Shabbos Parashas Beshallach - 5777

Shabbos Parashas Beshallach - 5777

Rabbi Hal Miller

Moshe said to Yehoshua, "Choose men for us and go out to battle Amalek. Tomorrow

I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of G-d in my hand." [Shemos 17:9]

There are many cases of wars in the Torah. This seems to be the most unusual war plan

of them all. What is Moshe trying to accomplish here?

Ramban concentrates with our verse on Moshe's renaming of Hoshea to Yehoshua. He

explains that this is to ensure the people know that this is the same fellow who went on the

mission with the spies later on in the narrative. This reasoning would fit here based on the

understanding of other commentators that the renaming is to include the letters of the

Name of G-d, thus protecting Yehoshua in the upcoming battle. But why would he need

that extra protection? Wasn't this war against Amalek already not only sanctioned by G-d

but in fact directed by Him? Wouldn't that be enough to ensure He watched over Yehoshua?

Ibn Ezra discusses the fact that the Jews were not trained in warfare, despite possessing

all the weaponry they liberated from Egypt. The Amalekites were expert soldiers. Thus, the

Jews needed something more than just a general, they needed G-d's help.

Abarbanel sees it exactly opposite. He refers to our verse to prove the need for hishtadlus,

for our making our own efforts to do things in a natural way, rather than sit back and wait

for someone (presumably G-d) to do them for us in a miraculous way. His view is that even

though the Jews were untrained, they were required to go out to face the enemy. Moshe

was afraid that the people may have lost G-d's protection through their constant sinning

and complaining, and would have to make their own way. Why did he send Yehoshua

instead of leading them himself? Abarbanel says that Moshe felt the need to pray for that

miraculous salvation in addition.

So, what is the staff about? Rav Hirsch writes, "Attacked by Amalek, Yisrael had to wage

war, but it is not Yisrael's sword, rather Moshe's staff that conquers Amalek, and it is not

any magic power in the staff but the emunah which is expressed and brought to the minds

of the people by the uplifted hand."

Our verse teaches that we must always act as though things depended on our actions,

but believe as though things depended solely on G-d. Our actions alone will not suffice,

but belief alone is not enough for G-d to take the steps necessary to accomplish whatever

we are looking at. He will only act when we do both, act and believe.