Torah portion

Parashah (a/ka/ Sidra)

Prophetic reading:

Haftarah

Text

B’shallach

Exodus 13:17-17:16

Judges 4:4-5:31

(longest of the year)

Jewish calendar:

Shabbat Shirah (“The Sabbath of Song,” so-called due to the triumphant song the Israelites sing after their deliverance from Pharaoh and his chariots at the Red Sea and the parallel song of deliverance sung by Deborah and Barak.

Wed., Feb. 8: Tu Bishvat (the 15th of the month of Shvat, the new year of trees)

Purim begins the evening of Wed., Mar. 7.

Structural parallels

1.      Miraculous rescue at the Sea (13:17-14:31); (“God will fight for you”)

Judges, 4:4-24

-   Deborah, leader of Israel during the time of the Judges (post-conquest, pre- United Monarchy under Saul, David, and Solomon)

-   General Barack’s battle with Canaanites, led by Sisera;

-   Sisera’s surprise defeat by Yael

2.      Song(s) of victory by the shore (15:1-21);

Judges 5:1-31: Glorious song of victory and redemption (same poetic form)

3.      Wandering and grumbling (15:22-17:8);

4.      Amalek (17:8-16)

Thematic parallels

Deliverance from enemies: Pharaoh & Chariots, Sisera & Canaanites (also driving chariots!); Amalek;

Song: Moses’, Miriam’s, Deborah’s

Gender: Moses & Miriam, Deborah, Yael & Barak

See Also:

Psalm 78

Amalek: Gen. 36:12, Deut. 25:17-19; Esther 3; 1^st Samuel 15; Talmud Bavli, Sanhedrin 99b

Discussion questions:

a.      What does Moses bring from Egypt with him? Why?

b.      How do the people react when they see Pharaoh’s army coming? Why? What does Moses do? What great battle have you fought to defend someone else? Who has fought on your behalf? When and why?

c.       What imagery is used to describe God in the song(s)?  What is the metaphor?  Is this a metaphor that resonates with you? Why or why not?

d.     Is there language in the song that is familiar?  Where?

e.      Notice Miriam and the women’s version of the song.  What’s absent? What’s present that wasn’t present before?  What changes?  What difference does it make? What about Deborah’s song of victory in the book of Judges? What role does gender play in these two accounts of battle and divine deliverance?

f.        “mar” means “bitter,” yet another wordplay.  What makes you bitter? What sweetens it for you?

g.      Not three days after miraculous deliverance, people are already grouching.  (In traditional circles, Torah is read publicly every 3 days – Monday, Thursday, and Shabbat – to avoid “going thirsty.”)  But then, who wouldn’t complain after 3 days in the desert without adequate water? So, when is complaint legitimate? Or not? (by the way, “reev”is related to “quarrel,” hence the place-name “meribah”)

h.      “mah” means “what,” or “how” – as in “mah nishtanah ha-lailah ha-zeh mi-kol ha-lei’lot” (how different this night is from all other nights!”  “Na” means “please,” as in “El, na r’fa na la” – God, please, heal her, please.”  Get it? When does the manna appear? When does it disappear? Why? What sustains you in times of need?

i.        What explains Moses’ rather strange behavior during the battle with Amalek? How can Moses say that God will be at war with Amalek throughout the ages when God has already said to Moses to read aloud to Joshua that he will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek?  Keep that promise to blot out the memory of Amalek in mind as Purim approaches.  Has the promise been kept or not?