Israel Saved Like a Bird and Egypt Cast Dead on the Shore

"And the LORD saved on that day Israel from the hand of Egypt"—like a bird that is placed in a person's hand, who, if he presses his hand upon it even a little, kills it; and so it says, "Our soul has escaped like a bird from the fowler's snare; the snare was broken and we escaped. Blessed is the LORD who did not give us as prey to their teeth" (Psalms 124:7). And some say: like a person who slips a calf out from the belly of a cow; and so it says, "And you the LORD took, and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt" (Deuteronomy 4:20). "And Israel saw Egypt." It is not written here "dead (plural) on the shore of the sea," but "dead (singular) on the shore of the sea"—dead and yet not dead. Similarly you say, "And it came to pass, as her soul was departing, for she died" (Genesis 35:18)—and was she dead? Rather, just as there she was dying and not dead, so here they were dying and not dead. Another interpretation: "And Israel saw Egypt dead" for four reasons: so that Israel would not say, just as we came up from this side, so they came up from another side; another: so that Egypt would not say, just as we perished in the water, so they perished in the water; another: because of the shafts and chariots laden with silver and gold and precious stones and pearls, so that they might take the spoil; another: so that Israel would set their eyes upon them and reprove them, and so it says, "I will reprove you and set it in order before your eyes" (Psalms 50:21). And it says, "My enemy will see, and shame will cover her, she who said to me, Where is the LORD your God? My eyes will look upon her; now she will be trodden down like the mire of the streets" (Micah 7:10). And concerning them it says, "And upon their high places You will make me stand" (Psalms 18:34)—these are the Egyptians, who were the high places of Israel; when the Holy One, blessed be He, drowned them in the sea, He hinted to the sea and it cast them onto the dry land, and Israel saw them cast dead on the dry land, as it is said, "And Israel saw Egypt dead on the shore of the sea." And each and every one would take his dog and lead it and set its foot upon the neck of an Egyptian, to fulfill what is said, "And you will tread upon their high places" (Deuteronomy 33:29). And Israel would say to his dog: eat from this hand that enslaved me, eat from these innards that rejoiced at my enslavement. And David explains it, "That your foot may be dipped in blood, the tongue of your dogs from the enemies" (Psalms 68:24). Therefore the assembly of Israel says, "And He makes me tread upon my high places; for the conductor, with my stringed instruments" (Habakkuk 3:19)—because You did for us all these miracles, that You saved me from the Egyptians and drowned them in the sea and cast them onto the dry land so that we might see how justice was done to them, therefore we gave You victory and sang before You a song: "Then Moses sang."