Save "Shirat HaYam: Writing on the Wall and More"
Shirat HaYam: Writing on the Wall and More
Shirat HaYam (The Song of the Sea)
Below is the Hebrew text of Shirat HaYam (The Song of the Sea; Ex. 15:1-19).


(א) אָ֣ז יָשִֽׁיר־מֹשֶׁה֩ וּבְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת־הַשִּׁירָ֤ה הַזֹּאת֙ לַֽיקוק וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֵאמֹ֑ר אָשִׁ֤ירָה לַֽיקוק כִּֽי־גָאֹ֣ה גָּאָ֔ה ס֥וּס וְרֹכְב֖וֹ רָמָ֥ה בַיָּֽם׃ (ב) עׇזִּ֤י וְזִמְרָת֙ יָ֔-הּ וַֽיְהִי־לִ֖י לִֽישׁוּעָ֑ה זֶ֤ה אֵ-לִי֙ וְאַנְוֵ֔הוּ אֱלֹקֵ֥י אָבִ֖י וַאֲרֹמְמֶֽנְהוּ׃ (ג) יקוק אִ֣ישׁ מִלְחָמָ֑ה יקוק שְׁמֽוֹ׃ (ד) מַרְכְּבֹ֥ת פַּרְעֹ֛ה וְחֵיל֖וֹ יָרָ֣ה בַיָּ֑ם וּמִבְחַ֥ר שָֽׁלִשָׁ֖יו טֻבְּע֥וּ בְיַם־סֽוּף׃ (ה) תְּהֹמֹ֖ת יְכַסְיֻ֑מוּ יָרְד֥וּ בִמְצוֹלֹ֖ת כְּמוֹ־אָֽבֶן׃ (ו) יְמִֽינְךָ֣ יקוק נֶאְדָּרִ֖י בַּכֹּ֑חַ יְמִֽינְךָ֥ יקוק תִּרְעַ֥ץ אוֹיֵֽב׃ (ז) וּבְרֹ֥ב גְּאוֹנְךָ֖ תַּהֲרֹ֣ס קָמֶ֑יךָ תְּשַׁלַּח֙ חֲרֹ֣נְךָ֔ יֹאכְלֵ֖מוֹ כַּקַּֽשׁ׃ (ח) וּבְר֤וּחַ אַפֶּ֙יךָ֙ נֶ֣עֶרְמוּ מַ֔יִם נִצְּב֥וּ כְמוֹ־נֵ֖ד נֹזְלִ֑ים קָֽפְא֥וּ תְהֹמֹ֖ת בְּלֶב־יָֽם׃ (ט) אָמַ֥ר אוֹיֵ֛ב אֶרְדֹּ֥ף אַשִּׂ֖יג אֲחַלֵּ֣ק שָׁלָ֑ל תִּמְלָאֵ֣מוֹ נַפְשִׁ֔י