Beshalach (2b): A Treasure Trove

ויסע משה את העם מים סוף

And Moshe caused the people to depart from the sea.

Rashi explains that the Jews needed to be forced by Moshe to leave because the booty and treasure that was washed up on the shore was simply to enticing to give up. The ביזת הים was fantastic and they wanted to collect every last gem. This explanation seemingly casts the Jews in a shallow light.

The Zohar however gives a different explanation. We know that the שירה was an expression of tremendous prophecy. Chazal explain in detail the sublime spiritual heights that the Yidden reached at the shore. They saw and experienced visions far beyond any other prophet. After so many years of exile they never wanted to leave. They couldn't let go of the Dveikus. They thirsted to hold on to this moment forever.

How are we to reconcile these two seemingly contradictory explanations? The answer is that the true ביזת הים, the 'treasures' and 'gems' that Am Yisrael was so greedily collecting was the once-in-a-lifetime closeness being revealed then. This was the gold, this was the silver and precious stones.

To be continued...