Beshalach: Chapter 9

"But lift up your rod"

Synopsis

Rabbi Elazar says that the rod, whether it is called 'the rod of Moses' or 'the rod of Elohim,' is for the purpose of rekindling the aspect of Gvurah. Rabbi Shimon clarifies that since water emerges from the side of Gvurah, "lift up your rod" is to dry up the water, and "stretch out your hand" is to return the water and spill it over the Egyptians.

Holy Name Rock Rod Waters

90. "But lift up your rod" (Shemot 14:16). Lift up your rod, upon which is etched the Holy Name, and stretch your hand to the side of the Holy Name. As soon as the waters see the Holy Name, they will flee from it. Therefore, stretch your hand to one side OF THE ROD, because the other sides of the rod will be necessary for other matters, NAMELY, TO HIT THE ROCK.

90. וְאַתָּה הָרֵם אֶת מַטְּךָ וְגוֹ.' הָרֵם אֶת מַטְּךָ, דִּי בֵּיהּ רָשִׁים שְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא, אַרְכִּין יְדָךְ בְּסִטְרָא דִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא, וְכֵיוָן דִּיֶחֱמוּן מַיָּא שְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא, יָעַרְקוּן מִנֵּיהּ. וְעַל דָּא, וּנְטֵה אֶת יָדְךָ, לְסִטְרָא חֲדָא, דְּסִטְרִין אַחֲרָנִין דְּהַהוּא מַטֶּה, אִצְטְרִיךְ לֵיהּ לְמִלִּין אַחֲרָנִין.

Elazar Moses Rod

91. Rabbi Elazar said, I see that sometimes this rod is called 'the rod of Elohim' and sometimes it is called 'the rod of Moses.' Rabbi Shimon said, In the book of Rabbi Hamnuna Saba (the elder), he says that it is all one, whether it says 'THE ROD of the Holy One, blessed be He,' or 'THE ROD of Moses.' The purpose of this rod is to rekindle the aspect of Gvurah. Therefore, THE VERSE SAYS, "Stretch out your hand," WHICH MEANS the left hand, which is at the side of Gvurah.

91. אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, חֲמֵינָא, דְּזִמְנִין אִתְקְרֵי הַאי מַטֶּה, מַטֵּה הָאֱלֹהִים, וּלְזִמְנִין אִתְקְרֵי מַטֵּה דְּמֹשֶׁה. אָמַר ר' שִׁמְעוֹן בְּסִפְרָא דְּרַב הַמְנוּנָא סָבָא, שַׁפִּיר קָאָמַר, דְּכֻלְּהוּ חַד, בֵּין תֵּימָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וּבֵין תֵּימָא דְּמֹשֶׁה, וְהַאי מַטֶה, לְאַתְעֲרָא סִטְרָא דִּגְבוּרָה. וְעַל דָּא, וּנְטֵה אֶת יָדְךָ, יְדָא דִּשְׂמָאלָא, דְּאִיהוּ בְּסִטְרָא דִּגְבוּרָה.

Torah Water

92. Rabbi Shimon said, Woe to those who do not see and do not look at the Torah. The Torah calls before them daily but they do not pay attention. Come and behold, water rises in the world and water emerges from the side of Gvurah. But now the Holy One, blessed be He, wanted to dry up the water. Thus, why DOES THE VERSE SAY, "And stretch out your hand," which is the left hand, NAMELY GVURAH?

92. אָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, וַוי לְאִינוּן דְּלָא חָמָאן, וְלָא מִסְתַּכְּלִין בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְאוֹרַיְיתָא קָארֵי קָמַיְיהוּ בְּכָל יוֹמָא, וְלָא מַשְׁגִּיחִין. תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּסִטְרָא דִּגְבוּרָה מִתְעָרֵי מַיָּא בְּעָלְמָא, וְנַפְקֵי מַיָּא, וְהַשְׁתָּא בָּעֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְנַגְבָא מַיָּא, אֲמַאי וּנְטֵה אֶת יָדְךָ, דְּאִיהוּ שְׂמָאלָא.

Egypt Rod Seas Water

93. HE ANSWERS, Rather, "lift up your rod," is to dry up the water, and "stretch out your hand," is to return the water, to activate the side of Gvurah and to turn the water on Egypt. Therefore, there are two things here, for it is written, "Lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it." ONE ELEMENT IS TO DRY OUT THE WATER, AND THE OTHER IS TO RETURN THE WATER OVER EGYPT.

93. אֶלָּא הָרֵם אֶת מַטְּךָ, לְנַגְבָא מַיָּא. וּנְטֵה אֶת יָדְךָ, לְאָתָבָא מַיָּא, לְאַתְעֲרָא סִטְרָא דִּגְבוּרָה, וּלְאָתָבָא מַיָּא עַל מִצְרַיִם. וּבְגִין כַּךְ, תְּרֵין מִלִּין הָכָא, דִּכְתִּיב הָרֵם אֶת מַטְּךָ, וּנְטֵה אֶת יָדְךָ עַל הַיָּם וּבְקָעֵהוּ.

Miracle Seas

94. HE ASKS, HOW WAS IT POSSIBLE TO DRY THE LAND IN THE MIDST OF THE SEA, for there were pits IN IT? HE ANSWERS, THE Holy One, blessed be He, performed a miracle within a miracle, as it is written, "And the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea" (Shemot 15:8). They were walking on the dry ground within the sea. This is what is written, "And the children of Yisrael went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground" (Shemot 14:22).

94. וְהָא תְּהוֹמֵי הֲווֹ. אֶלָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, עָבֵד נִיסָא גּוֹ נִיסָא, כד"א קָפְאוּ תְהוֹמוֹת בְּלֶב יָם. וַהֲוָה אַזְלִין בְּיַבֶּשְׁתָּא בְּגוֹ יַמָּא, הה"ד וַיָּבֹאוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּתוֹךְ הַיָּם בַּיַּבָּשָׁה.

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