Beshalach’s Ten Commandments Moments

The Torah Portion Beshalach- which takes place in the height of the Exodus- contain three Ten Commandments’ moments worthy of discussion. The portion takes place as the Children of Israel depart from Egypt, the Children of Israel experience salvation in the parting of the Red Sea. Also, for the first time, they receive the mystery food called manna.

At the beginning of Beshalach, Joseph’s remains are collected and are to be taken back to the Promised Land. [note: Joseph’s father, Jacob, while Joseph was a Egyptian dignitary, previously, had his body ceremoniously returned to Canaan. ] Thus, prior to leaving the house of bondage, Moses takes Joseph’s bones with him from Egypt. It was reported that it was “because he [Joseph] had the Children of Israel swear saying “God will take account of you, and you’ll bring up my bones here with you.” Exodus 13:19. This oath is quite a powerful one leading up to the giving of the Ten Commandments. Joseph’s body had been interned in Egypt for hundreds of years prior to the event. In essense, this moment represented not only a collective swearing but a generational swearing. Arguably, a past generation’s commitment continued into further generations. The long delay, of course, was from the extended period of bondage. This event should have been certainly impressionable and educational for the Children of Israel. In essense, one should not only remember one’s own commitments, but those of their ancestors. 

The highlight of Beshalach of course of the Red Sea drama. Who doesn’t like the splitting of a sea? With this event, the Children of Israel witnessed the reference which would be placed within the Ten Commandments. With the First Commandment, ”I am the Lord, Your God, who brought you out of Egypt, the house of slaves.” Exodus 20:2. Thus, the individuals who would be bound by the Decalogue saw something tremendous.  As noted, “and The Lord saved Israel from Egypt’s hand that day. And Israel saw Egypt dead on the seashore, and Israel saw the big hand that the Lord had used against Egypt, and the people feared the Lord, and they trusted in the Lord and in Moses, his servant.” Exodus 14:30-31.

With this, the Song of the Sea is sung. This poetry, according to scholars, is one of the earliest writings within the Torah. 

The next passage of Ten Commandments’ interest documented antiquity’s greatest food delivery moment. The Master of the Universe says to Moses, “Here, I’m raining bread from the skies for you.” Exodus 16:4. This bread- later called manna- was intended to be gathered as daily rations and to test the Children of Israel. The Lord noted “and it will be that on the sixth day they’ll prepare what they bring in, and it will be twice as much as they’ll gather on regular days.” Exodus 16:5. Later on, Moses tells the Children of Israel that “tomorrow is a ceasing, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you’ll bake, and cook what you’ll cook, and leave what is leftover for keeping until the morning.” Exodus 16:23. Moses then said “eat it today, because today is a Sabbath to the Lord. Today you won’t find it in the field. Six days you shall collect it. And on the seventh day is a Sabbath; there will not be any of it.” Despite this instruction. some of the people did not listen and went to collect manna on the Sabbath and did not find any. This confounded the Lord. Additional instruction was necessary. With that, there was the directive to “let no man go out from his place on the seventh day. And the people ceased on the seventh day.” Exodus 16:28-30.

Thus, we learn from Beshalach, that prior to the issuance of the Ten Commandments, the Sabbath was implemented by the Lord. Not only that, the Master of the Universe understood that Humans cannot be trusted. Humans, at times, require testing. In the passages, the failure of some people abide by restrictions illustrates the Human condition. In essense, generousity and handouts do not translate into cooperation, commitment or understanding.  For some people, a day of rest proved to be a difficult endeavor. 

In sum, Beshalach contains some of the most important Ten Commandments’ moments within the Torah. It gives us an understanding that both the notion of using the Lord’s name in vain and the Sabbath’s sanctity were already impressed upon the Children of Israel prior to Mt. Sinai.  It shows how the Lord’s view of Humanity changed since his encounter with Cain. He appreciated that that Humans have an inclination to not follow instructions. Further, he understood at times there may be a need to increase the level of instruction- i.e. forbidding the leaving of one’s home on the Sabbath. Finally, in witnessing the parting of the Red Sea, the Children of Israel gained both a sense of fear in the Lord and a trust in Moses. These feelings were part of their witnessing the intense happenings. This memory, which is documented in one of the Torah’s earliest known passages, cemented the legacies of the Red Sea and Mt. Sinai.

Be well!!  

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