Four Factions at the Sea and the Command to Be Still

"The LORD will fight for you" (Exodus 14:14). Israel stood at the sea divided into four factions. One said, "Let us fall into the sea." One said, "Let us return to Egypt." One said, "Let us make war." And one said, "Let us cry out against them." To the one that said, "Let us fall into the sea," he said, "Stand firm and see the salvation of the LORD" (Exodus 14:13). To the one that said, "Let us return to Egypt," he said, "You will not see them again forever" (Exodus 14:13). To the one that said, "Let us make war," he said, "The LORD will fight for you." And to the one that said, "Let us cry out against them," he said, "And you shall be silent" (Exodus 14:14). Another interpretation: "The LORD will fight for you" not only at this hour, but forever the LORD will fight for you. Rabbi Meir says: "The LORD will fight for you, and you shall be silent" (Exodus 14:14). If, while you stand and keep silent, the Holy One, blessed be He, performs for you miracles and mighty deeds, how much more so when you offer before Him song and praise. Rabbi [Judah the Prince] says: "The LORD will fight for you, and you shall be silent." The Holy One performs for you miracles and mighty deeds, and you stand silent? They said to him, "What then are we to do?" He said to them, "You shall glorify and exalt, praise and laud and extol, and give song and praise, greatness and glory and triumph and majesty to Him to whom the war belongs." At that hour Israel opened their mouths and sang the song, "I will sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously" (Exodus 15:1).