Pharaoh finally sends the Bnei Yisrael out of Egypt. With pillars of cloud and fire, G-d leads them toward Eretz Yisrael on a circuitous route, avoiding the Pelishtim (Philistines). Pharaoh regrets the loss of so many slaves, and chases after the Jews with his army. The Jews are very afraid as the Egyptians draw close, but G-d protects them. Moshe raises his staff, and G-d splits the sea, enabling the Jews to cross safely. Pharaoh, his heart hardened by G-d, commands his army to pursue, whereupon the waters crash down upon the Egyptian army. Moshe and Miriam lead the men and women, respectively, in a song of thanks.

After three days' travel, only to find bitter waters at Marah, the people complain. Moshe miraculously produces potable water. In Marah they receive certain mitzvahs. The people complain that they ate better food in Egypt. Hashem sends quail for meat and provides manna, miraculous bread that falls from the sky every day except Shabbat. On Friday, a double portion descends to supply the Shabbat needs. No one is able to obtain more than his daily portion, but manna collected on Friday suffices for two days so the Jews can rest on Shabbat. Some manna is set aside as a memorial for future generations.

When the Jews again complain about a lack of water, Moshe miraculously produces water from a rock. Then Amalek attacks. Joshua leads the Jews in battle, and Moshe prays for their welfare.

PARSHA INSIGHTS

The Wandering Jew

"Now, when Pharaoh let the people go, Hashem did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines.” (13:17)

IThe exile of Egypt was the matrix for all the other exiles that the Jewish People would endure, and therefore the manner of their exodus from that exile laid down a matrix, a pattern for all the other exiles that the Jewish People would suffer.

“Hashem did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines.”

Rather, Hashem took them the long way, the way of the wilderness, to instill in the Jewish People’s genes the ability to serve Hashem even at a great distance both physically and spiritually.

When the ‘going got tough’ during our many persecutions and long exile ‘way off the beaten track,’ the experience of traversing the wilderness of the desert prepared the unborn souls of the Jewish People for the long and difficult unpaved road of exile.

*Source: Sfat Emet