* PARSHA Q&A * In-Depth Questions on the Parsha and Rashi's commentary. Parshas Beshalach For the week ending 13 Shevat 5756 2 & 3 February 1996 =========================================================================== All Ohr Somayach Publications are now available in Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Word formats from our web site: www.jer1.co.il/orgs/ohr =========================================================================== Parsha Questions 1. Why did Hashem direct the Jewish People away from the land of the Philistines? 2. Why did four-fifths of the Jewish People fail to leave Egypt? 3. Why did Pharaoh decide to pursue the Jewish People? 4. How was Hashem honored through Pharaoh? 5. On what day did the Yam Suf divide? 6. Why did the Egyptians want to pursue the Jewish People? 7. From where did the Egyptians obtain animals to pull the chariots? 8. In whose merit did the Yam Suf split? 9. When Moshe stretched out his hands to divide the Yam Suf, which waters divided? 10. Why were the dead Egyptians cast out of the sea? 11. From which verse do we see that the Egyptians merited a burial? 12. Why did "fear seize the inhabitants of Pelashes"? (15:14) 13. Why is Miriam referred to as the sister of Aaron and not as the sister of Moshe? (15:20) 14. Which sections of the Torah did the Jewish People receive at Marah? 15. What is a chok (statute)? 16. Why were Bnei Yisrael given meat in the evening, which was an inconvenient time for its preparation? 17. Why were they given Manna in the morning, which was a convenient time? 18. How did non-Jews experience the taste of the Manna? 19. Which prophet of a future generation rebuked the Jewish People by showing them jar of Manna that was prepared by Moshe? 20. Why did Moshe's hands become heavy during the war against Amalek? Bonus QUESTION: Why did the Jewish People not become physically exhausted by traveling both day and night? (see 13:21) I Did Not Know That! The miracle of Manna was far greater than any of the other miracles that occurred - even the splitting of the sea - since it was with the Jewish People without fail for 40 years while the others were `one-time' events. Ibn Ezra =========================================================================== Recommended Reading List Ramban 14:4 The Miracle of Egyptian Pursuit 14:13 Promise or Command? 14:15 No Need to Cry 14:21 Nature or Miracle? 15:19 When the Shira was Sung 16:4 (second part) The Purpose of Trial 17:9 The War Against Amalek Malbim 14:11-12 Red or Dead 14:16 The Ten Miracles of the Crossing of the Sea Ibn Ezra 14:13 Slave Mentality 14:29-30 Drowning and Dry Land =========================================================================== Answers to this Week's Questions All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated 1. 13:17 - So that it would be more difficult for the Jewish People to return to Egypt. 2. 13:18 - They died during the plague of darkness. (i.e., 3 million survived, 12 million didn't!). 3. 14:2 - When he saw that the Jewish People turned back toward Egypt, he thought that they had lost their way. 4. 14:4 - Through punishing him. When Hashem punishes the wicked His name is glorified. 5. 14:5 - The seventh day of Pesach. 6. 14:5 - To regain their wealth. 7. 14:7 - From those Egyptians who feared the word of Hashem and kept their animals inside during the plagues. 8. 14:15 - In the merit of the Jewish People's forefathers and also in their own merit since they trusted in Hashem and left Egypt. 9. 14:21 - All the waters of the world. 10. 14:30 - So that the Jewish People would see the destruction of the Egyptians and be assured of no further pursuit. 11. 15:12 - "The earth swallowed them." 12. 15:14 - Because they slew the members of the tribe of Efraim who had escaped from Egypt at an earlier time. They feared vengeance for this act. 13. 15:20 - Aaron alone risked his life for her when she was struck with Tzara'as. (See Bamidbar 12:12) 14. 15:25 - Shabbos, Red Heifer, Judicial Laws. 15. 15:26 - A law whose reason we don't understand. 16. 16:8 - To punish them for their unjustified requests for meat. They could have slaughtered their own animals for meat, and in addition, meat was considered a luxury. 17. 16:8 - They justifiably complained that they lacked basic food for survival. The Manna was given for this purpose. 18. 16:21 - The sun melted whatever Manna remained in the fields. This flowed into the streams from which animals drank. Whoever ate these animals experienced the taste of the Manna. 19. 16:32 - Yirmiyahu (Chapter 2, Verse 31). 20. 17:12 - Because he was remiss in his duty, since he, and not Yehoshua, should have led the battle. Bonus ANSWER: Since they were a large camp and could only travel a short distance at a time, they traveled a small distance by day, rested, and then traveled a small distance by night and rested again. Ibn Ezra =========================================================================== SUBSCRIBE! to one of the many weekly "lists" published by Ohr Somayach Institutions: weekly - Summary of the weekly Torah portion dafyomi - Rav Mendel Weinbach's insights into the Daf Yomi ask - The Rabbi answers YOUR questions on Judaism parasha-qa - Challenging questions on the weekly Torah portion os-special - All the SPECIAL publications produced by Ohr Somayach os-alum - "B'Yachad" - the Ohr Somayach Electronic Alumni Newsletter judaismo - Spanish-Language newsletter on the Parsha & Judaism month - Seasons of the Moon - The Jewish Year through its months There is NEVER a charge for any of the above lists (though your local information provider, such as AOL, Prodigy or CompuServe, might charge a nominal fee). 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