Songs of trust[1]
יקוק ילחם לכם ואתם תחרשון
Hashem will fight your wars for you, and you will be silent[2]
What was Moshe’s intent when he told the Jewish people that they will be silent? They were at a dead end, with the Egyptians quickly approaching and the Sea of Reeds in their way. They seemingly had nowhere to escape. Moshe told them that they will be silent, meaning that they shouldn’t sing songs of praise to Hashem[3]. Why would they sing songs of praise to Hashem? We know that after the sea split, and they crossed to safety, they sang the famous “Song at the Sea”. But this is before that happened. Before the salvation. Why was Moshe telling them not to sing? Why would they have?
Our Sages tell us[4] that in the ultimate redemption, the Jewish people will again sing songs of praise to Hashem. The Shlah HaKadosh explains[5] that the intent here is that they will sing Hashem’s praises before the final redemption. This is also the intent of our Sages when they teach us[6] that King Chizkiyahu was worthy to be Moshiach. The problem is he didn’t sing Hashem’s at the downfall of the Assyrian King Sancheriv. The idea there also is that he was meant to sing Hashem’s praises before the downfall of the enemy, and he didn’t.
The same is true at the Sea of Reeds. The Jews wanted this to be the final redemption. They knew if they sang Hashem’s praises before, it would usher in their ultimate salvation. To this, Moshe told them that it would not work. The whole point of praising Hashem with song before the downfall of the enemy is to show our complete and utter trust in Hashem’s salvation. It’s only sincere if there’s no fear or anxiety. The Jews at that time weren’t on that level of trust. They were initially scared of the Egyptians. Moshe had to reassure them. Once they calmed down, they wanted to sing Hashem’s praises, to usher in the final redemption. Moshe informed them that it would not work. They had to settle for singing Hashem’s praises after their salvation.
May we merit to soon be on the level to sing Hashem’s praises not only after the salvation, but before as well.
Chag Sameach!
[1] Based on Chochmas HaTorah to Exodus 14:14 by Rav Shlomo Kluger, printed from a manuscript from 5611
[2] Exodus loc. cit.
[3] Midrash Tanchuma Shoftim § 14
[4] Shir HaShirim Rabbah 4:8 § 2
[5] Shnei Luchos HaBris Torah Sh’B’Ksav, Beshalach
[6] Sanhedrin 94a