Daf 52b (דַּף נ״ב ע״ב)

Rabbi Yitzḥak said (אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק): At the moment when Yisrael camped by the sea (בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּשָׁרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל יַמָּא), they beheld numerous hosts (חָמוּ לְכַמָּה אוֹכְלוֹסִין), numerous armies (לְכַמָּה חַיָּילִין), numerous troops (לְכַמָּה מַשִּׁירְיָין), from above and below (מֵעֵילָּא וְתַתָּא), all gathered in formation against Yisrael (וְכוּלְּהוּ בִּכְנוּפְיָא עֲלַיְיהוּ דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל), and they encamped in shadow from within their storm (שָׁרִיאוּ בִּצְלוֹ מִגּוֹ עָאקוּ דִּלְהוֹן).

At that moment, Yisrael beheld the storm from all directions (בֵּיהּ שַׁעֲתָא חָמוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עָאקוּ מִכָּל סִטְרִין), and the sea, with its waves, was raised upright before them (יַמָּא בְּגַלּוֹהִי דְּזַקְפָן קָמַיְיהוּ). Behind them, all those hosts, all those troops of Egypt (בַּתְרַיְיהוּ כָּל אִינּוּן אוֹכְלוֹסִין, כָּל אִינּוּן מַשִּׁירְיָין דְּמִצְרַיִם), and above them were many accusers (לְעֵילָּא עֲלַיְיהוּ כַּמָּה קַטֵיגוֹרִין). They began crying out to Kudsha Berikh Hu (שָׁרִיאוּ צַוְוחִין לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). Then it is written (Exodus 14) “And Hashem said to Moshe, Why do you cry out to Me?” (כְּדֵין כְּתִיב: וַיֹּאמֶר ייָ אֶל מֹשֶׁה מַה תִּצְעַק אֵלָי). And it is taught in the Sifra deTzni‘uta (וְתָאנָא בְּסִפְרָא דְּצְנִיעוּתָא): “to Me” (אֵלָי), precisely (דַּיְיקָא) all is dependent on Atik (בְּעַתִּיקָא תַּלְיָא כֹּלָּא). At that time, Atika Kadisha was revealed (בֵּיהּ שַׁעֲתָא אִתְגְּלֵי עַתִּיקָא קַדִּישָׁא), and desire was found throughout all supernal worlds (וְאִשְׁתְּכַח רַעֲוָא בְּכוּלְּהוּ עָלְמִין עִלָּאִין), then the light of all became illuminated (כְּדֵין נְהִירוּ דְּכֹלָּא אִתְנְהִיר).

Rabbi Yitzḥak said (אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק): Then, when all became illuminated as one (כְּדֵין, כַּד אִתְנְהִיר כֹּלָּא כַּחֲדָא), the sea performed supernal regulations (וְעָבִיד יַמָּא נִימוּסִין עִלָּאִין), and was delivered into the hands of the supernal and lower ones (וְאִתְמְסָרוּ בִּידוֹי עִלָּאִין וְתַתָּאִין). And because of this, everything is difficult before Kudsha Berikh Hu like the splitting of the Sea of Reeds (וּבְגִינֵי כַּךְ קַשְׁיָא קַמֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא כֹּלָּא כִּקְרִיעַת יָם סוֹף), and all has been so established (וְכֹלָּא הָכִי אוּקְמוּהָ). What is the reason? (מַאי טַעֲמָא) Because the splitting of the Sea of Reeds depends on Atik p5-89(בְּגִין דִּקְרִיעַת יָם סוּף בְּעַתִּיקָא תַּלְיָא).

