The Splitting of the Sea

1. The miracle of the splitting of the sea occurred after the Exodus from Egypt. The Israelites were trapped, with the Egyptians pursuing them from one side and the Sea of Reeds on the other. Hashem split the sea, allowing the Israelites to pass through on dry land. When the Egyptians followed them into the sea, the waters closed and they met their demise.

2. Contrary to popular belief, the sea split in the shape of an arc. They entered from one side, walked through the sea, and exited from the same side. The Israelites did not reach the opposite shore.

3. According to the Midrash, as the Israelites walked, the sea retreated and split further to make a path for them.

4. Many miracles occurred in the Sea of Reeds. Rabbinic literature describes the dry seabed as a magnificent mosaic, like the floors of royal palaces.

5. The walls of the pathways were transparent like diamonds, allowing each tribe to walk on its own path while still seeing one another.

6. The pillar of fire that led them shone brightly, reflecting off the transparent walls, making it seem as though they were in chambers filled with candles and lights.

7. According to tradition, the splitting of the sea occurred on the seventh night of Passover, and some have the custom of staying up at midnight to recite the Song of the Sea.

8. In this miracle, the Israelites reached a level of prophecy, leading the sages to say: "A maidservant at the sea saw what even the prophet Ezekiel did not."

9. It is stated in Pirkei Avot that ten miracles were performed for the Israelites during the splitting of the sea.

10. The Passover Haggadah states that the plague Hashem inflicted on the Egyptians at the splitting of the sea was five times as powerful as the ten plagues in Egypt, for the ten plagues are described with the phrase "the finger of God," whereas the sea event is described with "the great hand."