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Why is God's role in marriage described as "ish milchamah" - a man of war? The concept of measured response from Kriyas Yam Suf reveals that even when personally attacked, Hashem (ה׳) responds only to help the offender. This becomes the foundation of shalom bayis - never making conflicts personal.
The shiur explores a puzzling Rashi (רש"י) in Parshas Beha'aloscha regarding Hashem (ה׳)'s judgment of Aharon and Miriam for their lashon hara against Moshe. Rashi explains that when Hashem comes to judge, He comes alone ("yarad yechidi"), unlike mortal kings who bring armies to war but few people to make peace. This leads to an even deeper question from Parshas Sotah, where Rashi explains that an unfaithful wife betrays two men: her husband and Hashem, who is called "ish" based on the verse "Hashem ish milchamah." The fundamental question emerges: why is God's role in marriage described through the terminology of war? The answer develops through analyzing the greatness of Kriyas Yam Suf. While many focus on the miracles, the true greatness was what inspired Yisro: "midah k'neged midah" - not tit-for-tat punishment, but a perfectly measured response. Every Egyptian received exactly what he individually deserved for his own tikkun, despite the fact that they were attacking Hashem's firstborn nation. Even in war, when personally attacked, Hashem responds only according to what each person needs, not based on His own honor or the affront to Him.
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Why does the Midrash connect Pharaoh's expulsion of the Jews to the mitzvah of shiluach hakan? The shiur develops a chiddush that Pharaoh's sin wasn't only drowning the children, but the insensitivity of expelling the parents afterward. The deeper analysis reveals that Pharaoh may have valued the Jews greatly and wanted to control them—making his expulsion an act of tremendous cruelty, not liberation.
Why does Moshe respond to the splitting of the sea with shirah rather than praise or thanksgiving? Rashi's use of "al libo" reveals that shirah is an emotional expression—a response of love to love. When Hashem shows personal care, the only adequate response is "I love You too," not mere gratitude or praise, and this principle applies to all relationships.
Parshas Beha'aloscha 12:9-10
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