Torah Portion of the Week

Beshalach בשלח

Exodus 13:17–17:16

Parshat Beshalach tells the story of the Exodus itself — the Israelites' departure from Egypt, the miraculous splitting of the Red Sea, and their first trials in the wilderness. It includes the Song of the Sea, the sweetening of the bitter waters at Marah, the manna from heaven, water from the rock, and the battle against Amalek.

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1 of 8

The Departure from Egypt

יציאת מצרים

Exodus 13:17–13:22

God leads the people by a roundabout route through the wilderness toward the Red Sea rather than the shorter coastal road, lest they face war with the Philistines and lose heart. Moses takes Joseph's bones, fulfilling the oath made generations earlier. God goes before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

2 of 8

Pharaoh's Pursuit

מרדף פרעה

Exodus 14:1–14:14

God hardens Pharaoh's heart; he regrets letting the slaves go and pursues with 600 choice chariots. Trapped between the sea and the Egyptian army, the Israelites cry out in terror. Moses tells them: 'Stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord — the Egyptians you see today you will never see again.'

3 of 8

Splitting of the Red Sea

קריעת ים סוף

Exodus 14:15–14:31

God tells Moses to raise his staff over the sea. An east wind blows all night, splitting the waters. The Israelites walk through on dry ground with walls of water on each side. The Egyptians pursue, but God throws them into confusion. At dawn, Moses stretches his hand over the sea and the waters return, drowning Pharaoh's entire army. Israel sees God's great power and believes.

4 of 8

The Song of the Sea

שירת הים

Exodus 15:1–15:21

Moses and the Israelites sing a triumphant song to God — 'I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider He has hurled into the sea.' The song celebrates God as warrior, redeemer, and eternal king. Miriam the prophetess leads the women with timbrels and dancing.

5 of 8

The Bitter Waters of Marah

מי מרה

Exodus 15:22–15:27

The people travel three days into the wilderness of Shur and find no water. At Marah, the water is bitter and the people complain. God shows Moses a tree; when cast into the water, it becomes sweet. God establishes a statute: 'If you heed the Lord your God, I will not bring upon you any of the diseases of Egypt.' They camp at Elim, with its twelve springs and seventy palm trees.

6 of 8

Manna from Heaven

המן מן השמים

Exodus 16:1–16:36

In the Wilderness of Sin, the people grumble about hunger. God rains down bread from heaven — manna each morning and quail each evening. They are to gather only what they need for that day, with a double portion on Friday for Shabbat. Some disobey and the extra rots; some go out on Shabbat and find nothing. The manna sustains Israel for forty years.

7 of 8

Water from the Rock at Rephidim

מים מן הסלע ברפידים

Exodus 17:1–17:7

At Rephidim there is no water. The people quarrel with Moses, nearly ready to stone him. God tells Moses to strike the rock at Horeb with his staff. Water flows forth. Moses names the place Massah and Meribah — 'testing' and 'quarrel.'

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The Battle Against Amalek

מלחמת עמלק

Exodus 17:8–17:16

Amalek attacks the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses sends Joshua to fight while he stands on the hilltop with the staff of God. When Moses' hands are raised, Israel prevails; when they drop, Amalek prevails. Aaron and Hur support his hands until sunset and Joshua defeats Amalek. God commands that the memory of Amalek be blotted out.

Prophetic Reading

Haftarah הפטרה

Judges 4:4–5:31

שופטים

Deborah's Song of victory after defeating Sisera parallels the Song at the Sea. Both feature a woman's triumph, a miraculous military victory, and a song of praise to God.

Full Text

Parshat Beshalach

Exodus 13:17–17:16 · 116 verses

First Aliyah

ראשוןExodus 13:17–14:8

Chapter 13

פרק 13

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17 וַיְהִי בְּשַׁלַּח פַּרְעֹה אֶת הָעָם וְלֹא נָחָם אֱלֹהִים דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּים כִּי קָרוֹב הוּא כִּי אָמַר אֱלֹהִים פֶּֽן יִנָּחֵם הָעָם בִּרְאֹתָם מִלְחָמָה וְשָׁבוּ מִצְרָֽיְמָה

18 וַיַּסֵּב אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָעָם דֶּרֶךְ הַמִּדְבָּר יַם סוּף וַחֲמֻשִׁים עָלוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם

19 וַיִּקַּח מֹשֶׁה אֶת עַצְמוֹת יוֹסֵף עִמּוֹ כִּי הַשְׁבֵּעַ הִשְׁבִּיעַ אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר פָּקֹד יִפְקֹד אֱלֹהִים אֶתְכֶם וְהַעֲלִיתֶם אֶת עַצְמֹתַי מִזֶּה אִתְּכֶֽם

