BeShalach (בבְּשַׁלַּח)
Exodus 13:17 – 17:15
First Aliyah
When Pharaoh let the people leave, God did not lead them along the Philistine Highway, although it was the shorter route. God’s consideration was that if the people encountered armed resistance, they would lose heart and return to Egypt.
Vayehi beshalach Par’oh et-ha’am velo-nacham Elohim derech erets Plishtim ki karov hu ki amar Elohim pen-yinachem ha’am bir’otam milchamah veshavu Mitsraymah.
וַיְהִי, בְּשַׁלַּח פַּרְעֹה אֶת-הָעָם, וְלֹא-נָחָם אֱלֹהִים דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּים, כִּי קָרוֹב הוּא: כִּי אָמַר אֱלֹהִים, פֶּן-יִנָּחֵם הָעָם בִּרְאֹתָם מִלְחָמָה–וְשָׁבוּ מִצְרָיְמָה.
13:18
God therefore made the people take a roundabout path, by way of the desert to the Red Sea. The Israelites were well prepared when they left Egypt.
God therefore made the people take a roundabout path, by way of the desert to the Red Sea. The Israelites were well prepared when they left Egypt.
Vayasev Elohim et-ha’am derech hamidbar yam-Suf vachamushim alu veney-Yisra’el me’erets Mitsrayim.
וַיַּסֵּב אֱלֹהִים אֶת-הָעָם דֶּרֶךְ הַמִּדְבָּר, יַם-סוּף; וַחֲמֻשִׁים עָלוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל, מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם.
13:19
Moses took Joseph’s remains with him. Joseph had bound the Israelites by an oath: ‘God will grant you special providence, and you must then bring my remains out of here with you.’
Moses took Joseph’s remains with him. Joseph had bound the Israelites by an oath: ‘God will grant you special providence, and you must then bring my remains out of here with you.’
Vayikach Moshe et-atsmot Yosef imo ki hashbea hishbia et-beney Yisra’el lemor pakod yifkod Elohim etchem veha’alitem et-atsmotay mizeh itchem.
וַיִּקַּח מֹשֶׁה אֶת-עַצְמוֹת יוֹסֵף, עִמּוֹ: כִּי הַשְׁבֵּעַ הִשְׁבִּיעַ אֶת-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, לֵאמֹר, פָּקֹד יִפְקֹד אֱלֹהִים אֶתְכֶם, וְהַעֲלִיתֶם אֶת-עַצְמֹתַי מִזֶּה אִתְּכֶם.
13:20
[The Israelites] moved on from Sukkoth, and they camped in Etham, at the edge of the desert.
[The Israelites] moved on from Sukkoth, and they camped in Etham, at the edge of the desert.
Vayis’u miSukot vayachanu ve’Etam biktseh hamidbar.
וַיִּסְעוּ, מִסֻּכֹּת; וַיַּחֲנוּ בְאֵתָם, בִּקְצֵה הַמִּדְבָּר.
13:21
God went before them by day with a pillar of cloud, to guide them along the way. By night it appeared as a pillar of fire, providing them with light. They could thus travel day and night.
God went before them by day with a pillar of cloud, to guide them along the way. By night it appeared as a pillar of fire, providing them with light. They could thus travel day and night.
V’Adonay holech lifneyhem yomam be’amud anan lanchotam haderech velaylah be’amud esh leha’ir lahem lalechet yomam valaylah.
וַיהוָה הֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם יוֹמָם בְּעַמּוּד עָנָן, לַנְחֹתָם הַדֶּרֶךְ, וְלַיְלָה בְּעַמּוּד אֵשׁ, לְהָאִיר לָהֶם–לָלֶכֶת, יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה.
13:22
The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire at night never left [their position] in front of the people.
The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire at night never left [their position] in front of the people.
Lo-yamish amud he’anan yomam ve’amud ha’esh laylah lifney ha’am.
לֹא-יָמִישׁ עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן, יוֹמָם, וְעַמּוּד הָאֵשׁ, לָיְלָה–לִפְנֵי, הָעָם.
14:1
God spoke to Moses, saying,
God spoke to Moses, saying,
Vayedaber Adonay el-Moshe lemor.
וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה, אֶל-מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר.
14:2
‘Speak to the Israelites and tell them to turn back and camp before Freedom Valley, between Tower and the sea, facing Lord-of-the-North. Camp opposite it, near the sea.
