B'shalach
Exodus 13:17-17:16
Précis: And when Pharaoh “had let them go” (b’shalach), the story of the Exodus from Egypt is almost concluded. Carrying with them the bones of Joseph and the “spoils of Egypt,” Moses leads the Israelites by way of the Red (or Reed) Sea. They cross the sea ahead of Pharaoh’s pursuing army, which subsequently drowns in the returning waters. Moses sings his triumphant Song of the Sea, and Miriam’s song of joy follows. The Israelites begin to murmur against Moses and Aaron because of a lack of food and water. God provides heavenly “manna” to eat and provides water as well. The Shabbat is introduced as a day of rest, even before it appears in the Ten Commandments. In their first battle led by Joshua, with Amalek, the Israelites are successful as long as Moses’ hands remain in the air, and with the help of Aaron and Hur (who support Moses’ arms), they prevail.
Ex. 17:11-13 “Thus, whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; but whenever he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur, one on each side, supported his hands; thus his hands remained steady until the sun set. And Joshua overwhelmed the people of Amalek with the sword."
Arnold Eisen, Chancellor of JTS, has written ( 1/20/15 in a JTS weekly commentary), that a major theme of the story of the Exodus, reaching its climax this week, is God’s desire “that Egypt will come to know that I am YHWH.” The Egyptians never do learn, and it seems that the Israelites forget much of the time. As far as we can tell, part of God’s plan seems to require human intervention to carry it out, be it Moses and Aaron or Joshua and all of the People.
Near the end of this week’s reading, we find the Israelites battling with Amalek. They fight, they die, but God provides mysterious assistance: when Moses’ hands are raised, they prevail, and when his hands drop, Amalek turns the tide of battle. Aaron and Hur raise Moses’ hands until the sun sets and the Israelites finally win the battle.
This miracle – if that’s what it was – is an important metaphor. At the Red Sea, God, the Mighty Warrior, fought Israel’s battle for them. Now, because Amalek is the symbol of all that is evil in the world, Israel fight’s God’s battle. Does God really needs help? Is Amalek a power so strong that God alone cannot defeat them? One can wonder at the question, and Eisen suggests that the answer is covenant. It is incumbent upon the Israelites to fight God’s battle – to do good - and in return redemption will come. God promises to blot out the name of Amalek (meaning all evil) when life will become so sweet and compassionate that even the memory of evil will fade.
Until that time, human beings like us must face the suffering in the world, as the modern Amalek wrecks hatred and injustice around the world. Like the Israelites at battle, we must oppose the modern Amalek with arms and with passion. The covenant is still there. The observance of the covenant is a necessary prerequisite to next week’s reading, when we come face to face with Revelation.
