Why God Tied the Horse to Its Rider at the Sea

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Beshalach 14:3

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

Another interpretation of "the horse and its rider" (Exodus 15:1). [Bar Kappara said:] The Holy One, blessed be He, tied them one to the other. Why? So that Israel would benefit from the spoil. Why so? When Israel went out of Egypt and the Egyptians went out to pursue after them, Pharaoh said to them: I know that they took your silver and your gold, yet do not set your minds upon the plunder. What did he do? He opened the treasuries of Joseph. He said: Take for yourselves silver and gold. So they took it and adorned their horses, as it is said, "all the horses of Pharaoh's chariot" (Exodus 14:9). Therefore they were tied one to the other, so that Israel would benefit from the spoil. In this world Israel benefited from the spoil of their enemies, but in the world to come all that the nations amass is for Israel, as it is said, "and her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD" (Isaiah 23:18).

Themes

Divine ProvidenceWorld To ComeExodus

Biblical References

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