‘Speak to the Israelites and tell them to turn back and camp before Freedom Valley, between Tower and the sea, facing Lord-of-the-North. Camp opposite it, near the sea.
Daber el-beney Yisra’el veyashuvu veyachanu lifney Pi haChirot beyn Migdol uveyn hayam lifney ba’al tsfon nichecho tachanu al-hayam.
דַּבֵּר, אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְיָשֻׁבוּ וְיַחֲנוּ לִפְנֵי פִּי הַחִירֹת, בֵּין מִגְדֹּל וּבֵין הַיָּם: לִפְנֵי בַּעַל צְפֹן, נִכְחוֹ תַחֲנוּ עַל-הַיָּם.
14:3
Pharaoh will then say that the Israelites are lost in the area and trapped in the desert.
Pharaoh will then say that the Israelites are lost in the area and trapped in the desert.
Ve’amar Par’oh livney Yisra’el nevuchim hem ba’arets sagar aleyhem hamidbar.
וְאָמַר פַּרְעֹה לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, נְבֻכִים הֵם בָּאָרֶץ; סָגַר עֲלֵיהֶם, הַמִּדְבָּר.
14:4
I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and he will come after them. I will triumph over Pharaoh and his entire army, and Egypt will know that I am God.’ [The Israelites] did as [they had been instructed].
I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and he will come after them. I will triumph over Pharaoh and his entire army, and Egypt will know that I am God.’ [The Israelites] did as [they had been instructed].
Vechizakti et-lev-Par’oh veradaf achareyhem ve’ikavdah beFar’oh uvechol-cheylo veyad’u Mitsrayim ki-ani Adonay vaya’asu-chen.
וְחִזַּקְתִּי אֶת-לֵב-פַּרְעֹה, וְרָדַף אַחֲרֵיהֶם, וְאִכָּבְדָה בְּפַרְעֹה וּבְכָל-חֵילוֹ, וְיָדְעוּ מִצְרַיִם כִּי-אֲנִי יְהוָה; וַיַּעֲשׂוּ-כֵן.
14:5
Meanwhile, the king of Egypt received the news that the people were escaping. Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds regarding the people, and said, ‘What have we done? How could we have released Israel from doing our work?’
Meanwhile, the king of Egypt received the news that the people were escaping. Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds regarding the people, and said, ‘What have we done? How could we have released Israel from doing our work?’
Vayugad lemelech Mitsrayim ki varach ha’am vayehafech levav Par’oh va’avadav el-ha’am vayomru mah-zot asinu ki-shilachnu et-Yisra’el me’ovdenu.
וַיֻּגַּד לְמֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם, כִּי בָרַח הָעָם; וַיֵּהָפֵךְ לְבַב פַּרְעֹה וַעֲבָדָיו, אֶל-הָעָם, וַיֹּאמְרוּ מַה-זֹּאת עָשִׂינוּ, כִּי-שִׁלַּחְנוּ אֶת-יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵעָבְדֵנוּ.
14:6
[Pharaoh] harnessed his chariot, and summoned his people to go with him.
[Pharaoh] harnessed his chariot, and summoned his people to go with him.
Vayesor et-richbo ve’et-amo lakach imo.
וַיֶּאְסֹר, אֶת-רִכְבּוֹ; וְאֶת-עַמּוֹ, לָקַח עִמּוֹ.
14:7
He took 600 chariots with chosen crews, as well as the entire chariot corps of Egypt, with supporting infantry for them all.
He took 600 chariots with chosen crews, as well as the entire chariot corps of Egypt, with supporting infantry for them all.
Vayikach shesh-me’ot rechev bachur vechol rechev Mitsrayim veshalishim al-kulo.
וַיִּקַּח, שֵׁשׁ-מֵאוֹת רֶכֶב בָּחוּר, וְכֹל, רֶכֶב מִצְרָיִם; וְשָׁלִשִׁם, עַל-כֻּלּוֹ.
14:8
God hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he went after the Israelites. Meanwhile, the Israelites were leaving in triumph.
God hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he went after the Israelites. Meanwhile, the Israelites were leaving in triumph.
Vayechazek Adonay et-lev Par’oh melech Mitsrayim vayirdof acharey beney Yisra’el uveney Yisra’el yotse’im beyad ramah.
וַיְחַזֵּק יְהוָה, אֶת-לֵב פַּרְעֹה מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם, וַיִּרְדֹּף, אַחֲרֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל; וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, יֹצְאִים בְּיָד רָמָה.