“Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: I will sing to the Lord, for He is exalted; the horse and his rider He cast into the sea” (Exodus 15:1). “Then [az] Moses…sang” – that is what is written: “Your throne is established of old [me’az]; [You have existed from eternity]” (Psalms 93:2). Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Abahu: Even though “You have existed from eternity,” Your throne was not settled and You were not known in Your world until Your children sang a song.
That is why it is stated: “Your throne is established of old.” This is analogous to a king who waged war and was victorious and they made him emperor. They said to him: ‘Until you waged war, you were king, now we have made you emperor.’ What is the difference between the deference accorded to a king and that accorded to an emperor?
A king is depicted on a tablet standing, while an emperor is depicted seated.1In illustrations, a king is depicted standing, as though ready to do battle, while an emperor is depicted sitting, having already been victorious over his enemies and no longer being subject to threat. So, Israel said: ‘In truth, before You created the world You were You, and once You created the world You were You, but, as it were, standing, as it is stated: “He stood and measured the earth” (Habakkuk 3:6).
But, when You stood at the sea and we sang a song before You with the term “az,” your kingdom was settled, and Your throne established.’ That is: “Your throne is established of old [me’az],” with “then [az] Moses…sang.”