Rabbi Shim‘on said (אָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן): There is one hind in the earth (חַד אַיָּילְתָּא אִית בְּאַרְעָא), and Kudsha Berikh Hu does many acts for her (וּקְדֻשָּׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָבִיד סַגִּיָּא בְּגִינָהּ). At the time when she cries out (בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּהִיא צוֹוַחַת), Kudsha Berikh Hu hears her storm (קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא שָׁמַע עָאקוּ דִּילָהּ), and receives her voice (וְקַבִּיל קַלָּהּ). And when the world needs mercy for rain (וְכַד אִצְטְרִיךְ עָלְמָא לְרַחֲמֵי לְמַיָּא), she gives voice (הִיא יָהֲבַת קָלִין), and Kudsha Berikh Hu hears her voice (וּקְדֻשָּׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא שָׁמַע קַלָּהּ), and then He has compassion on the world (וּכְדֵין חַיֵּיס עַל עָלְמָא). This is what is written (Psalms 42): “As the hind longs for water streams…” (הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב: כְּאַיָּל תַּעֲרוֹג עַל אֲפִיקֵי מָיִם). And when she seeks to give birth (וְכַד בָּעְיָא לְאוֹלָדָא), she is sealed from all sides (הִיא סְתִימָא מִכָּל סִטְרִין). Then she comes and places her head between her knees (כְּדֵין אַתְיָיא וְשַׁוִּיאַת רֵישָׁא בֵּין בִּרְכָּהָא), and cries and raises voices (וְצוֹוַחַת וְרָמַת קָלִין). And Kudsha Berikh Hu has compassion on her (וּקְדֻשָּׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא חַיֵּיס עָלָּה), and prepares for her a serpent p5-90(וְזַמִּין לְקַבְּלָהּ חַד נָחָשׁ), who bites her in her womb (וְנָשִׁיךְ בְּעַרְיָיתָא דִּילָהּ), and opens her (וּפָתַח לָהּ), and tears that place (וְקָרַע לָהּ הַהוּא אֲתָר), and she immediately gives birth (וְאוֹלִידַת מִיָּד).

Rabbi Shim‘on said (אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן): Concerning this, do not test and do not try Hashem p5-91(בְּהַאי מִלָּה לָא תִּשְׁאַל וְלָא תְּנַסֶּה אֶת ייָ), and so it is precise. (Exodus 14): “And Hashem saved Yisrael on that day…” (וְהָכִי דַּיְיקָא: וַיּוֹשַׁע ייָ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל וְגוֹ'). “And Yisrael saw Egypt dead”-that appointed ruler of Egypt (וַיַּרְא יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת מִצְרַיִם מֵת, הַהוּא שֻׁלְטָנָא מְמָנָא דְּמִצְרָאֵי) Kudsha Berikh Hu showed them that He passed him through the river of fire (אַחְמֵי לוֹן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דְּאַעְבַּר לֵיהּ בִּנְהַר דִּינוּר), which was on the edge of the great sea (דְּהֲוָה בִּשְׂפָתָא דְּיַמָּא רַבָּא). “Dead”-why dead? (מֵת, מַאי טַעֲמָא מֵת). As has been established (כְּמָה דְּאוּקְמוּהָ): because they passed him from that dominion of his (דְּאַעְבְּרוּ לֵיהּ מֵהַהוּא שֻׁלְטָנוּתָא דִּילֵיהּ). (Exodus 14): “And Yisrael saw the great hand…” (וַיַּרְא יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הַיָּד הַגְּדוֹלָה וְגוֹ').

Rabbi Ḥiyya said (רִבִּי חִיָּיא אָמַר): Here the hand was completed, with all the fingers (הָכָא אִשְׁתְּלִים יְדָא, וְכוּלְּהוּ אֶצְבְּעָן), and the hand was completed, which is included in the right side (וְאִשְׁתְּלִים יְדָא, דְּאִתְכְּלִיל בֵּיהּ בִּימִינָא), for thus we have learned: all is included in the right side (דְּהָכִי תָּנִינָן: כֹּלָּא בִּימִינָא אִתְכְּלִיל), and in the right all depends (וּבִימִינָא תַּלְיָא). This is what is written (Exodus 15): “Your right hand, Hashem, is glorious in strength; Your right hand, Hashem, shatters the enemy” (הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב: יְמִינְךָ ייָ נֶאְדָּרִי בַּכֹּחַ, יְמִינְךָ ייָ תִּרְעַץ אוֹיֵב).

And Rabbi Yitzḥak said (וְאָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק): I have not found anyone who hardened his heart toward Kudsha Berikh Hu as did Pharaoh (לָא אַשְׁכַּחְנָא מַאן דְּאַתְקִיף לִבֵּיהּ לְגַבֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא כְּפַרְעֹה). Rabbi Yose said (אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי): Sihon and Og also (סִיחוֹן וְעוֹג הָכִי נַמֵּי). He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ): Not so (לָאו הָכִי). They hardened themselves against Yisrael (אִינּוּן לְגַבֵּי דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל אִתְּתַּקְּפוּ), but not against Kudsha Berikh Hu (אֲבָל לְגַבֵּי דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לָא), as Pharaoh hardened his spirit directly against Him (כְּמָה דְּאִתְּקַף פַּרְעֹה רוּחֵיהּ לָקוֳבְלֵיהּ), and he saw His might every day and did not repent (וַהֲוָה חָמֵי כָּל יוֹמָא גְּבוּרָאן דִּילֵיהּ וְלָא הֲוָה תָּב).

