Parsha Summary - Beshalach

Question 1

13. Exodus - Armed - Bones of Yosef - Cloud Day - Pillar of Fire Night

Answer 1

• Hashem avoids directing the Jews through the land of Plishtim
• Jews exit armed - one fifth of original population
• Moshe took the bones of Yosef
• They travelled from Sukkot & Camped at Eitam on the brink of the desert
• Hashem directed them with a cloud by day & Pillar of fire at night

Question 2

14. Yam suf splits - chariots chase and drown

Answer 2

• Hashem turns them back to camp opposite Pi HaChirot at the Yam Suf
• Pharoah thought this means they are lost, exactly as G-d planned
• Pharoah in hot pursuit with 600 choice chariots
• Trapped - Jews terrified, ‘no fear, Hashem will fight for you’
• East wind splits sea
• Jews cross yam suf, waters collapse, Pharoahs entire army drown
• Jews finally believe in Hashem and Moshe his servant

Question 3

15. Song at the Sea - Complaints at Marrah

Answer 3

• Song at the sea
• Miriam leads the women in song
• Bitter waters at Marah
• Three days without water, the people complain ‘What will we drink?’
• Hashem instructs Moshe: ‘Throw a tree into the water’ & it became sweet
• Moshe reminds us: ‘Be obedient to Hashem, you will not suffer any of the plagues I brought upon Egypt because I Am Your Healer.’
• Arrived & camped at Eilim, 12 springs of water & 70 dates

Question 4

16. Complaints for Meat & Bread - Mann & Quail

Answer 4

• Traveled from Eilim to Midbar Sin
• Complaints for meat & bread
• Hashem promises daily mann from heaven to test their loyalty
• Moshe & Aron tell us: your complaints are really against Hashem
• Hashem will send you meat in the evening and Mann in the morning

Question 5

Rules of The Mann

Answer 5

• An omer of Mann for each person, exactly enough for the number of people in each tent
• No Mann was to remain the next morning
• Two people left over Mann for the next morning, Moshe was angry
• Double portion of Mann collected on Friday for Shabbos
• Prepare food on friday for Shabbos
• Same two people went out on Shabbos looking for Mann
• “How long will you refuse to practice My Mitzvot & MY Torahs”
• Don’t walk beyond the Shabbos boundary [Tchum Shabbos]
• Command to place an Omer of Mann in a glass jar as eternal testimony
• An Omer = one tenth of an Efah (about 22 liters)

Question 6

17. Complaints for Water - Amalek Attacks

Answer 6

• Traveled from Midbar Sin to Refidim
• Complaints for water to Moshe
• Moshe responds: ‘why are you complaining and testing Hashem?’
• Moshe instructed to strike a rock and water will come out
• Moshe names the place ‘Testing & Argue’ (masah umeriva), because we argued and tested Hashem
• Immediately Amalek attacked us
• Yehoshua battles Amalek, Moshe’s arms supported by Aron & Chur
• Command to erase memory of Amalek
• Hashem declares war against Amalek till last generation