְרִיִּים, כְּשֶׁהָיוּ דּוֹלְקִין, לֹא הָיָה בָּהֶן מַמָּשׁ, מִפְּנֵי הַפֻּרְעָנוּת שֶׁהֵבֵאתָ עֲלֵיהֶם, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר: (ישעיה מג,יז) "יַחְדָּו יִשְׁכְּבוּ, בַּל יָקוּמוּ, דָּעֲכוּ, כַּפִּשְׁתָּה כָבוּ." לְלַמְּדָךְ שֶׁלֹּא הָיְתָה מַלְכוּת יְרוּדָה יוֹתֵר מִשֶּׁלְּמִצְרָיִם, אֶלָּא שֶׁנָּטְלָה שְׂרָרָה לְשָׁעָה, בִּשְׁבִיל כְּבוֹדָן שֶׁלְּיִשְׂרָאֵל.
All woods, when they burn, their sound is not heard; but stubble, when it burns, it crackles and is heard. Thus did the sound of Egypt, in its destruction, make itself heard. All woods, when they burn, leave a trace; but stubble, when it burns, leaves no trace. And the L–rd said (Isaiah 43:17) "They (the chariots of Egypt) all lie together, never to rise, snuffed out like flax" — to teach that there was no kingdom so abject as that of Egypt, but it seized power for the moment towards the aggrandizement of Israel.
וּכְשֶׁהוּא מוֹשֵׁל אֶת הַמַּלְכִיּוֹת, אֵינוֹ מוֹשֵׁל אוֹתָם אֶלָּא בָאֲרָזִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (יחזקאל לא,ג) "הִנֵּה אַשּׁוּר אֶרֶז בַּלְּבָנוֹן יְפֵה עָנָף", וְאוֹמֵר: (עמוס ב,ט) "וְאָנֹכִי הִשְׁמַדְתִּי אֶת הָאֱמֹרִי מִפְּנֵיהֶם, אֲשֶׁר כְּגֹבַהּ אֲרָזִים גָּבְהוֹ", וְאוֹמֵר: *(דניאל ד,יז)** הָעֵץ אֲשֶׁר רָאִיתָ, אֲשֶׁר גָדַל וְהִתְחַזֵּק, וְגָבְהוֹ יַגִּיעַ לַשָּׁמַיִם וּמַרְאֵהוּ לְכָל הָאָרֶץ. "אִילָנָא דִּי חֲזַיְתָ דִּי רְבָה וּתְקִף, וְרוּמֵהּ יִמְטֵא לִשְׁמַיָּא, וַחֲזוֹתֵהּ לְכָל אַרְעָא." וּכְשֶׁהוּא מוֹשֵׁל אֶת הַמִּצְרִים, אֵינוֹ מוֹשְׁלָן אֶלָּא בַקַּשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: "יֹאכְלֵמוֹ כַּקַּשׁ." כְּשֶׁהוּא מוֹשֵׁל אֶת הַמַּלְכִיּוֹת, אֵינוֹ מוֹשְׁלָן אֶלָּא בְכֶסֶף וְזָהָב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: *(דניאל ב,לב)** הַפֶּסֶל הָהוּא, רֹאשׁוֹ שֶׁל זָהָב טוֹב. "הוּא צַלְמָא, רֵאשֵׁהּ דִּי דְהַב טָב". וּכְשֶׁהוּא מוֹשֵׁל אֶת הַמִּצְרִים, אֵינוֹ מוֹשְׁלָן אֶלָּא בַּעוֹפֶרֶת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (שמות טו,י) "צָלְלוּ כַּעוֹפֶרֶת". כְּשֶׁהוּא מוֹשֵׁל אֶת הַמַּלְכִיּוֹת, אֵינוֹ מוֹשְׁלָן אֶלָּא בַחַיּוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: *(דניאל ז,ג)** וְאַרְבַּע חַיּוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת. "וְאַרְבַּע חֵיוָן רַבְרְבָן", וּכְשֶׁהוּא מוֹשֵׁל אֶת הַמִּצְרִים, אֵינוֹ מוֹשְׁלָן אֶלָּא בַּשּׁוּעָלִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (שיר השירים ב,טו) "אֶחֱזוּ לָנוּ שֻׁעָלִים".