אָרִ֣יק חַרְבִּ֔י תּוֹרִישֵׁ֖מוֹ יָדִֽי׃ (י) נָשַׁ֥פְתָּ בְרוּחֲךָ֖ כִּסָּ֣מוֹ יָ֑ם צָֽלְלוּ֙ כַּֽעוֹפֶ֔רֶת בְּמַ֖יִם אַדִּירִֽים׃ (יא) מִֽי־כָמֹ֤כָה בָּֽאֵלִם֙ יקוק מִ֥י כָּמֹ֖כָה נֶאְדָּ֣ר בַּקֹּ֑דֶשׁ נוֹרָ֥א תְהִלֹּ֖ת עֹ֥שֵׂה פֶֽלֶא׃ (יב) נָטִ֙יתָ֙ יְמִ֣ינְךָ֔ תִּבְלָעֵ֖מוֹ אָֽרֶץ׃ (יג) נָחִ֥יתָ בְחַסְדְּךָ֖ עַם־ז֣וּ גָּאָ֑לְתָּ נֵהַ֥לְתָּ בְעׇזְּךָ֖ אֶל־נְוֵ֥ה קׇדְשֶֽׁךָ׃ (יד) שָֽׁמְע֥וּ עַמִּ֖ים יִרְגָּז֑וּן חִ֣יל אָחַ֔ז יֹשְׁבֵ֖י פְּלָֽשֶׁת׃ (טו) אָ֤ז נִבְהֲלוּ֙ אַלּוּפֵ֣י אֱד֔וֹם אֵילֵ֣י מוֹאָ֔ב יֹֽאחֲזֵ֖מוֹ רָ֑עַד נָמֹ֕גוּ כֹּ֖ל יֹשְׁבֵ֥י כְנָֽעַן׃ (טז) תִּפֹּ֨ל עֲלֵיהֶ֤ם אֵימָ֙תָה֙ וָפַ֔חַד בִּגְדֹ֥ל זְרוֹעֲךָ֖ יִדְּמ֣וּ כָּאָ֑בֶן עַד־יַעֲבֹ֤ר עַמְּךָ֙ יקוק עַֽד־יַעֲבֹ֖ר עַם־ז֥וּ קָנִֽיתָ׃ (יז) תְּבִאֵ֗מוֹ וְתִטָּעֵ֙מוֹ֙ בְּהַ֣ר נַחֲלָֽתְךָ֔ מָכ֧וֹן לְשִׁבְתְּךָ֛ פָּעַ֖לְתָּ יקוק מִקְּדָ֕שׁ אדושם כּוֹנְנ֥וּ יָדֶֽיךָ׃ (יח) יקוק ׀ יִמְלֹ֖ךְ לְעֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃ (יט) כִּ֣י בָא֩ ס֨וּס פַּרְעֹ֜ה בְּרִכְבּ֤וֹ וּבְפָרָשָׁיו֙ בַּיָּ֔ם וַיָּ֧שֶׁב יקוק עֲלֵהֶ֖ם אֶת־מֵ֣י הַיָּ֑ם וּבְנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל הָלְכ֥וּ בַיַּבָּשָׁ֖ה בְּת֥וֹךְ הַיָּֽם׃ {פ}

