4.1 . The Right hand of God in Beshalach
There are several methods for analyzing Tanakh:
- The first is Pshat (“straight”) or “surface” meaning, i.e. the literal or the straightforward meaning of the sentence according to the vocabulary, grammar, direct context etc.
- Remez (“deep”) is a deeper meaning, behind an allegorical expression, for instance.
- Drash (like in Midrash, means “inquiry”) is the comparative analysis you do by comparing similar usage across multiple locations.
I will use all three methods.
Beshalach, the Parasha I am focusing on, has three instances of use for the hand of God (although only two for the right hand). It also has one very strong anthropopathism for God, which is worth discussing first.
“Adonai ish mil’hamah, Adonai shemo”: God is a man of war, His name is the Lord” is Exodus 15:3, three verses before the first, and most famous use of the right hand of God. At the first level, the Pshat meaning can’t be more anthropomorphic.
But Rabbi Ishmael’s argument (“The Torah speaks in the language of men”) applies well to this passage: it simply appears to be an image that conveys God’s power in actions of war. This is confirmed by what ibn Ezra writes: “‘It refers to god’s “personality.” A man of war is one who possesses warlike qualities.” The Remez meaning of this verse is an attribute of power in war. So we must take note: in Beshalach, the writer is ready to use images to express the attributes of God.
Then comes the famous Exodus 15:6“Yemin’ha Adonai needari bacoa’h, yemin’ha Adonai tir’atz oyev!” “Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power, Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy!” Again, the Pshat meaning is very anthropomorphic. But the first hint we have that it is not the case is that, in Exodus 15:3, we found a Remez meaning behind an allegory of the writer. So can this be an allegory?
This verse can be opposed to Exodus 15:9, which says: “Torishemo Yadi”: “[the enemy said] ‘My hand shall destroy them’ ”. But Pharaoh (the enemy) did not really mean literally “My hand”: rather, “my hand” really means “my army” or “the way I exercise my power”. So “My hand” for Pharoah is clearly an allegory. So, by Drash, we must infer the same for the right hand of the Lord: it must simply be a figure of speech for the power of the Lord.
Indeed, Ibn Ezra confirms: “your right hand” metaphorically represents “your strength”.
It is, however, worth noting two other comments that point at different directions. Or HaChaim comments that the right hand represents god’s loving kindness (chesed), and when Israel is in need, both the strong and merciful attributes come to their aid.” Nahmanides, on the other hand, writes: “ ‘putting out the right hand’ always implies vengeance and destruction.”
Exodus 14:30 is the second instance of a hand of God: “Vayare Israel et ‘hayad hagedola asher ‘asa Adonai bemitzraim” “And Israel saw the mighty hand that the Lord inflicted upon Egypt”. The previous discussion also applies to this verse, which must also be allegorical to the power of God. Don Yitz’hak Abravanel, who, by the way, went through the Great Exile from Spain, confirms this: “they saw it only as one ‘sees’ a foot by the imprint it leaves in snow or mud.”
Exodus 15:12, is the last right hand reference:“Natita yemin’ha; Tivla’emo aretz”: “You stretched out your right hand; the earth swallowed them.”, and must be explained the same way. Not only does this also have the same explanation as the previous two, but in the Mekhilta deRabbi Ishmael, the commentary on this verse is: “To give a parable, to what is this like? To this: When eggs are placed in a man’s hand, if he but turns his hand a little they all fall and break.” This means it must be understood allegorically.
So the provisional conclusion we must have, at this stage, is that the “right hand of God” is an allegory rather than an anthropomorphism, and that it means the warring power of the Lord. Can we get confirmation by doing Drash across the whole Tanakh on the same expression?
Born left-handed 