Rabbi Yehudah said in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak (אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק): Pharaoh was wiser than all his magicians (פַּרְעֹה חַכִּים מִכָּל חֲרָשׁוֹי הֲוָה), and in all those spells, and in all those knowledges, he engaged (וּבְכָל אִינּוּן כִּתְרִין, וּבְכָל אִינּוּן יְדִיעָן אִסְתַּכַּל). And in all their directions, he did not see the redemption of Yisrael (וּבְכָל סִטְרָא דִּלְהוֹן לָא חָמָא פּוּרְקָנָא דִּילְהוֹן דִּיִשְׂרָאֵל), and none of them hinted at it (וְלָא הֲוָה תָּלֵי בְּחַד מִנַּיְיהוּ). Moreover, in all the knotting of bindings that were tied upon Yisrael (וְעוֹד, דְּהָא בְּכֻלְּהוּ קְשִׁירוּ קִשְׁרָא עֲלַיְיהוּ דִּיִשְׂרָאֵל), Pharaoh did not suppose that there was another bond of faith (וּפַרְעֹה לָא סָבַר דְּאִית קִשְׁרָא אַחֲרָא דִּמְהֵימָנוּתָא), which rules over all (דְּאִיהוּ שַׁלִּיט עַל כֹּלָּא). And because of this, he hardened his heart (וְעַל דָּא הֲוָה אַתְקִיף לִבֵּיהּ).

Rabbi Abba said (רִבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר): Pharaoh’s heart was not hardened except because of this Name (לָא אַתְקִיף לִבָּא דְּפַרְעֹה, אֶלָּא שְׁמָא דָּא). For when Moshe said, “Thus said Hashem” (דְּכַד הֲוָה אָמַר מֹשֶׁה: כֹּה אָמַר ייָ), this very word (דָּא מִלָּה מַמָּשׁ), his heart was hardened (אַתְקִיף לִבֵּיהּ). This is what is written (Exodus 9): “And Hashem hardened Pharaoh’s heart” (הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב: וַיְחַזֵּק ייָ אֶת לֵב פַּרְעֹה). For in all his wisdom, it was not found that this Name rules in the earth (דְּהָא בְּכָל חָכְמְתָא דִילֵיהּ לָא אִשְׁתְּכַח דִּשְׁמָא דָּא שָׁלִיט בְּאַרְעָא). And because of this he said: “Who is Hashem?” (וְעַל דָּא אָמַר: מִי ייָ). And afterward he said: “Hashem is the Righteous One” (וּלְבָתַר אָמַר: ייָ הַצַּדִּיק). Rabbi Yose said (אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי): Afterwards he said (Exodus 10): “I have sinned to Hashem” (חָטָאתִי לייָ). That same mouth that said the first (הַהוּא פּוּמָא דְּאָמַר דָּא), said the latter (אָמַר דָּא).

Rabbi Ḥizkiyah opened and said (רִבִּי חִזְקִיָּה פָּתַח וְאָמַר): (Job 9): “It is one; therefore I said: He destroys the innocent and the wicked” (אַחַת הִיא, עַל כֵּן אָמַרְתִּי: תָּם וְרָשָׁע הוּא מְכַלֶּה). This verse has been established in the secret of wisdom (הַאי קְרָא אוּקְמוּהָ בְּרָזָא דְּחָכְמְתָא). “It is one”-what is “it is one”? (אַחַת הִיא, מַאי אַחַת הִיא). This is what is written (Song of Songs 6): “One is My dove, My perfect one; one she is to her mother” (הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב: אַחַת הִיא יוֹנָתִי תַמָּתִי, אַחַת הִיא לְאִמָּהּ). And with this, Kudsha Berikh Hu judges judgment below, and judges judgment above in all (וּבְהַאי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דָּאִין דִּינוֹי לְתַתָּא, וְדָּאִין דִּינוֹי לְעֵילָּא בְּכֹלָּא).