We all know the story: Moses raises his staff, the waters part, and the Israelites walk through on dry land to escape Pharaoh. But Midrash, that beautiful art of Jewish storytelling that fills in the gaps and adds layers of meaning, gives us some fascinating behind-the-scenes details. Let's dive in!
According to Midrash Tehillim, a collection of midrashic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, the splitting of the sea wasn't just a simple divine act. It was a complex moment filled with human drama, tribal rivalries, and a whole lot of chutzpah.
Imagine the scene: the Israelites arrive at the edge of the sea, Pharaoh's army closing in fast. Panic sets in. But instead of uniting, the tribes start arguing! Who gets to go first? According to the Midrash, they actually fought with each other! One tribe, eager to escape, rushes towards the water. But the sea doesn't part. They keep going, wading deeper and deeper, until they're up to their necks. Talk about a tense moment! It's like the Psalmist cries out in Psalm 69:2, "Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck."
Now, here's where it gets really interesting. Benjamin, the youngest tribe, takes the lead. Psalm 68:28 says, "There is little Benjamin, their ruler, in the lead." But the Midrash offers a clever wordplay. Instead of reading "ro'dem" (in the lead), we can read it as "yored yam" (into the sea). So, Benjamin fearlessly plunges into the water.
But then comes Nachshon ben Aminadav, from the tribe of Judah. He doesn't just wade in; he leaps into the waves, fully embracing the danger and sanctifying God's name in front of everyone! The Midrash tells us he even rebukes Benjamin, maybe for jumping the gun or for some other tribal transgression. Psalm 68:28 continues, "The leaders of Judah were shouting, and the rulers were with them." Nachshon’s boldness is rewarded. The Midrash states that it was under his leadership that Israel crossed the sea. And because he rebuked his brothers for the sake of God, he was later rewarded. Just as Daniel was clothed in purple (Daniel 5:29) for his righteousness. God essentially tells him, "You rebuked your brother to sanctify My name. You shall be a ruler over your brothers." Judah, through Nachshon, truly became holy through his leadership.
So, what makes the sea finally split? According to this Midrash, the sea saw the Israelites fighting over the sanctity of God's name. It was so taken aback that it fled! "The sea saw and fled" (Psalm 114:3). Can you imagine? The sea, a powerful force of nature, running away from a bunch of arguing people!
There's another interpretation, too. The sea saw the coffin of Joseph being carried, fulfilling Joseph’s request to be buried in Israel, and fled out of respect, as we see reflected in Genesis 33:10.
But the Midrash doesn't stop there. It also explores the sea's initial reluctance to split. The sea didn't want to split because the Israelites were rebelling, as stated in Psalm 106:7: "They were rebellious at the sea, at the Red Sea." But God rebuked the sea, as it is said, "He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it dried up" (Psalm 106:9).
The Midrash even gives the sea a voice! It quotes the sea saying, "Be ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea speaks...I am afraid of Him because I have no protection other than Him. You, on the other hand...yet you are not afraid of Him." In other words, the sea is saying, "I'm just water! I have to obey God. But you, humans, you have a choice, and you should be choosing to fear Him too!"
What does all this mean? It means that the splitting of the Red Sea wasn't just a miraculous event; it was a moment of intense human drama, faith, and even divine frustration. It reminds us that even in the face of overwhelming odds, our actions, our choices, and even our arguments matter. And sometimes, a little bit of chutzpah can go a long way.