Study Sotah folio 37A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
the tribe of Benjamin and descended into the sea first, as it is stated: “There is Benjamin, the youngest, ruling them [rodem]” (Psalms 68:28). Do not read it as: “Ruling them [rodem]”; rather, read it as: Descending [red] into the sea [yam]. And the princes of the tribe of Judah were stoning them
Therefore, Benjamin the righteous was privileged to serve as host to the Shekhina of God, as the Temple was built in the territory of Benjamin, as it is stated in Moses’ blessing for the tribe of Benjamin: “The beloved of YHWH shall dwell in safety by Him; He covers him all the day, and He rests be
R' Yehuda said to R' Meir: That is not how the incident took place. Rather, this tribe said: I am not going into the sea first, and that tribe said: I am not going into the sea first. Then, in jumped the prince of Judah, Nahshon ben Amminadab, and descended into the sea first, accompanied by his e
And in this regard, the tradition, i.e., the Writings, explicates Nahshon’s prayer at that moment: “Save me, God; for the waters are come in even unto the soul. I am sunk in deep mire, where there is no standing…let not the water flood overwhelm me, neither let the deep swallow me up” (Psalms 69:2–
At that time, Moses was prolonging his prayer. God said to him: My beloved ones are drowning in the sea and you prolong your prayer to me? Moses said before Him: God! but what can I do? God said to him: “Speak to the children of Israel that they go forward. And you, lift up your rod and stretch ou