Comentário sobre Êxodo 14:4

ואכבדה בפרעה AND I WILL BE HONOURED THROUGH PHARAOH — When the Holy One, blessed be He, takes vengeance on the wicked His name is magnified and honoured. Thus, too, it states, (Ezekiel 38:22, 23) “And I will plead against him [with pestilence and with blood etc.]”, and afterwards, “Thus I shall be magnified and sanctified etc.” And it states, (Psalms 76:3) “There He broke the fiery shafts of the bow”, and afterwards (after He has done this) (v. 2) “In Judah is God known. “Further it states, (Psalms 9:17) “The Lord is known because He executeth judgment” (Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 14:4:2).

AND I WILL HARDEN PHARAOH’S HEART, AND HE SHALL PURSUE AFTER THEM. Because Pharaoh feared them at the plague of the firstborn and he asked them and bless me also,²⁴Above, 12:32. he was not disposed to pursue after the Israelites even if they were to flee, and he would rather have Moses do with them as he pleases. Therefore, it was necessary to state that G-d hardened his heart to pursue after them. Further on, it says once more, And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall go in after them.²⁵Further, Verse 17. After the Egyptians saw that the sea had split before the children of Israel and that they walked in the midst of the sea upon dry land, which is the most outstanding wonder of all wonders, how could they be disposed to come in after them to harm them! This was indeed madness on their part. But it was He Who turned their counsel into foolishness²⁶See II Samuel 15:31. and strengthened their hearts to enter the sea.

וחזקתי את לב פרעה, “I shall stiffen the heart of Pharaoh;” seeing that Pharaoh lately had become so humiliated, unless G’d would give him back some self-confidence, he would not dare to pursue the Israelites whom he himself had not only chased out, but had begged to offer prayers on his behalf. Without such Divine intervention, even if Pharaoh should have reached the conclusion that the Israelites had fled, he would not, in his present state of mind, have the audacity to mount a pursuit.

ויעשו כן, “they did so.” The Torah compliments the Israelites for obeying what seemed an irrational command, i.e. making camp facing their erstwhile enemies and masters. They could have questioned such an order but did not do so. (Rashi).

To relate their praises that they listened to Moshe. . . Rashi is answering the question: Why is it not written, “They did just that,” for all mitzvos? Perforce, because it is obvious that they did just that. Therefore, it is obvious here as well! So Rashi explains, “To relate their praises.” I.e., Scripture testifies to their righteousness. But it seems to me [that Rashi is answering the question:] It says, “The Egyptians. . . overtook them as they were encamped by the sea. . . at Pi haChiros, facing Ba’al Tzephon” (v. 9). This proves they turned back. Therefore, “They did just that” is superfluous, and it is stated “to relate their praises. . .” (Nachalas Yaakov)

V. 4. וחזקתי, siehe Kap. 7, 3. 10, 1. 11, 9 u. 10, ואכבדה , ich möchte in der ganzen Wucht meiner Größe und Macht erkannt werden.

ורדף אחריהם, “he will pursue them;” when Pharaoh would engage them in battle they would attempt to flee, and he would pursue them. He would become guilty in the eyes of G-d for not allowing them to return to Egypt [as they had promised they would. Ed.] As a result of this they could not be blamed for not bringing back the valuables that they had “borrowed.” At any rate, the houses and fields that they had left behind amounted to more in value than the chattels they had taken with them.

בפרעה ובכל חילו THROUGH PHARAOH AND THROUGH ALL HIS FORCES — He began the wrongdoing and with him began the punishment (Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 14:4:2; cf. Rashi on Exodus 7:28).

וידעו, “they will know, etc.” this refers to the Egyptians who had remained in Egypt.

ויעשו כן AND THEY DID SO — This is stated in order to tell their praise — that they hearkened to Moses and did not say, How can we move nearer to our enemies; we ought rather to flee,” but they said, ‘‘It is ours only to carry out the bidding of the son of Amram” (cf. Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 14:4:3).