The story begins, as we all know, with the parting of the Red Sea. A moment of unimaginable salvation for the Israelites, fleeing slavery in Egypt. Moses leads the people, and as they cross to safety, the waters crash down on Pharaoh's pursuing army. Liberation! Naturally, everyone wanted to sing God's praises.

But who goes first?

The Shemot Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, delves into this very question in section 23. It quotes Psalm 68:26, "The singers first, then the musicians." But who are these singers and musicians?

Rabbi Yoḥanan offers a fascinating perspective. He suggests that the angels themselves wanted to sing praises to God that very night. Imagine that! The celestial choir, ready to burst into song. But, according to Rabbi Yoḥanan, God wouldn't allow it.

Why? Because, as God says, “My legions are in distress, and you are reciting song before Me?” The text alludes to Exodus 14:20, "One did not approach the other [zeh el zeh] throughout the night.” Zeh el zeh, literally "this to this," echoes the angels' own cries of holiness in Isaiah 6:3: "One called the other [zeh el zeh] and said: [Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory]."

So, the angels are ready, willing, and able. But God tells them, essentially, to hold their horses. Let the Israelites sing first. It’s not that God is diminishing the angels, but rather, prioritizing the vulnerable.

Shemot Rabbah explains that God says, “Let My children go first.” It points out that the verse in Exodus 15:1 doesn't say "az shar" (then sang, past tense), but rather "az yashir" (then will sing, future tense). The Divine decree is, "Let Moses and the children of Israel sing [yashir] first.”

It’s like a king whose son was captured and then rescued. The palace residents want to celebrate the king, but the son, the one who was actually in peril, also wants to express his gratitude. Who should go first? Naturally, the son!

The Midrash explains that the Israelites, flesh and blood, needed to sing their song before they succumbed to mortality. The angels, being immortal, could sing anytime. This is about giving precedence to those who experienced the salvation most directly, those whose lives were on the line.

That's why David says, "The singers first" – these are the Israelites who stood at the sea. "Then the musicians" – these are the angels.

And let's not forget the women! Psalm 68:26 continues, "In the midst of young women drumming." This refers to the women, led by Miriam the prophetess, who took up their timbrels and danced in celebration, as we see in Exodus 15:20. It was a full-throated, embodied expression of joy and gratitude.

So, what does this all mean for us? It highlights the importance of recognizing and prioritizing the voices of those who have directly experienced hardship and salvation. It reminds us that our expressions of gratitude are valuable, especially when they come from a place of vulnerability and lived experience. And it suggests that even the angels can wait their turn, allowing human voices to rise in praise first.