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Shirat HaYam as Presented in the Torah
Below is the Hebrew text of Shirat HaYam as it appears (approximately) in the Torah.


אָ֣ז יָשִֽׁיר מֹשֶׁה֩ וּבְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת הַשִּׁירָ֤ה הַזֹּאת֙ לַֽיקוק וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ
לֵאמֹ֑ר אָשִׁ֤ירָה לַֽיקוק כִּֽי גָאֹ֣ה גָּאָ֔ה ס֥וּס
וְרֹכְב֖וֹ רָמָ֥ה בַיָּֽם׃ עׇזִּ֤י וְזִמְרָת֙ יָ֔-הּ וַֽיְהִי לִ֖י
לִֽישׁוּעָ֑ה זֶ֤ה אֵ-לִי֙ וְאַנְוֵ֔הוּ אֱלֹקֵ֥י
אָבִ֖י וַאֲרֹמְמֶֽנְהוּ׃ יקוק אִ֣ישׁ מִלְחָמָ֑ה יקוק
שְׁמֽוֹ׃ מַרְכְּבֹ֥ת פַּרְעֹ֛ה וְחֵיל֖וֹ יָרָ֣ה בַיָּ֑ם וּמִבְחַ֥ר
שָֽׁלִשָׁ֖יו טֻבְּע֥וּ בְיַם סֽוּף׃ תְּהֹמֹ֖ת יְכַסְיֻ֑מוּ יָרְד֥וּ בִמְצוֹלֹ֖ת כְּמוֹ
אָֽבֶן׃ יְמִֽינְךָ֣ יקוק נֶאְדָּרִ֖י בַּכֹּ֑חַ יְמִֽינְךָ֥
יקוק תִּרְעַ֥ץ אוֹיֵֽב׃ וּבְרֹ֥ב גְּאוֹנְךָ֖ תַּהֲרֹ֣ס
קָמֶ֑יךָ תְּשַׁלַּח֙ חֲרֹ֣נְךָ֔ יֹאכְלֵ֖מוֹ כַּקַּֽשׁ׃ וּבְר֤וּחַ
אַפֶּ֙יךָ֙ נֶ֣עֶרְמוּ מַ֔יִם נִצְּב֥וּ כְמוֹ נֵ֖ד
נֹזְלִ֑ים קָֽפְא֥וּ תְהֹמֹ֖ת בְּלֶב יָֽם׃ אָמַ֥ר
אוֹיֵ֛ב אֶרְדֹּ֥ף אַשִּׂ֖יג אֲחַלֵּ֣ק שָׁלָ֑ל תִּמְלָאֵ֣מוֹ
נַפְשִׁ֔י אָרִ֣יק חַרְבִּ֔י תּוֹרִישֵׁ֖מוֹ יָדִֽי׃ נָשַׁ֥פְתָּ
בְרוּחֲךָ֖ כִּסָּ֣מוֹ יָ֑ם צָֽלְלוּ֙ כַּֽעוֹפֶ֔רֶת בְּמַ֖יִם
אַדִּירִֽים׃ מִֽי כָמֹ֤כָה בָּֽאֵלִם֙ יקוק מִ֥י
כָּמֹ֖כָה נֶאְדָּ֣ר בַּקֹּ֑דֶשׁ נוֹרָ֥א תְהִלֹּ֖ת עֹ֥שֵׂה
פֶֽלֶא׃ נָטִ֙יתָ֙ יְמִ֣ינְךָ֔ תִּבְלָעֵ֖מוֹ אָֽרֶץ׃ נָחִ֥יתָ
בְחַסְדְּךָ֖ עַם ז֣וּ גָּאָ֑לְתָּ נֵהַ֥לְתָּ בְעׇזְּךָ֖ אֶל נְוֵ֥ה
קׇדְשֶֽׁךָ׃ שָֽׁמְע֥וּ עַמִּ֖ים יִרְגָּז֑וּן חִ֣יל
אָחַ֔ז יֹשְׁבֵ֖י פְּלָֽשֶׁת׃ אָ֤ז נִבְהֲלוּ֙ אַלּוּפֵ֣י
אֱד֔וֹם אֵילֵ֣י מוֹאָ֔ב יֹֽאחֲזֵ֖מוֹ רָ֑עַ נָמֹ֕גוּ
כֹּ֖ל יֹשְׁבֵ֥י כְנָֽעַן׃ תִּפֹּ֨ל עֲלֵיהֶ֤ם אֵימָ֙תָה֙
וָפַ֔חַד בִּגְדֹ֥ל זְרוֹעֲךָ֖ יִדְּמ֣וּ כָּאָ֑בֶן עַד
יַעֲבֹ֤ר עַמְּךָ֙ יקוק עַֽד יַעֲבֹ֖ר עַם ז֥וּ
קָנִֽיתָ׃ תְּבִאֵ֗מוֹ וְתִטָּעֵ֙מוֹ֙ בְּהַ֣ר נַחֲלָֽתְךָ֔ מָכ֧וֹן
לְשִׁבְתְּךָ֛ פָּעַ֖לְתָּ יקוק מִקְּדָ֕שׁ אדושם כּוֹנְנ֥וּ
יָדֶֽיךָ׃ יקוק ׀ יִמְלֹ֖ךְ לְעֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃ כִּ֣י
בָא֩ ס֨וּס פַּרְעֹ֜ה בְּרִכְבּ֤וֹ וּבְפָרָשָׁיו֙ בַּיָּ֔ם וַיָּ֧שֶׁב יקוק עֲלֵהֶ֖ם אֶת מֵ֣י
הַיָּ֑ם וּבְנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל הָלְכ֥וּ בַיַּבָּשָׁ֖ה בְּת֥וֹךְ הַיָּֽם

