Komentaryong Sumisipi para sa Mga Awit 114:8

בנו בער — The grammatical form בנו is exactly like that in (Psalms 114:8) “To a spring of (מעינו) water” (see Rashi on Numbers 23:18). But a Midrashic statement is: Both of them (Balak and Balaam) were superior to their fathers, for it states (Numbers 23:18): “Balak — his son was Zippor”, i.e. that his father (Zippor) was his son (his inferior) in respect to royalty, and Balaam was greater than his father in prophecy (because it states here, בלעם בנו בעור i.e. Balaam — his son was Beor): he was, so to speak, a Maneh, son of a Half-Maneh (Sanhedrin 105a, Midrash Tanchuma, Balak 13, cf. Taanit 28b).

ומטך אשר הכית בו את היאור, “and your staff, the one with which you smote the river Nile, etc.” At that time the staff became an instrument of afflictions; But this time — קח בידך והכית בו, “take in your hand and strike with it” — the same staff will become instrumental in producing blessings, i.e. water. The rock will turn into a lake as described in Psalms 114,8.

AND THY ROD, WHEREWITH THOU SMOTEST THE RIVER, TAKE IN THY HAND. This means “[the staff wherewith] you commanded Aaron [to strike the river].”⁴³⁷Above, 7:19. He mentioned the striking of the river, but He did not say, “and the rod which was turned to a serpent”⁴³⁸Ibid., Verse 15. or “the rod wherewith you did the signs.”⁴³⁹See above, 4:17. This was in order to call attention to the wonder in it, for at that time, the rod turned the waters into blood, thus removing from them their particular nature, and now the rod brought water into a flinty rock,⁴⁴⁰See Psalms 114:8. thus doing things of contrary effect.

Who created the earth Heb. חולי, Who created the earth. The “yud” is superfluous as מגביהי, משפילי and ההוֹפכי.

ושמן מחלמיש צור AND OIL OUT OF THE FLINTY ROCK — this refers to the olives of Giscala (a place in Galilee) (Sifrei Devarim 316:4).