B'shalach 5770

Parshat B'shalach contains the famous שירת הים ‘Song of the Sea’ – the song that Moshe and the Israelites sing as the Pharoah and his pursuing minions drown at the hand of Gd. Every morning of the year we sing this song as it is part of the daily liturgy found in our siddur. In the song, Gd is referred to as איש מלחמה – literally translated as a “man of war.” The reader can easily be mislead into thinking that it is appropriate to anthropomorphize Gd in human terms as well as attribute to Gd an appetite for war. Accordingly, the commentaries are quick to inform us that איש has a meaning other than ‘man’ – it means ‘master’ or one who is expert in something. So now we understand the term as Gd is a ‘master of war’ and we already feel a different connotation of meaning for the expression – no longer is Gd a warrior, but Gd is one who understands all matters that relate to war. As the 12th century French commentator Rashbam teaches, it follows nicely that the next words of the song are ה' שמו (“Adonai is Gd’s name”) as it is this spelling of Gd’s name that is used in concert with Gd’s attribute of mercy and compassion – traits crucial yet often forgotten in the human application of war.