When the (other) kingdoms are symbolized, they are symbolized as cedars, viz. (Ezekiel 31:3) "Behold, Ashur, a cedar in the Levanon," and (Amos 2:9) "And I destroyed the Emori from before them, whose height was as the height of cedars, etc.", and (Daniel 4:17) "The tree (Bavel) that you have seen, etc." And when Egypt is symbolized, it is symbolized only as stubble, viz. "He will consume them as stubble." And when the (other) kingdoms are symbolized, they are symbolized as silver and gold (Ibid. 2:32) "This statue, its head of fine gold, etc." And when Egypt is symbolized, it is symbolized only as lead, viz. (Exodus 15:10) "they sank as lead." And when the (other) kingdoms are symbolized, they are symbolized as beasts, viz. (Daniel 7:3) "and four immense beasts, etc." And when Egypt is symbolized, it is symbolized only as a fox, viz. (Song of Songs 2:15) "Seize for us the foxes, etc."
שָׁאַל אַנְטוֹנִינוּס אֶת רַבֵּנוּ: אֲנִי מְבַקֵּשׁ לֵילֵךְ לאָלֶכְּסַנְדְּרִיָה. שֶׁמָּא יַעֲמֹד עָלַי מֶלֶךְ וִינַצְּחֵנִי? אָמַר לוֹ: אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ! מִכָּל מָקוֹם, כָּתוּב לָנוּ שֶׁאֵין אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם יְכוֹלָה לְהַעֲמִיד לֹא מֶלֶךְ וְלֹא שָׂר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (יחזקאל ל,יג) "וְנָשִׂיא מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם לֹא יִהְיֶה עוֹד". (יחזקאל כט,טו) "מִן הַמַּמְלָכוֹת תִּהְיֶה שְׁפָלָה, וְלֹא תִתְנַשֵּׂא עוֹד עַל הַגּוֹיִם, וְהִמְעַטְתִּים לְבִלְתִּי רְדוֹת בַּגּוֹיִם."
Antoninus asked Rabbeinu Hakadosh: I want to go to Alexandria. Is it possible that a king will arise there who will beat me? He answered: I do not know. In any event, we have it in writing that Egypt is incapable of establishing either a king or a governor, viz. (Ezekiel 29:15) "Of all the kingdoms it (Egypt) will be the lowest, and it will not exalt itself again among the nations. And I will diminish them, so that they not dominate the nations."
(שמות טו,ח) ["וּבְרוּחַ אַפֶּיךָ נֶעֶרְמוּ מַיִם, נִצְּבוּ כְמוֹ נֵד נֹזְלִים, קָפְאוּ תְהֹמֹת בְּלֶב יָם."] "וּבְרוּחַ אַפֶּיךָ נֶעֶרְמוּ מַיִם". בַּמִּדָּה שֶׁמָּדְדוּ, בָהּ מָדַדְתָּ לָהֶם: הֵם אָמְרוּ: (שמות א,י) "הָבָה נִתְחַכְּמָה לוֹ", אַף אַתָּה נָתַתָּ עַרְמוּמִיּוּת בַּמַּיִם, וְהָיוּ הַמַּיִם נִלְחָמִים בָּהֶם בְּכָל מִינֵי פֻרְעָנִיּוֹת. לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: "וּבְרוּחַ אַפֶּיךָ נֶעֶרְמוּ מַיִם".
(Exodus 15:8) "And with the breath of Your nostrils, the waters ne'ermu": "With their measure was it meted out to them." They said (Ibid. 1:10) "Come and let us outsmart them." You, likewise, gave wisdom ("armah" [as in "ne'ermu"]) to the waters, and the waters embattled them in all kinds of torrents.
דָּבָר אַחֵר: "וּבְרוּחַ אַפֶּיךָ נֶעֶרְמוּ מַיִם". עֲשָׂאָן כְּמִין עֲרֵמוֹת.
Variantly: "And with the breath of Your nostrils ne'ermu": He stood them (the waters) up like stacks ("areimoth").
