The context: what does Beshalach say?

Here is the sammary where the Song of the sea is found. For the sake of authenticity, I used the original vocabulary as much as possible.

After the Israelites left Egypt, they went by the way of the Sea of Reeds. When the Israelites encamped, the Lord stiffened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would chase them. So Pharaoh gathered his army of chariots and horsemen, and followed the Israelites. When Pharaoh’s army caught up with the Israelites, the people said to Moses: “Have you brought us here to die at the hands of Egypt? you promised us Israel!” So Moses called upon the Lord, and the Lord created a storm between Israel and the Egyptians. Then the Lord told Moses to hold his rod over the sea so that the sea would split in front of Israel, then have them cross it to dry ground. Moses held his hand over the sea, which split, and the Israelites crossed the sea. Then the storm dissipated. The Egyptians rode after Israel on the dry ground across the waters. God said unto Moses to again hold his rod over the sea. Moses did. The sea came crashing back on the Egyptians, and they all drowned.

This following relevant section of the “Song of the Sea” is written in very early Hebrew, without a definite article, generally attributed to the 10th century BCE or earlier:

Then the people sang a song to the Lord:

“I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed in His glory.

The Lord is my strength and my might.

The Lord is a man of war, 

The Lord is His name!

Pharaoh’s chariots, and his army,

He has cast into the sea.

Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power,

Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.

You send forth Your fury, it consumes them like straw

The enemy said,

I shall pursue, I shall overtake,

 I will divide the spoils.

I will bare my sword,

My hand shall subdue them.

You made Your wind blow, the sea covered them,

They sank like lead in the high waters.

Who is like You, great among the skies?

You stretched out Your right hand, the earth swallowed them.”

Back to the summary:

Then Moses told Israel to set forth from the Sea of Reeds. They were in the wilderness for three days without water to drink. They found a river, but the water was bitter, and Israel complained to Moses. And so Moses cried to the Lord, who gave Moses a piece of wood. Moses threw the wood into the water and it became sweet.

They left on their journey. Fifteen days and two months later, Israel again complained to Moses, but this time it was about food: “Why didn’t you leave us to die in Egypt where we had bread? You are starving this whole congregation to death.” And so the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain bread from the sky every day, and every day you shall go outside and collect your portion, an omer. On the sixth day you shall get two omers. But on the seventh day, you will not find bread outside. Instead, you shall eat the leftover food.” Moses told Israel what the Lord had told him. The next morning, in between layers of dew was a substance that tasted like honey cakes, while, in the evening, quail covered the camp. The people did not know what the substance in the dew was, and Moses said, “this is the bread that God has rained for you,” and it was named manna.

Later, the Israelites ran out of water again. They complained to Moses once more. Moses said “Why do you even test the Lord?” He called upon the Lord, and said: ”What shall I do with these people?” The Lord said, “Go to Mount Horeb, and strike the rock there with your rod. Strike the rock and water will issue from it, and then your people will drink.” And it was so.

Later, Amalek came and attacked Israel. Moses said to Joshua, “Gather some men, and go do battle with them. I will station myself on the hill, with the rod of the Lord in my hands.” And Joshua did as Moses said and battled Amalek. Whenever Moses raised his hand, Israel prevailed, but when he put his hands down, they started losing. When Moses grew tired, Aaron and Hur held up his arms, and Israel won.

Where it all started

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