וַיְחַזֵּ֣ק יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶת־לֵ֤ב פַּרְעֹה֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרַ֔יִם וַיִּרְדֹּ֕ף אַחֲרֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל יֹצְאִ֖ים בְּיָ֥ד רָמָֽה׃
Yang Mahakekal mengeraskan hati Firaun, raja Mesir, sehingga ia mengejar orang Israel, sementara orang Israel sedang keluar dengan tangan yang terangkat.
Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael
(Exodus 14:8) "and the L–rd strengthened the heart of Pharaoh": His heart was divided between pursuing or not pursuing.
Shir HaShirim Rabbah
The school of Rabbi Yishmael taught: When the Israelites departed Egypt, to what were they comparable? To a dove that was fleeing a hawk, entered the crevice of a rock, and encountered a nesting serpent. It was unable to enter, as the serpent was still nesting. It would be unable to reverse its course because the hawk was positioned outside. What did the dove do? It began shrieking and striking itself with its wings so that the owner of the dovecote would come and rescue it. This is what the Israelites were analogous to at the sea. They were unable to descend into the sea because the sea had not yet been split for them. They were unable to reverse their course because Pharaoh was approaching. What did they do? “They were very frightened and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord” (Exodus 14:10). Immediately, “The Lord saved [Israel] on that day” (Exodus 14:30).
Rabbi Yehuda [said] in the name of Rabbi Ḥama of the village of Teḥumin: This is analogous to a king who had an only daughter, and he desired to hear her speak [to him]. What did he do? He issued a proclamation and said: The entire people shall emerge to the assembly grounds. When they emerged, what did he do? He signaled to his servants and they suddenly attacked her like bandits. She began screaming: ‘Father, father, save me!’ Similarly, when the Israelites were in Egypt, the Egyptians enslaved them and they began screaming and directing their eyes to the Holy One blessed be He. That is what is written: “It was during those many days, and the king of Egypt died. The children of Israel sighed due to the work and they cried out” (Exodus 2:23). Immediately, “God heard their groaning” (Exodus 2:24). The Holy One blessed be He heard their prayer and took them out with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. The Holy One blessed be He desired to hear their voices, but they were unwilling. What did the Holy One blessed be He do? He hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he pursued them. That is what is written: “The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued…” (Exodus 14:8), and it is written: “Pharaoh approached” (Exodus 14:10). What is “approached [hikriv]”? He brought Israel closer [hikriv] to repentance. When they saw [Pharaoh and his army], they directed their sights to the Holy One blessed be He, and they cried out before Him, as it is stated: “The children of Israel raised their eyes and, behold, the Egyptians were traveling after them and they were very frightened; the children of Israel cried out to the Lord” (Exodus 14:10) with the same cry that they cried out in Egypt. Once the Holy One blessed be He heard, He said: ‘Had I not done so to you, I would not have heard your voice.’ Regarding that moment, He said: “My dove, in the clefts of the rock.” “Let me hear a voice,” is not written here, but rather, “your voice,” the voice that I heard in Egypt. When the children of Israel cried out before the Holy One blessed be He, immediately, “The Lord saved [Israel] on that day” (Exodus 14:30).
Rabbi Yehuda [said] in the name of Rabbi Ḥama of the village of Teḥumin: This is analogous to a king who had an only daughter, and he desired to hear her speak [to him]. What did he do? He issued a proclamation and said: The entire people shall emerge to the assembly grounds. When they emerged, what did he do? He signaled to his servants and they suddenly attacked her like bandits. She began screaming: ‘Father, father, save me!’ Similarly, when the Israelites were in Egypt, the Egyptians enslaved them and they began screaming and directing their eyes to the Holy One blessed be He. That is what is written: “It was during those many days, and the king of Egypt died. The children of Israel sighed due to the work and they cried out” (Exodus 2:23). Immediately, “God heard their groaning” (Exodus 2:24). The Holy One blessed be He heard their prayer and took them out with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. The Holy One blessed be He desired to hear their voices, but they were unwilling. What did the Holy One blessed be He do? He hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he pursued them. That is what is written: “The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued…” (Exodus 14:8), and it is written: “Pharaoh approached” (Exodus 14:10). What is “approached [hikriv]”? He brought Israel closer [hikriv] to repentance. When they saw [Pharaoh and his army], they directed their sights to the Holy One blessed be He, and they cried out before Him, as it is stated: “The children of Israel raised their eyes and, behold, the Egyptians were traveling after them and they were very frightened; the children of Israel cried out to the Lord” (Exodus 14:10) with the same cry that they cried out in Egypt. Once the Holy One blessed be He heard, He said: ‘Had I not done so to you, I would not have heard your voice.’ Regarding that moment, He said: “My dove, in the clefts of the rock.” “Let me hear a voice,” is not written here, but rather, “your voice,” the voice that I heard in Egypt. When the children of Israel cried out before the Holy One blessed be He, immediately, “The Lord saved [Israel] on that day” (Exodus 14:30).
Shemot Rabbah
Another interpretation: “This month shall be for you” (Exodus 12:2) – Solomon said: “Through me kings reign” (Proverbs 8:15). Rabbi Levi said: This is analogous to a duke to whom the legions cast a purple cloak [of royalty]. What did he do? He cancels tax debts, burns the promissory note, and brings out the legions [on parade or on leave], and that is called the beginning of his reign. So did the Holy One blessed be He reign for twenty-six generations37Since Creation. in Egypt, and then He cancelled the debt, as it is stated: “And the children of Israel went out triumphantly” (Exodus 14:8); He burned the promissory note, as it is stated: “The residence of the children of Israel that they lived in Egypt [was four hundred and thirty years]” (Exodus 12:40);38In fact, God took them out of Egypt after only two hundred and ten years. He took out the legions, and it was called the beginning of His reign, to realize what is stated: “Through me kings reign.”