"נִצְּבוּ כְמוֹ נֵד". מַה נֹּד צָרוּר, אֵינוֹ לֹא מוֹצִיא וְלֹא מַכְנִיס, כָּךְ הָיְתָה נַפְשָׁם שֶׁלַּמִצְרִיִּים צְרוּרָה בָהֶם. וְיִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹכְלִין וְשׁוֹתִין וּשְׂמֵחִין. יָצְאוּ לָהֶם זִכְרֵי מַיִם מְתוּקִין מִתּוֹךְ מְלוּחִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (תהלים עח,טז) "וַיּוֹצִא נוֹזְלִים מִסָּלַע", וְאֵין נוֹזְלִים אֶלָּא מַיִם חַיִּים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (שיר השירים ד,טו) "מַעְיַן גַּנִּים, בְּאֵר מַיִם חַיִּים", (משלי ה,טו) "שְׁתֵה מַיִם מִבּוֹרֶךָ, וְנֹזְלִים מִתּוֹךְ בְּאֵרֶךָ."
(Ibid.) "They stood up like a flask": Just as a bound flask neither emits nor admits, so, the spirits of the Egyptians were bound up within them, neither emitting nor admitting — while Israel ate and drank and rejoiced. Sweet water issued forth for them from salted water, viz. (Psalms 78:160) "and He brought forth nozlim from the rock," "nozlim" being living waters, as in (Song of Songs 4:15) "a garden spring, a well of living waters," and (Mishlei 5:15) "Drink water from your pit and nozlim from your well."
דָּבָר אַחֵר: "נִצְּבוּ כְמוֹ נֵד". מַה נֹּד צָרוּר, אֵינוֹ לֹא מוֹצִיא וְלֹא מַכְנִיס, כָּךְ הָיְתָה נַפְשָׁם שֶׁלְּמִצְרָיִם צְרוּרָה בָהֶם, לֹא מוֹצִיאִין וְלֹא מַכְנִיסִין, מְעֻלָּפִין מֵרֵיחַ הַיָּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (איוב מא,כג) "יַרְתִּיחַ כַּסִּיר מְצוּלָה, יָם יָשִׂים כַּמֶּרְקָחָה." וְיִשְׂרָאֵל, נֶעֱשָׂה לָהֶם הַיָּם מִינֵי בְשָׂמִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (איוב מא,כג) "יָם יָשִׂים כַּמֶּרְקָחָה." וְאוֹמֵר: (שיר השירים ד,טז) "עוּרִי צָפוֹן וּבוֹאִי תֵימָן! הָפִיחִי גַנִּי! יִזְּלוּ בְשָׂמָיו".
Variantly: Just as a bound flask stands, neither emitting nor admitting, so, the spirits of the Egyptians were bound up within them, neither emitting nor admitting, faint from the smell of the sea, viz. (Job 41:23) "He bubbles up the sea like a pot, etc." And to Israel, the sea was like a bed of spices, viz. (Ibid.) "He makes the sea like a spice-bed." (Song of Songs 4:16) "Awake, O north wind, and come, O south, blow over my garden that its spices may flow."
"קָפְאוּ תְהֹמֹת בְּלֶב יָם." עֲשָׂאָן כְּמִין כִּפָּה בְּלֵב יָם. הֵיאָךְ? לִבּוֹ שֶׁלָּאָדָם נָתוּן מִשְּׁנֵי חֲלָקִים וּלְמַעְלָן, כָּךְ קָפָא עֲלֵיהֶם הַיָּם מִשְּׁנֵי חֲלָקָיו וּלְמַעְלָה.
(Exodus, Ibid.) "The depths were congealed ("kafu") in the heart of the sea, etc." He made them like a kippah (a dome) in the midst of the sea. How so? A man's heart consists of two chambers and its arch. Thus did He arch the sea over them.
