Ten Minutes of Torah

with

Rabbi Chaim Weiner

 

 

Beshalach – 5767

 

 

שמות יג:יז

 

וַיְהִי בְּשַׁלַּח פַּרְעֹה אֶת הָעָם וְלֹא נָחָם אֱלֹהִים דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּים כִּי קָרוֹב הוּא כִּי אָמַר אֱלֹהִים פֶּן יִנָּחֵם הָעָם בִּרְאֹתָם מִלְחָמָה וְשָׁבוּ מִצְרָיְמָה:

 

Exodus 13: 17

 

And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, because it was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

 

 

 

 

Rashi:

 

Because it is close: And it is easy to follow the same route back to Egypt.

 

Rashbam:

 

Because it is close: The Holy One did not want to bring them by way of the Land of the Philistines because it was too close – it was a straight path the enter the Land of Canaan - and when they would face the hardship of the battles in Canaan, they would turn around and head back to Egypt.

 

Rambam:

 

The Holy One first intended to familiarise them with the hardships of the desert in order to increase their reward when they reached the Promised Land. For the transition from hardship to contentment is more pleasurable then continually being satisfied. It is well known that without the hardening that came from the desert, they would not have been able to conquer the Land or to battle its residents.

 

 

QUESTIONS

 

  1. What problem are the commentators addressing?
  2. How does each commentator resolve the problem?
  3. Are Rashi and Rashbam saying the same thing?

 

 


 

ANSWER TO LAST WEEK’S QUESTIONS:

 

1. If Ha’amek Davar is right, why was verse 1 placed at the end of Parshat Shemot if it belongs at the beginning of Parshat Va’era?

 

The traditional division of the Torah into sections always tries to end on a ‘good note’ - and to avoid ending with a negative statement. Therefore, instead of finishing with Moses’ complaining that God had worsened the lot of his people, the Parasha continues with the beginning of God’s response and the promise of future redemption.

 

 

2. If this theory is correct, then both verses 1 and 2 are answers to the question that Moses asked at the end of Parshat Shemot: O Lord, why did you bring harm upon this people? Why did You send me? What 2 answers is God giving to Moses’ questions?

 

 

According to Ibn Ezra, verse 1 is an answer to the challenge “Why did you bring harm upon this people. God is saying in response: “Wait. You haven’t seen anything yet. This is only the beginning and in the end it will be worth it.”

 

Verse 2 is an answer to the question “Why did you send me”. God is saying – “I made a promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I remember my promise and I intend to keep it. That is why I am sending you.”

 

 

 

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Ten Minutes of Torah was prepared by Rabbi Chaim Weiner, based on the methods of Prof. Nechama Leibowitz. Rabbi Weiner studied and corresponded with Prof. Leibowitz for several years.

 

 

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