The story of the Exodus, the Israelite's escape from Egypt, is one of the most powerful narratives in Jewish tradition. We all know the broad strokes: slavery, Pharaoh, plagues, the parting of the Red Sea. But what happened after the Israelites crossed to safety? What became of the Egyptian army that pursued them?
Well, according to the Legends of the Jews, compiled by Louis Ginzberg, the fate of the Egyptians and their treasures is quite a tale.
We picture the scene: the Egyptians, terrified, desperately trying to escape back to their homeland in their chariots. Ginzberg paints a vivid picture. They had treated the Israelites cruelly, in a way that defied nature. And now, the Lord would repay them in kind.
Here's where it gets interesting. It wasn't the she-mules pulling the chariots, but the other way around! Can you imagine the chaos? The wheels, consumed by heavenly fire, the chariots dragging men and beasts into the churning water.
But the story doesn’t end with just the destruction of the Egyptian army. The chariots, we're told, were laden with silver, gold, and all sorts of costly things. Where did all this treasure come from?
The answer, according to this legend, is extraordinary. The river Pishon, one of the four rivers that flow from Paradise itself, carries these treasures down into the Gihon, another river. From there, the riches flow into the Red Sea. It's a fantastical image, isn’t it? Paradise itself contributing to this moment of divine retribution!
And then, a final act of divine justice: these treasures, tossed by the Red Sea's waters, landed right back in the chariots of the Egyptians. Why? Because it was the wish of the Israelites.
And for this reason, He caused the chariots to roll down into the sea, and the sea in turn to cast them out upon the opposite shore, at the feet of the Israelites. Imagine that scene! The Israelites, standing on the shore, witnessing the wreckage of their oppressors, and finding themselves suddenly wealthy beyond their wildest dreams.
This isn't just about riches, though, is it? It’s about justice, about the reversal of fortune, and about God providing for his people. It's a powerful reminder that even in the midst of chaos and destruction, there can be unexpected blessings. What do you think it says about the relationship between divine justice and material wealth?