הַיָּם, לֹא הָיָה לוֹ לֵב, וְנָתַן לוֹ לֵב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (שמות טו,ח) "בְּלֶב יָם". הָאֵלָה, לֹא הָיָה לָהּ לֵב, וְנָתַן לָהּ לֵב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (שמואל ב יח,יד) "עוֹדֶנּוּ חַי בְּלֵב הָאֵלָה." הַשָּׁמַיִם, לֹא הָיָה לָהֶם לֵב, וְנָתַן לָהֶם לֵב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (דברים ד,יא) "וְהָהָר בֹּעֵר בָּאֵשׁ עַד לֵב הַשָּׁמַיִם". יָבֹא הַיָּם שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה לוֹ לֵב וְנִתַּן לוֹ לֵב, וְיִפָּרַע מִן הַמִּצְרִים, שֶׁהָיָה לָהֶם לֵב, וְשִׁעְבְּדוּ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּכָל מִינֵי פֻרְעָנִיּוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (שמות א,יג) "וַיַּעֲבִדוּ מִצְרַיִם אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּפָרֶךְ." תָּבֹא הָאֵלֶּה שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה לָהּ לֵב וְנִתַּן לָהּ לֵב, וְתִפָּרַע מֵאַבְשָׁלוֹם שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ לֵב וְגָנַב שָׁלֹשׁ גְּנֵבוֹת, לֵב אָבִיו, וְלֵב בֵּית דִּין, וְלֵב אַנְשֵׁי יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (שמואל ב טו,ו) "וַיְגַנֵּב אַבְשָׁלוֹם אֶת לֵב אַנְשֵׁי יִשְׂרָאֵל." יָבֹאוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה לָהֶם לֵב וְנִתַּן לָהֶם לֵב, וְיוֹרִידוּ הַמָּן כַּטַּל לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁהָיָה לָהֶם לֵב, וְעָבְדוּ הַקֹּדֶשׁ בְּכָל לְבָבָם וּבְכָל נַפְשָׁם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (דברים ו,ה) "וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת יי אֱלֹהֶיךָ, בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁךָ וּבְכָל מְאֹדֶךָ."
The sea has no heart, and He gave it a heart. A terebinth has no heart, and He gave it a heart, viz. (II Samuel 18:4) "He (Avshalom) was yet alive in the heart of the terebinth." The heavens have no heart, and He gave them a heart, viz. (Devarim 4:11) "And the mountain (Sinai) burned with fire until the heart of heaven." Let the sea come, which had no heart and was given a heart, and exact payment of the Egyptians, who had a heart and subjugated Israel with all kinds of ("heartless") torments, viz. (Exodus 1:13) "And Egypt subjected the children of Israel to grueling toil." Let the terebinth come, which had no heart and was given a heart and exact punishment of Avshalom, who had a heart and "stole" three hearts — the heart of his father, the heart of beth-din, and the heart of Israel, viz. (II Samuel 15:6) ("And Avshalom did this) … and Avshalom stole the heart of the men of Israel." Let the heavens come, which have no heart and were given a heart, and drop manna like dew upon Israel, who had a heart and accepted the Torah and served the L–rd with all their hearts and all their souls, viz. (Devarim 6:3) "And you shall love the L–rd your G–d with all of your heart and all of your soul, etc."
וְלֹא הַשָּׁמַיִם בִּלְבַד שָׂמְחוּ בִּגְאֻלַּת יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֶלָּא אַף הֶהָרִים וְכָל גְּבָעוֹת, עֵץ פְּרִי וְכָל אֲרָזִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (ישעיה מד,כג) "רָנּוּ שָׁמַיִם, כִּי עָשָׂה יי! הָרִיעוּ תַּחְתִּיּוֹת אָרֶץ! פִּצְחוּ הָרִים רִנָּה, יַעַר וְכָל עֵץ בּוֹ!" מִפְּנֵי מָה? (ישעיה מד,כג) "כִּי גָאַל יי יַעֲקֹב, וּבְיִשְׂרָאֵל יִתְפָּאָר." (ישעיה מט,יג) "רָנּוּ שָׁמַיִם וְגִילִי אָרֶץ, וּפִצְחוּ הָרִים רִנָּה!" מִפְּנֵי מָה? (ישעיה מט,יג) "כִּי נִחַם יי עַמּוֹ, גָּאַל יְרוּשָׁלִָם."
And not the heavens alone rejoiced in the redemption of Israel, but also the mountains and all of the hills, the fruit trees and all of the cedars, viz. (Isaiah 44:23) "Sing, O heavens, for the L–rd has wrought! Shout, O depths of the earth. Mountains, break out in song, forest and all that is in it. For the L–rd has redeemed Yaakov", and (Ibid. 49:13) "Sing, O heavens and rejoice, O earth — Break out in song! For the L–rd has consoled His people, etc."