20 וַיִּסְעוּ מִסֻּכֹּת וַיַּחֲנוּ בְאֵתָם בִּקְצֵה הַמִּדְבָּֽר

21 וַֽיהֹוָה הֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם יוֹמָם בְּעַמּוּד עָנָן לַנְחֹתָם הַדֶּרֶךְ וְלַיְלָה בְּעַמּוּד אֵשׁ לְהָאִיר לָהֶם לָלֶכֶת יוֹמָם וָלָֽיְלָה

22 לֹֽא יָמִישׁ עַמּוּד הֶֽעָנָן יוֹמָם וְעַמּוּד הָאֵשׁ לָיְלָה לִפְנֵי הָעָֽם

17 Now when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although it was nearer; for God said, “The people may have a change of heart when they see war, and return to Egypt.”

18 So God led the people round about, by way of the wilderness at the Sea of Reeds. Now the Israelites went up armed uncertain. out of the land of Egypt.

19 And Moses took with him the bones of Joseph, who had exacted an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will be sure to take notice of you: then you shall carry up my bones from here with you.”

20 They set out from Succoth, and encamped at Etham, at the edge of the wilderness.

21 GOD went before them in a pillar of cloud by day, to guide them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, that they might travel day and night.

22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

18 So God led the people round about, by way of the wilderness at the Sea of Reeds. Now the Israelites went up armed uncertain. out of the land of Egypt.

20 וַיִּסְעוּ מִסֻּכֹּת וַיַּחֲנוּ בְאֵתָם בִּקְצֵה הַמִּדְבָּֽר

20 They set out from Succoth, and encamped at Etham, at the edge of the wilderness.

21 GOD went before them in a pillar of cloud by day, to guide them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, that they might travel day and night.

22 לֹֽא יָמִישׁ עַמּוּד הֶֽעָנָן יוֹמָם וְעַמּוּד הָאֵשׁ לָיְלָה לִפְנֵי הָעָֽם

22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

Chapter 14

פרק 14

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1 וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹֽר

2 דַּבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיָשֻׁבוּ וְיַחֲנוּ לִפְנֵי פִּי הַחִירֹת בֵּין מִגְדֹּל וּבֵין הַיָּם לִפְנֵי בַּעַל צְפֹן נִכְחוֹ תַחֲנוּ עַל הַיָּֽם

3 וְאָמַר פַּרְעֹה לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל נְבֻכִים הֵם בָּאָרֶץ סָגַר עֲלֵיהֶם הַמִּדְבָּֽר

4 וְחִזַּקְתִּי אֶת לֵב פַּרְעֹה וְרָדַף אַחֲרֵיהֶם וְאִכָּבְדָה בְּפַרְעֹה וּבְכׇל חֵילוֹ וְיָדְעוּ מִצְרַיִם כִּֽי אֲנִי יְהֹוָה וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ כֵֽן

5 וַיֻּגַּד לְמֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם כִּי בָרַח הָעָם וַיֵּהָפֵךְ לְבַב פַּרְעֹה וַעֲבָדָיו אֶל הָעָם וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ מַה זֹּאת עָשִׂינוּ כִּֽי שִׁלַּחְנוּ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵעׇבְדֵֽנוּ

6 וַיֶּאְסֹר אֶת רִכְבּוֹ וְאֶת עַמּוֹ לָקַח עִמּֽוֹ

7 וַיִּקַּח שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת רֶכֶב בָּחוּר וְכֹל רֶכֶב מִצְרָיִם וְשָׁלִשִׁם עַל כֻּלּֽוֹ

8 וַיְחַזֵּק יְהֹוָה אֶת לֵב פַּרְעֹה מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם וַיִּרְדֹּף אַחֲרֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יֹצְאִים בְּיָד רָמָֽה

1 GOD said to Moses:

2 Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea.

3 Pharaoh will say of the Israelites, “They are astray in the land; the wilderness has closed in on them.”

4 Then I will stiffen Pharaoh’s heart and he will pursue them, that I may gain glory through Pharaoh and all his host; and the Egyptians shall know that I am GOD. And they did so.

5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his courtiers had a change of heart about the people and said, “What is this we have done, releasing Israel from our service?”

6 He ordered his chariot and took his force with him;

7 He took six hundred of his picked chariots, and the rest of the chariots of Egypt, with officers ; originally “third man on royal chariot”; hence “adjutant,” “officer.” in all of them.

8 GOD stiffened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he gave chase to the Israelites. As the Israelites were departing defiantly,

1 וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹֽר

1 GOD said to Moses:

2 Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea.

