תהלים, פרק קי״ד, פסוק ה׳

A sudden, dramatic shift in the natural world prompts a direct challenge to the elements themselves. When the waters of the earth behave in ways that defy all physical laws, it invites a profound question about what could cause such a spectacular disruption. The poet speaks directly to the forces of nature, asking them to explain the reason for this miraculous occurrence [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד].

The primary approach among commentators is that this rhetorical inquiry is not a search for unknown information. Rather, it sets the stage to reveal that the sea and the Jordan River did not abandon their natural courses by chance. Their behavior was a direct result of God's will. Nature itself was reacting to God's presence, responding like an anxious servant trembling in fear before His master [רד״ק, מאירי]. God chose to intervene in the physical world and alter the laws of nature specifically because of His unique bond and closeness to the Israelites [מלבי״ם].

The retreat of the waters indicates that the sea transformed completely into dry land as its waters dried up [אבן עזרא]. Furthermore, the events went far beyond the boundaries of an expected miracle. The sea did not merely split, which was a condition placed upon it at the dawn of creation; it actively fled. In a similar display of wonder, the Jordan River did not simply divide into two parts. Instead, it performed an extraordinary feat by completely turning backward and retracing its own path [אלשיך].