Parsha B'Shalach (Sh'mot (Exodus) 13:17-17:16)

 

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Weekly Stick of Joseph Torah Study (1/31/21)
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Parsha B'Shalach (Sh'mot (Exodus) 13:17-17:16)
Haftorah: Shof'tim (Judges) 4:4-5:31
Stick of Joseph: 1Nefi 1:14-17 (LDS 4:1-18)

This week's Torah Parsha deals with the parting of the Red Sea, and the destruction of Pharaoh's army.

In 1 Nefi 1:14, Nefi’s brothers spar with Nefi, using a kol v’khomer (1st Rule of Hillel) argument:

And after the angel had departed, Laman and L’mu’el again began to murmur, saying, How is it possible that YHWH will deliver Lavan into our hands? Behold, he is a mighty man and he can command fifty, yes, even he can slay fifty, then why not us? (1 Nefi 1:14 (LDS 4:1-4)

But Nefi responds with his own kol v’komer (First Hule of Hillel) argument:

And it came to pass that I spoke unto my brothers, saying, Let us go up again unto Yerushalayim, and let us be faithful in keeping the mitzvot of YHWH. For behold, he is mightier than all the earth, then why not mightier than Lavan and his fifty? Yes, or even than his tens of thousands? (1 Nefi 1:15 )LDS 4:1-4))

Nefi’s brothers had also been educated by Lechi in the use of kol v’khomer. But Nefi overcomes their kol v’khomer argument with an even stronger kol v’khomer argument. Their argument was flawed, because the true argument is not to weigh the might of Nefi and his brothers against the might of Lavan, but to weigh the might of Lavan against that of YHWH!

Nefi ben Lechi then presents his account of the retrieval of the Brass Plates as an aggadic midrash on Sh'mot 14:1-31 expanding on this First Rule of Hillel argument. Nefi presents this midrash in 1Nefi 1:15 (LDS 4:1-4):

"And it came to pass that I spoke unto my brothers, saying, Let us go up again unto Yerushalayim, and let us be faithful in keeping the mitzvot of YHWH. For behold, he is mightier than all the earth, then why not mightier than Lavan and his fifty? Yes, or even than his tens of thousands? Therefore, let us go up. Let us be strong like unto Moshe, for he truly spoke unto the waters of the Red Sea and they divided hither and thither and our fathers came through out of captivity on dry ground, (Ex. 14:21) and the armies of Pharaoh did follow and were drowned in the waters of the Red Sea. Now behold, you know that this is true; and you also know that an angel has spoken unto you. Wherefore, can you doubt? Let us go up. YHWH is able to deliver us, even as our fathers, and to destroy Lavan, even as the Egyptians."

Here Nefi reveals to us a midrash whereby the armies of Pharaoh represent Lavan, and Lavan's death is symbolized by the death of Pharaoh's army. Just as Pharaoh hardened his heart, and would not let the Hebrews go, Lavan had hardened his heart and would not let go of the Brass Plates. Both Pharaoh and Lavan were given several chances, let both hardened their hearts against YHWH.

According to this midrash, The Assembly of Israel in conflict with Pharaoh represents Nefi in conflict with Lavan. Just as Moshe and the Assembly of Israel had to cross the Red Sea to reach Mount Sinai and receive the Torah, Nefi had to return to Jerusalem to acquire the Brass Plates containing the Torah. Just as it was important for the Assembly of Israel to have the Torah before entering the wilderness, cross the Jordan and enter the promised land, it was likewise essential for Nefi and his people to have the Torah (on the Brass Plates) before dwelling in the wilderness, crossing the ocean and entering their promised land:

"...I remembered the words of YHWH which he spoke unto me in the wilderness, saying that inasmuch as your seed shall keep my mitzvot, they shall prosper in the land of promise. Yes, and I also thought that they could not keep the mitzvot of YHWH according to the Torah of Moshe except they should have the Torah. And I also knew that the Torah was engraved upon the plates of brass. And again, I knew that YHWH had delivered Lavan into my hands for this cause, that I might obtain the records according to his mitzvot. Therefore, I did obey the voice of the spirit and took Lavan by the hair of the head, and I smote off his head with his own sword."
(1Nefi 1:17 (LDS 4:14-18))

Nefi is using the First Rule of Hillel and Aggadic Midrash in the typical Jewish fashion to relate to us this account, so that we are to understand that the acquisition of the Brass Plates was as profound and event for Nefi and his people, as the crossing of the Red Sea and receiving of the Torah had been for the Assembly of Israel.

This material has the ring of a true ancient Jewish record.