(1) Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to יקוק. They said: I will sing to יקוק, for He has triumphed gloriously; Horse and driver He has hurled into the sea. (2)יקוק is my strength and might; He is become my deliverance. This is my God and I will enshrine Him; The God of my father’s [house], and I will exalt Him. (3)יקוק, the Warrior— יקוק is His name! (4) Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; And the pick of his officers Are drowned in the Sea of Reeds. (5) The deeps covered them; They went down into the depths like a stone. (6) Your right hand, יקוק, glorious in power, Your right hand, יקוק, shatters the foe! (7) In Your great triumph You break Your opponents; You send forth Your fury, it consumes them like straw. (8) At the blast of Your nostrils the waters piled up, The floods stood straight like a wall; The deeps froze in the heart of the sea. (9) The foe said, “I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall have its fill of them. I will bare my sword—My hand shall subdue them.” (10) You made Your wind blow, the sea covered them; They sank like lead in the majestic waters. (11) Who is like You, יקוק, among the celestials; Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in splendor, working wonders! (12) You put out Your right hand, The earth swallowed them. (13) In Your love You lead the people You redeemed; In Your strength You guide them to Your holy abode. (14) The peoples hear, they tremble; Agony grips the dwellers in Philistia. (15) Now are the clans of Edom dismayed; The tribes of Moab—trembling grips them; All the dwellers in Canaan are aghast. (16) Terror and dread descend upon them; Through the might of Your arm they are still as stone—Till Your people cross over, יקוק, Till Your people cross whom You have ransomed. (17) You will bring them and plant them in Your own mountain, The place You made to dwell in, יקוק, The sanctuary, O my lord, which Your hands established. (18) יקוק will reign for ever and ever! (19) For the horses of Pharaoh, with his chariots and riders, went into the sea; and יקוק turned back on them the waters of the sea; but the Israelites marched on dry ground in the midst of the sea.

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(כב)וַיָּבֹ֧אוּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל בְּת֥וֹךְ הַיָּ֖ם בַּיַּבָּשָׁ֑ה וְהַמַּ֤יִם לָהֶם֙ חוֹמָ֔ה מִֽימִינָ֖ם וּמִשְּׂמֹאלָֽם׃(כג) וַיִּרְדְּפ֤וּ מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ אַחֲרֵיהֶ֔ם כֹּ֚ל ס֣וּס פַּרְעֹ֔ה רִכְבּ֖וֹ וּפָרָשָׁ֑יו אֶל־תּ֖וֹךְ הַיָּֽם׃ (כד) וַֽיְהִי֙ בְּאַשְׁמֹ֣רֶת הַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיַּשְׁקֵ֤ף יקוק אֶל־מַחֲנֵ֣ה מִצְרַ֔יִם בְּעַמּ֥וּד אֵ֖שׁ וְעָנָ֑ן וַיָּ֕הׇם אֵ֖ת מַחֲנֵ֥ה מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (כה) וַיָּ֗סַר אֵ֚ת אֹפַ֣ן מַרְכְּבֹתָ֔יו וַֽיְנַהֲגֵ֖הוּ בִּכְבֵדֻ֑ת וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מִצְרַ֗יִם אָנ֙וּסָה֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּ֣י יקוק נִלְחָ֥ם לָהֶ֖ם בְּמִצְרָֽיִם׃ {פ} (כו) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יקוק אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה נְטֵ֥ה אֶת־יָדְךָ֖ עַל־הַיָּ֑ם וְיָשֻׁ֤בוּ הַמַּ֙יִם֙ עַל־מִצְרַ֔יִם עַל־רִכְבּ֖וֹ וְעַל־פָּרָשָֽׁיו׃ (כז) וַיֵּט֩ מֹשֶׁ֨ה אֶת־יָד֜וֹ עַל־הַיָּ֗ם וַיָּ֨שׇׁב הַיָּ֜ם לִפְנ֥וֹת בֹּ֙קֶר֙ לְאֵ֣יתָנ֔וֹ וּמִצְרַ֖יִם נָסִ֣ים לִקְרָאת֑וֹ וַיְנַעֵ֧ר יקוק אֶת־מִצְרַ֖יִם בְּת֥וֹךְ הַיָּֽם׃ (כח) וַיָּשֻׁ֣בוּ הַמַּ֗יִם וַיְכַסּ֤וּ אֶת־הָרֶ֙כֶב֙ וְאֶת־הַפָּ֣רָשִׁ֔ים לְכֹל֙ חֵ֣יל פַּרְעֹ֔ה הַבָּאִ֥ים אַחֲרֵיהֶ֖ם בַּיָּ֑ם לֹֽא־נִשְׁאַ֥ר בָּהֶ֖ם עַד־אֶחָֽד׃ (כט)וּבְנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל הָלְכ֥וּ בַיַּבָּשָׁ֖ה בְּת֣וֹךְ הַיָּ֑ם וְהַמַּ֤יִם לָהֶם֙ חֹמָ֔ה מִֽימִינָ֖ם וּמִשְּׂמֹאלָֽם׃