3 וְאָמַר פַּרְעֹה לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל נְבֻכִים הֵם בָּאָרֶץ סָגַר עֲלֵיהֶם הַמִּדְבָּֽר

3 Pharaoh will say of the Israelites, “They are astray in the land; the wilderness has closed in on them.”

4 Then I will stiffen Pharaoh’s heart and he will pursue them, that I may gain glory through Pharaoh and all his host; and the Egyptians shall know that I am GOD. And they did so.

6 וַיֶּאְסֹר אֶת רִכְבּוֹ וְאֶת עַמּוֹ לָקַח עִמּֽוֹ

6 He ordered his chariot and took his force with him;

7 וַיִּקַּח שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת רֶכֶב בָּחוּר וְכֹל רֶכֶב מִצְרָיִם וְשָׁלִשִׁם עַל כֻּלּֽוֹ

7 He took six hundred of his picked chariots, and the rest of the chariots of Egypt, with officers ; originally “third man on royal chariot”; hence “adjutant,” “officer.” in all of them.

8 GOD stiffened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he gave chase to the Israelites. As the Israelites were departing defiantly,

Second Aliyah

שניExodus 14:9–14:14

Chapter 14

פרק 14

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9 וַיִּרְדְּפוּ מִצְרַיִם אַחֲרֵיהֶם וַיַּשִּׂיגוּ אוֹתָם חֹנִים עַל הַיָּם כׇּל סוּס רֶכֶב פַּרְעֹה וּפָרָשָׁיו וְחֵילוֹ עַל פִּי הַֽחִירֹת לִפְנֵי בַּעַל צְפֹֽן

10 וּפַרְעֹה הִקְרִיב וַיִּשְׂאוּ בְנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת עֵינֵיהֶם וְהִנֵּה מִצְרַיִם נֹסֵעַ אַחֲרֵיהֶם וַיִּֽירְאוּ מְאֹד וַיִּצְעֲקוּ בְנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל יְהֹוָֽה

11 וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל מֹשֶׁה הֲֽמִבְּלִי אֵין קְבָרִים בְּמִצְרַיִם לְקַחְתָּנוּ לָמוּת בַּמִּדְבָּר מַה זֹּאת עָשִׂיתָ לָּנוּ לְהוֹצִיאָנוּ מִמִּצְרָֽיִם

12 הֲלֹא זֶה הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְנוּ אֵלֶיךָ בְמִצְרַיִם לֵאמֹר חֲדַל מִמֶּנּוּ וְנַֽעַבְדָה אֶת מִצְרָיִם כִּי טוֹב לָנוּ עֲבֹד אֶת מִצְרַיִם מִמֻּתֵנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּֽר

13 וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל הָעָם אַל תִּירָאוּ הִֽתְיַצְּבוּ וּרְאוּ אֶת יְשׁוּעַת יְהֹוָה אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה לָכֶם הַיּוֹם כִּי אֲשֶׁר רְאִיתֶם אֶת מִצְרַיִם הַיּוֹם לֹא תֹסִפוּ לִרְאֹתָם עוֹד עַד עוֹלָֽם

14 יְהֹוָה יִלָּחֵם לָכֶם וְאַתֶּם תַּחֲרִשֽׁוּן

9 The Egyptians gave chase to them, and all the chariot horses of Pharaoh, his riders, and his warriors overtook them encamped by the sea, near Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon.

10 As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites caught sight of the Egyptians advancing upon them. Greatly frightened, the Israelites cried out to GOD.

11 And they said to Moses, “Was it for want of graves in Egypt that you brought us to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, taking us out of Egypt?

12 Is this not the very thing we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us be, and we will serve the Egyptians, for it is better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness’?”

13 But Moses said to the people, “Have no fear! Stand by, and witness the deliverance that GOD will work for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you will never see again.

14 GOD will battle for you; you hold your peace!”

9 The Egyptians gave chase to them, and all the chariot horses of Pharaoh, his riders, and his warriors overtook them encamped by the sea, near Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon.

10 As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites caught sight of the Egyptians advancing upon them. Greatly frightened, the Israelites cried out to GOD.

11 And they said to Moses, “Was it for want of graves in Egypt that you brought us to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, taking us out of Egypt?

12 Is this not the very thing we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us be, and we will serve the Egyptians, for it is better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness’?”

13 But Moses said to the people, “Have no fear! Stand by, and witness the deliverance that GOD will work for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you will never see again.

