ישעיהו, פרק נ״א, פסוק י׳

Looking back at history often serves as a powerful plea for the future. The appeal to God's historical might, specifically the miracle of the splitting of the Red Sea, acts as a profound prayer for ultimate redemption. The prophet calls upon the power of the Divine arm, recalling that the rescue during the Exodus from Egypt was born of pure Divine kindness and overwhelming force, rather than being earned through the righteousness of the Israelites [מלבי״ם]. To emphasize the sheer magnitude of this Divine action at the sea, the core idea is repeated using different expressions [רד״ק, אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד].

The miracle itself unfolded as a distinct, two-step process [מלבי״ם]. The first stage involved actively drying up the water [מצודת דוד]. This drying force was directed at the great deep, targeting the largest and most profound depths of the sea [מצודת ציון]. The second stage went beyond simply removing the water. Instead of leaving behind a muddy and treacherous ocean floor, God transformed the deep seabed into a dry, straight, and comfortable path [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל]. This ensured that the Israelites, newly freed from Egypt, could cross with ease [מצודת דוד].

Rooted in this historical memory, the focus then shifts toward the future. The prophet prays that just as God acted with such definitive power in the past, He will do so again at the end of days for His redeemed [ביאור שטיינזלץ, אברבנאל]. However, this future redemption will be fundamentally different. Unlike the generation of the Exodus who ultimately died in the desert, or later generations who entered the Land of Israel only to face exile, the final redemption will be eternal. It promises to bring endless joy, completely free from sorrow and sighing. Ultimately, this lasting salvation will inspire the entire world to believe in God, serving as a crown of glory upon the heads of the Israelites [אברבנאל].