(22) and the Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.(23) The Egyptians came in pursuit after them into the sea, all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and riders. (24) At the morning watch, יקוק looked down upon the Egyptian army from a pillar of fire and cloud, and threw the Egyptian army into panic. (25) [God] locked the wheels of their chariots so that they moved forward with difficulty. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the Israelites, for יקוק is fighting for them against Egypt.” (26) Then יקוק said to Moses, “Hold out your arm over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians and upon their chariots and upon their riders.” (27) Moses held out his arm over the sea, and at daybreak the sea returned to its normal state, and the Egyptians fled at its approach. But יקוק hurled the Egyptians into the sea. (28) The waters turned back and covered the chariots and the riders—Pharaoh’s entire army that followed them into the sea; not one of them remained. (29) But the Israelites had marched through the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.

Does the structured text resemble anything in particular?


Does structuring the text of Shirat HaYam violate Deut. 4:2?


(ב) לֹ֣א תֹסִ֗פוּ עַל־הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אָנֹכִי֙ מְצַוֶּ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֔ם וְלֹ֥א תִגְרְע֖וּ מִמֶּ֑נּוּ לִשְׁמֹ֗ר אֶת־מִצְוֺת֙ יקוק אֱלֹֽקֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶֽם׃

(2) You shall not add anything to what I command you or take anything away from it, but keep the commandments of your God יקוק that I enjoin upon you.

Without adding to or subtracting from the Torah any word (דָּבָר), providing structure to the text allows for the appearance of "writing on the wall", where none existed before.


Writing on the Wall: Part 1
Let's look at the first lines of Shirat HaYam as presented in the Torah.


אָ֣ז יָשִֽׁיר מֹשֶׁה֩ וּבְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת הַשִּׁירָ֤ה הַזֹּאת֙ לַֽיקוק וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ
לֵאמֹ֑ר אָשִׁ֤ירָה לַֽיקוק כִּֽי גָאֹ֣ה גָּאָ֔ה ס֥וּס
וְרֹכְב֖וֹ רָמָ֥ה בַיָּֽם׃ עׇזִּ֤י וְזִמְרָת֙ יָ֔-הּ וַֽיְהִי לִ֖י
לִֽישׁוּעָ֑ה זֶ֤ה אֵ-לִי֙ וְאַנְוֵ֔הוּ אֱלֹקֵ֥י
אָבִ֖י וַאֲרֹמְמֶֽנְהוּ׃ יקוק אִ֣ישׁ מִלְחָמָ֑ה יקוק
שְׁמֽוֹ׃

(1) Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to יקוק. They said: I will sing to יקוק, for He has triumphed gloriously; Horse and driver He has hurled into the sea. (2)יקוק is my strength and might; He is become my deliverance. This is my God and I will enshrine Him; The God of my father’s [house], and I will exalt Him. (3)יקוק, the Warrior— יקוק is His name!

What do you see when you look at these first lines?


The first four first letters spell אלול downward, or לולא in reverse upward.


Where else do we find לולא in the Tanakh?


(י) כִּ֖י לוּלֵ֣א הִתְמַהְמָ֑הְנוּ כִּֽי־עַתָּ֥ה שַׁ֖בְנוּ זֶ֥ה פַעֲמָֽיִם׃

(10) For we could have been there and back twice if we had not dawdled.”

(יח) וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ לוֹ֩ אַנְשֵׁ֨י הָעִ֜יר בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י בְּטֶ֙רֶם֙ יָבֹ֣א הַחַ֔רְסָה מַה־מָּת֣וֹק מִדְּבַ֔שׁ וּמֶ֥ה עַ֖ז מֵאֲרִ֑י וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֔ם לוּלֵא֙ חֲרַשְׁתֶּ֣ם בְּעֶגְלָתִ֔י לֹ֥א מְצָאתֶ֖ם חִידָתִֽי׃

(18) On the seventh day, before the sunset, the townspeople said to him: “What is sweeter than honey, And what is stronger than a lion?” He responded: “Had you not plowed with my heifer, You would not have guessed my riddle!”