14 יְהֹוָה יִלָּחֵם לָכֶם וְאַתֶּם תַּחֲרִשֽׁוּן

14 GOD will battle for you; you hold your peace!”

Third Aliyah

שלישיExodus 14:15–14:25

Chapter 14

פרק 14

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15 וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל מֹשֶׁה מַה תִּצְעַק אֵלָי דַּבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיִסָּֽעוּ

16 וְאַתָּה הָרֵם אֶֽת מַטְּךָ וּנְטֵה אֶת יָדְךָ עַל הַיָּם וּבְקָעֵהוּ וְיָבֹאוּ בְנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּתוֹךְ הַיָּם בַּיַּבָּשָֽׁה

17 וַאֲנִי הִנְנִי מְחַזֵּק אֶת לֵב מִצְרַיִם וְיָבֹאוּ אַחֲרֵיהֶם וְאִכָּבְדָה בְּפַרְעֹה וּבְכׇל חֵילוֹ בְּרִכְבּוֹ וּבְפָרָשָֽׁיו

18 וְיָדְעוּ מִצְרַיִם כִּי אֲנִי יְהֹוָה בְּהִכָּבְדִי בְּפַרְעֹה בְּרִכְבּוֹ וּבְפָרָשָֽׁיו

19 וַיִּסַּע מַלְאַךְ הָאֱלֹהִים הַהֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵי מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֵּלֶךְ מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶם וַיִּסַּע עַמּוּד הֶֽעָנָן מִפְּנֵיהֶם וַֽיַּעֲמֹד מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶֽם

20 וַיָּבֹא בֵּין מַחֲנֵה מִצְרַיִם וּבֵין מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיְהִי הֶֽעָנָן וְהַחֹשֶׁךְ וַיָּאֶר אֶת הַלָּיְלָה וְלֹא קָרַב זֶה אֶל זֶה כׇּל הַלָּֽיְלָה

21 וַיֵּט מֹשֶׁה אֶת יָדוֹ עַל הַיָּם וַיּוֹלֶךְ יְהֹוָה אֶת הַיָּם בְּרוּחַ קָדִים עַזָּה כׇּל הַלַּיְלָה וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת הַיָּם לֶחָרָבָה וַיִּבָּקְעוּ הַמָּֽיִם

22 וַיָּבֹאוּ בְנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּתוֹךְ הַיָּם בַּיַּבָּשָׁה וְהַמַּיִם לָהֶם חוֹמָה מִֽימִינָם וּמִשְּׂמֹאלָֽם

23 וַיִּרְדְּפוּ מִצְרַיִם וַיָּבֹאוּ אַחֲרֵיהֶם כֹּל סוּס פַּרְעֹה רִכְבּוֹ וּפָרָשָׁיו אֶל תּוֹךְ הַיָּֽם

24 וַֽיְהִי בְּאַשְׁמֹרֶת הַבֹּקֶר וַיַּשְׁקֵף יְהֹוָה אֶל מַחֲנֵה מִצְרַיִם בְּעַמּוּד אֵשׁ וְעָנָן וַיָּהׇם אֵת מַחֲנֵה מִצְרָֽיִם

25 וַיָּסַר אֵת אֹפַן מַרְכְּבֹתָיו וַֽיְנַהֲגֵהוּ בִּכְבֵדֻת וַיֹּאמֶר מִצְרַיִם אָנוּסָה מִפְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי יְהֹוָה נִלְחָם לָהֶם בְּמִצְרָֽיִם

15 Then GOD said to Moses, “Why do you cry out to Me? Tell the Israelites to go forward.

16 And you lift up your rod and hold out your arm over the sea and split it, so that the Israelites may march into the sea on dry ground.

17 And I will stiffen the hearts of the Egyptians so that they go in after them; and I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his warriors, his chariots, and his riders.

18 Let the Egyptians know that I am GOD, when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots, and his riders.”

19 The angel of God, who had been going ahead of the Israelite army, now moved and followed behind them; and the pillar of cloud shifted from in front of them and took up a place behind them,

20 And it came between the army of the Egyptians and the army of Israel. Thus there was the cloud with the darkness, and it cast a spell upon , “cast a spell” or “curse.” the night, so that the one could not come near the other all through the night.

21 Then Moses held out his arm over the sea and GOD drove back the sea with a strong east wind all that night, and turned the sea into dry ground. The waters were split,

22 And the Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.

23 The Egyptians came in pursuit after them into the sea, all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and riders.

24 At the morning watch, GOD looked down upon the Egyptian army from a pillar of fire and cloud, and threw the Egyptian army into panic.

25 [God] locked , with several ancient versions. In contrast to others “took off.” the wheels of their chariots so that they moved forward with difficulty. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the Israelites, for GOD is fighting for them against Egypt.”