תהלים, פרק קי״ד, פסוק ב׳

During the Exodus from Egypt, the Israelites transformed into a sovereign and holy entity under God's direct guidance. At the heart of this transformation stood the tribe of Judah, whose unique actions paved the way for the entire nation and ultimately altered the laws of nature.

This legacy of devotion was deeply rooted in the collective family or congregation of Judah [אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Some trace this courage back to Tamar, the ancestor of the tribe, who was willing to be thrown into a fire to sanctify God's name, establishing a foundation of faith for her descendants [אלשיך]. This historical readiness to sacrifice naturally came to the forefront once again during the Exodus [מלבי״ם].

The primary approach among commentators is that Judah was chosen as God's holy portion and the leader of the tribes after the people separated from the impurity of Egypt. This elevated status was earned through profound trust and self-sacrifice at the splitting of the sea. While the rest of the nation hesitated in fear of the water, Nachshon ben Aminadav, the leader of Judah, plunged into the sea until the water reached his nose. By doing so, he sanctified God's name before all, inspiring the rest of the people to follow his lead [רש״י, רד״ק, אלשיך, מלבי״ם, מאירי]. It was this very holiness and devotion that moved God to rise above the laws of nature and perform miracles on their behalf [מלבי״ם].

As the Israelites emerged from the sea, the concept of dominion took center stage, understood by commentators in two distinct ways. The first perspective attributes this rule directly to God. Having escaped the slavery of Egypt, the Israelites exclusively accepted God's authority. They became an independent kingdom, subject to no other worldly power [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד, מאירי]. In response to their faith, God demonstrated His absolute command over all creation by splitting the sea [מלבי״ם].

Conversely, a second perspective assigns this dominion to the tribe of Judah itself. As a direct reward for Nachshon's bravery in leading the nation into the water, Judah earned the right to govern the rest of the Israelites. This leadership was realized in practical ways: Judah was the first tribe to march through the desert, the first to lead in battle, and the ultimate recipient of the eternal kingship promised in Jacob's blessing [אלשיך, מאירי, רד״ק].