Freedom. Did everyone just instantly start singing and dancing?
Well, not exactly.
According to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, the Israelites were… well, they were exhausted. The text tells us, "The strength of men is readily exhausted, mentally and physically, by the strain of a sudden change from slavery to freedom." It makes sense, doesn’t it? All that trauma, all that hardship... it doesn't just vanish overnight. It's a fascinatingly human moment in a story we often paint with broad, triumphant strokes.
They weren't exactly in a joyous mood, these newly freed people.
But here's where the story takes a turn for the mystical, the beautiful. They didn't fully recover their vigor, we're told, until they heard the angels singing. Imagine that: the celestial choir bursting forth in songs of praise, celebrating not just the redemption of Israel, but the redemption of the Shekinah as well.
Now, the Shekinah (שׁכינה) is a Hebrew word referring to the divine presence, the dwelling of God. It's often described as feminine, and the text makes a powerful point: "for so long as the chosen people is in exile, the Shekinah, who dwells among Israel, is also, as it were, in exile." Think about that for a moment. God's presence, feeling the pain and suffering right alongside the Israelites. Their liberation is Her liberation too.
And it wasn't just the angelic music that healed them. God, in His infinite compassion, "caused the earth to exhale and send aloft a healing fragrance, which cured them of all their diseases." A divine aromatherapy session, if you will! A reminder that healing can come in unexpected forms, touching not just the body but the soul.
What does this tell us? Perhaps that even in moments of great triumph, there's space for exhaustion, for vulnerability. Maybe true freedom isn't just about physical liberation, but also about the restoration of the spirit, the healing of the wounds that slavery inflicts. And maybe, just maybe, it’s about recognizing that even the Divine feels our pain, and rejoices in our liberation.