תהלים, פרק קל״ו, פסוק ט״ו

The destruction of the Egyptian leadership and military at the Red Sea marked the final, decisive seal of the Exodus, granting the Israelites complete physical and emotional freedom. God's intervention is portrayed as a forceful shaking, tossing, and pushing [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת ציון, מצודת דוד]. This action is compared to a person vigorously shaking out the hem of a garment to forcefully expel whatever is caught inside [מאירי]. This violent motion was directed entirely at Pharaoh and his military forces [מצודת ציון].

The sheer intensity of this shaking served a practical purpose, as it completely prevented the Egyptians from retreating and escaping [רד״ק]. Beyond the physical destruction, the turbulent nature of their drowning delivered an unmistakable message. God could have simply allowed the sea waters to return gently to their place, quietly drowning the Egyptian army. However, had He done so, Pharaoh might have mistakenly believed it was merely a natural occurrence—that the wind had simply died down and the water naturally flowed back. Instead, the active, supernatural shaking clearly demonstrated Divine providence. This ensured that both Pharaoh and the Israelites would recognize God's hand without a doubt, bringing a measure of correction to the world [אלשיך].

The conclusion of this event is defined as an act of eternal kindness. The core of this kindness lies in the fact that only through the total defeat of their pursuers did the Israelites finally become truly free [אבן עזרא]. Furthermore, this great kindness offered a profound psychological release. Once the Israelites witnessed the downfall of their enemies, the deep-seated fear of their former oppressors was permanently removed from their hearts [רד״ק].