1)

Bearing in mind that the redemption from Egypt took place on the fifteenth of Nisan, when Yisrael left Egypt, why does the Torah write here "Va'yosha Hashem ba'Yom ha'Hu" (on the twenty-first)?

1.

Seforno: Because as long as the Egyptians were chasing them, their status was that of fleeing slaves, and it was only now that they (the Egyptians) were dead that they were truly redeemed.

2)

What exactly, did Yisrael see "Al S'fas ha'Yam"?

1.

Rashi: They saw the corpses that the sea spat out onto its banks. 1

2.

Rashbam and Hadar Zekenim: Yisrael, who were already on dry land, actually saw the Egyptians drowning in the sea. 2

3.

Targum Yonasan: They saw the Egyptians dead and not dead, cast on the sea shore (half dead, and Yisrael witnessed their death).


1

Because their Emunah was weak and they thought that, just as they had emerged alive from the sea on one bank, so too, did the Egyptians emerge alive from the sea on the other bank, and were about to chase after them. So the sea spat out the corpses as proof that the Egyptians had been killed (Rashi). It is difficult to comprehend how, even as they witnessed one of the greatest miracles to have ever taken place, and despite Moshe's assurance of Hashem's salvation (See Pesukim 13 & 14), Yisrael had doubts.

2

Rashbam: It is as if the Torah had written "Va'yar Yisrael (asher) al S'fas ha'Yam es Mitzrayim Meis".

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