Beshalach: Verse 59
Rabbi Aba said, It is written, "And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim" (Beresheet 27:1). Why? We have explained that one who loves the wicked, HIS EYES BECOME DIM. Come and behold, in Isaac, WHO IS GVURAH, night is included, WHICH IS MALCHUT, and the night is not bright. Therefore, "his eyes were dim." It is all one, BECAUSE THE INCLUSION OF NIGHT IN ISAAC IS IN THE SAME CONTEXT AS THE LOVE OF ISAAC FOR ESAU.
Beshalach: Verse 60
Rabbi Yitzchak opened the discussion, saying: "And it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled" (Shemot 14:5). HE ASKS, "And it was told." Who told him? HE ANSWERS, We have explained that his wise men and sorcerers gathered about him and informed him that the people had fled. Why did they say this? Because they saw, in their wisdom, that the people of YISRAEL were traveling day and night. They said they were fleeing and they saw that they were not traveling on the straight road, as it is written, "And they turn and encamp before Pi Hachirot" (Ibid. 2). AND THEY INFORMED HIM OF THIS ALSO. THEREFORE, HE CHASED AFTER THEM.
Beshalach: Verse 62
"And he took six hundred chosen chariots." Rabbi Chiya said, It is written, "That Hashem shall punish the host of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth" (Yeshayah 24:21). At the time that the Holy One, blessed be He, gives dominion to the ministers of the nations above, He gives it to their nations below; and when He brings them down from their grade above, He brings down their nations below. "And he took six hundred chosen chariots." It was their minister WHO TOOK THEM. We have established that he led the chariots of the other peoples, FOR THESE SIX HUNDRED CHARIOTS WERE NOT FROM EGYPT, BUT WERE ONLY FROM THE OTHER NATIONS. They all fell in the army camp of Sisra. And this is the meaning of "SIX HUNDRED CHARIOTS chosen." Afterwards, "all the chariots of Egypt," FOR ONCE IT IS WRITTEN, "AND ALL THE CHARIOTS OF EGYPT," THEN "SIX HUNDRED CHOSEN CHARIOTS" IS SUPERFLUOUS. CERTAINLY, "SIX HUNDRED CHOSEN CHARIOTS" IS ONLY FROM THE OTHER NATIONS, AND THEREFORE IT SAYS AFTERWARDS, "AND ALL THE CHARIOTS OF EGYPT."
Beshalach: Verse 63
It is written, "I compare you, O my love, to a mare of the chariots of Pharaoh" (Shir Hashirim 1:9). Come and behold, he appeared in the image of a mare to Pharaoh's horses, AND THEREFORE THEY CHASED AFTER HER, INTO THE SEA. And they explained this. But, "to a mare of the chariots of Pharaoh." Come and behold, when Pharaoh was chasing after the children of Yisrael, what did he do? He took female horses and harnessed them to the chariot up front first, and harnessed male horses behind them. The males warmed to the females, but the females were reluctant and hastened to run. When they approached Yisrael, he took the females and placed them behind and the male horses in front in order to do harm to Yisrael and to war against them, BECAUSE THE MALE HORSES WERE STRONGER THAN THE FEMALES FOR WAR.
Beshalach: Verse 64
Similar to this, "And Hashem went before them by day" (Shemot 13:21). Afterwards, the Shechinah returned to the rear of Yisrael, as it is written, "And the angel of Hashem...moved and went behind them" (Shemot 14:19). Therefore, "I compare you, O my love..."
Beshalach: Verse 66
It is written, "Hashem, in trouble have they sought You, they poured out a silent prayer" (Yeshayah 26:16). "In trouble have they sought You," MEANS Yisrael did not seek the Holy One, blessed be He, at times of comfort. Only when they have trouble do they all remember and seek Him. "They poured out a silent prayer." They all pray with prayers and beseeching, and pour out prayers before Him. When? "When Your chastening was upon them" (Ibid.), at the time that the Holy One, blessed be He, chastened them with His whip. The Holy One, blessed be He, stands over them with Mercy. Their voice is favorable to Him in order to take revenge from their enemies, and He becomes full of compassion for them.
