Why Israel and the Women Sang at the Sea Before the Angels

Another interpretation: THEN SANG (Exod. 15:1). When Israel was encamped at the sea, the ministering angels came to praise the Holy One, blessed be He, but the Holy One, blessed be He, did not permit them, as it is said, AND THE ONE DID NOT COME NEAR THE OTHER, etc. (Exod. 14:20), and it says, AND ONE CALLED TO ANOTHER (Isa. 6:3). To what were they comparable? To a king whose son had been taken captive. He clothed himself in vengeance against his enemies and went to bring him back. The people came to say to him a hymn. He said to them: When I have redeemed my son, then you shall praise me. So too Israel were placed in distress at the sea. The ministering angels came to praise the Holy One, blessed be He; He rebuked them. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: My children are placed in distress, and you would praise before Me? When they came up from the sea, Israel and the ministering angels sought to say a song. Rabbi Avin the Levite said: To what is the matter comparable? To a king who went down to war and was victorious, and his son and his servant came, a crown in their hands to set upon the king's head. They came to the king and said to him: Your son and your servant are standing, and a crown is in their hands; who shall enter first? He said to them: Fools of the world! My servant before my son? Let my son enter first. So too, when Israel came up from the sea, Israel and the ministering angels came to say a song. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to the ministering angels: Let Israel be first. THEN SANG MOSES [AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL] (Exod. 15:1). The women and the ministering angels were found standing; who would praise first? Rabbi Hiyya bar Abba said: The Master of Peace made peace between them, as it is said, THE SINGERS WENT BEFORE, THE MINSTRELS AFTER, AMONG THE MAIDENS PLAYING TIMBRELS (Ps. 68:26). THE SINGERS WENT BEFORE (the minstrels)—these are Israel; (and afterward) [after] THE MINSTRELS—these are the angels; (and afterward) AMONG THE MAIDENS PLAYING TIMBRELS—[these are the women]. Rabbi Levi said: By the heavens, I do not accept this thing! Rather the women praised first, because "after the minstrels"—these are Israel, "among the maidens playing timbrels"—these are the women. The ministering angels began to complain before the Holy One, blessed be He. They said: Is it not enough for us that the men preceded us, but the women too? The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: By your lives, so it is. Rabbi Helbo said in the name of Rabbi Samuel bar Nahman: See what is written, THEN A SPIRIT LIFTED ME UP, AND I HEARD BEHIND ME (Ezek. 3:12). What is "behind me"? After I and my companions had praised, afterward the ministering angels went and said, BLESSED BE THE GLORY OF THE LORD FROM HIS PLACE (ibid.). Rabbi Pinhas the Priest bar Hama said: What is written? WHEN THEY STOOD, THEY LET DOWN THEIR WINGS (Ezek. 1:24). What is [WHEN THEY STOOD]? Whoever hears "when they stood" might suppose that perhaps there is sitting above—[Heaven forbid, there is no sitting above]—rather, all stand, as it is said, SERAPHIM STOOD, etc. (Isa. 6:2), and so it says, I CAME NEAR TO ONE OF THOSE WHO STOOD THERE (Dan. 7:16). What is "when they stood"? Rather, when Israel stand and praise the Holy One, blessed be He, at that hour they let down their wings.