Another matter, “for He is exalted” – that is what is written: “[I have likened you my love] to a mare [lesusati] in Pharaoh’s chariots” (Song of Songs 1:9). Rabbi Pappos expounded: Lesusati is written18Without a vav, and therefore it can be read lesisati, meaning My gladness. The Holy One blessed be He exalted over Pharaoh. Shir HaShirim Rabba 1:9> until: Do you have wind, do you have wings?19The midrash in Shir HaShirim Rabba describes Pharaoh as exalting over the sea as he pursues the children of Israel.
God responds that He is incomparably more powerful than Pharaoh. The midrash cite the verse: “He rode upon a cherub and flew; He swooped down upon the wings of the wind” (Psalms 18:11). Immediately, the Holy One blessed be He diverted them20The cherub and the wind. and He brought them from between the wheels of the [divine] chariot and He diverted them to the sea. What is “I have likened you my love” (Song of Songs 1:9)?
The waves of the sea were like mares, and the [horses of the] wicked Egyptians like lustful stallions, and they pursued [the waves] until [the Egyptians] sank to the bottom of the sea, as it is stated: “The horse and his rider He cast into the sea [rama bayam]” (Exodus 15:1). The Egyptian would say to his horse: ‘Yesterday I would lead you to have you drink water and you would not follow me. Now you come [rushing toward the water] to sink me in the sea?’
The horse would say to him: ‘Rama bayam, look at what is in the sea [re’eh ma bayam], the heights of the universe [rumo shel olam] I see in the sea [bayam].’