Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”L

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The Israelites Leave Egypt and the Egyptians Chase Them

In now finally leaving Egypt and journeying towards Israel, G-d does not lead the Israelites by way of the Philistines, which would be the more direct route, as he feared that in coming to head with war, they would regret leaving along the way and try to return back to Egypt. This is actually what ended up happening later on in any event (see Bamidbar 14:4), even though they took the circuitous route, so all the more so would they have tried this had they taken a more direct route.

So they are led by way of the Sea of Reeds (in Hebrew it's ים סוף. "A סוף is literally a "marsh", where reeds grow) .

G-d had made sure that the Israelites left Egypt sufficiently armed for such a circuitous journey that would not lead directly through civilization to acquire provisions and would rather lead to fighting battles with other nations.

Moshe* had taken the bones of Yosef with him out from Egypt.

*Side note: Immediately upon Yaakov's death, Yosef had taken Yaakov's body out of Egypt to be buried in his homeland. Yosef was only granted this special permission to do so due to his royal stature in Egypt. This did not extend to his brothers. Thus when Yosef died, they were unable to leave Egypt to bury him right away. This is why upon his deathbed, Yosef made his brothers swear that they would make their sons swear that they would take out Yosef's bones. Moshe was now fulfilling this promise.

In leaving Egypt, the Israelites had taken out all of the bones of the heads of the other tribes as well.

On the second day of their travels (the first day they traveled from Ramses to Sukkoth), the Israelites travel from Sukkoth to Etham, which was at the edge of the desert and there they camped.

G-d set up a pillar of cloud to protect them during the day and a pillar of fire so they could see at night. Thus they were able to travel by day and night. The pillar of the cloud's light would overlap with that of the pillar of fire's, such that they were never left without a pillar protecting them.

On the third day, G-d tells Moshe to tell the Israelites to turn around and set up camp in an area closer to Egypt. G-d tells Moshe that this was in order to mislead Pharaoh into thinking that they were lost and trapped in the desert. G-d says that they are to travel in front of an area called Pi HaChiroth, (otherwise known as Pitom, one of the cities which the Israelites built in Egypt but was now referred to as "The Mouth of Freedom ("Chirot") due to the Israelites be free. In that area, between Migdol and the sea, they should camp opposite the Egyptian deity of Baal Tzephon. This was the only Egyptian deity that was left standing. G-d left this lone structure in order to mislead the Egyptians into thinking that they were still powerful.

G-d then tells Moshe that he will harden Pharaoh's heart so that Pharaoh and the Egyptians will pursue the Israelites, and G-d will then exact revenge upon them and G-d will be glorified and known to all of the Egyptians.

The Israelites had faith in Moshe and Aaron and thus went along with this plan, in spite of it leading them back closer to their former captors.

Pharaoh had sent officers to travel with the Israelites. After the allotted three days pass (see previous posts regarding how Pharaoh had eventually allowed the Israelites to leave for three days) the officers see that the Israelites were not returning, and they go back to inform Pharaoh (on the forth day). Although in finally letting them out, Pharaoh wanted them to leave, both he and the Egyptians had a change of heart. The Egyptians wanted the gold and silver that they had lent back.

So on the fifth day, Pharaoh sets out in pursuit of them, personally harnessing his own chariot for the occasion.

Pharaoh coerced his people to join him by telling them that unlike other kings who make their subjects precede them in battle to protect the king, here Pharaoh will travel in front of everyone else. Also, unlike other kings who give themselves first choice of the booty and only then give the rest to their subjects, Pharaoh will split the booty evenly with everyone.

Pharaoh takes with him 600 hand selected chariots as well as all of the remaining chariots that were left* in Egypt and appointed military commanders over them.

*Side note: Although most of the animals were killed during the various plagues, the animals of those few Egyptians who feared G-d remained unaffected by the plagues and those survived. These were the animals Pharaoh took for his chariots.

G-d hardened the heart of Pharaoh (as he was initially somewhat wavering as to whether or not to actually pursue the Israelites but once G-d hardened his heart he was all in) and on the fifth and sixth day* of the Israelite's departure, Pharaoh chases after them. Yet the Israelites marched onwards, victoriously.

*Side note: The sixth night is when the Egyptians will go into the Sea of Reeds (coming up a bit later on in chumash). The following (seventh) day, the Israelites recite the "Song of the Sea" in rejoicement. To this day, we Jews recite this song on the seventh day of Passover in commemoration of this.

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