(כז) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יוֹאָ֔ב חַ֚י הָאֱלֹקִ֔ים כִּ֥י לוּלֵ֖א דִּבַּ֑רְתָּ כִּ֣י אָ֤ז מֵֽהַבֹּ֙קֶר֙ נַעֲלָ֣ה הָעָ֔ם אִ֖ישׁ מֵאַחֲרֵ֥י אָחִֽיו׃

(27) And Joab replied, “As God lives, if you hadn’t spoken up, the troops would have given up the pursuit of their kinsmen only the next morning.”

(יג) לׅׄוּׅׄלֵׅ֗ׄאׅׄ הֶ֭אֱמַנְתִּי לִרְא֥וֹת בְּֽטוּב־יקוק בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חַיִּֽים׃

(13) Had I not the assurance that I would enjoy the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living…

These uses of לוּלֵא suggest a meaning close to "if not for" or "unless".


The appearance of לוּלֵא in Psalm 27 is unique. Does the presentation of dots above and below לׅׄוּׅׄלֵׅ֗ׄאׅׄ) לוּלֵא) in Psalm 27 bear any resemblance to Shirat HaYam or its context?


(Consider rotating לׅׄוּׅׄלֵׅ֗ׄאׅׄ ninety degrees clockwise and comparing that to the first letters of the first four lines of Shirat HaYam above, with Ex. 14:22 and 14:29 in mind.)


Psalm 27 and Shirat HaYam
Psalm 27 shares similar themes [number coded] with Shirat HaYam (Ex. 15:1-19); these include a declaration of God [1] being one's savior [2] and strength [3] and God [1] defeating one's foes [4] by waging war [5] (see below). Their thematic similarities can be discerned from the initial verses of each composition, but Psalm 27 and Shirat HaYam then diverge farther into their compositions.


(א) לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ [1]יקוק [1]׀ אוֹרִ֣י [2]וְ֭יִשְׁעִי[2] מִמִּ֣י אִירָ֑א [1]יקוק[1] [3]מָעוֹז־חַ֝יַּ֗י[3] מִמִּ֥י אֶפְחָֽד׃ (ב) בִּקְרֹ֤ב עָלַ֨י ׀ מְרֵעִים֮ לֶאֱכֹ֢ל אֶת־בְּשָׂ֫רִ֥י צָרַ֣י [4]וְאֹיְבַ֣י לִ֑י הֵ֖מָּה כָשְׁל֣וּ וְנָפָֽלוּ[4]׃ (ג) אִם־תַּחֲנֶ֬ה עָלַ֨י ׀ מַחֲנֶה֮ לֹא־יִירָ֢א לִ֫בִּ֥י אִם־תָּק֣וּם עָ֭לַי [5]מִלְחָמָ֑ה[5] בְּ֝זֹ֗את אֲנִ֣י בוֹטֵֽחַ׃

(1) Of David. The LORD is my light and my help; whom should I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life, whom should I dread? (2) When evil men assail me to devour my flesh—it is they, my foes and my enemies, who stumble and fall. (3) Should an army besiege me, my heart would have no fear; should war beset me, still would I be confident.

(א) אָ֣ז יָשִֽׁיר־מֹשֶׁה֩ וּבְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת־הַשִּׁירָ֤ה הַזֹּאת֙ לַֽיקוק וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ
לֵאמֹ֑ר אָשִׁ֤ירָה לַֽיקוק כִּֽי־גָאֹ֣ה גָּאָ֔ה [4]ס֥וּס
וְרֹכְב֖וֹ רָמָ֥ה בַיָּֽם׃[4] (ב)[3]עׇזִּ֤י[3] וְזִמְרָת֙ [1]יָ֔-הּ[1] [2]וַֽיְהִי־לִ֖י
לִֽישׁוּעָ֑ה[2] זֶ֤ה אֵ-לִי֙ וְאַנְוֵ֔הוּ אֱלֹקֵ֥י
אָבִ֖י וַאֲרֹמְמֶֽנְהוּ׃ (ג) [1]יקוק[1] [5]אִ֣ישׁ מִלְחָמָ֑ה[5] יקוק שְׁמֽוֹ׃


(1) Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to יקוק. They said: I will sing to יקוק, for He has triumphed gloriously; Horse and driver He has hurled into the sea. (2)יקוק is my strength and might; He is become my deliverance. This is my God and I will enshrine Him; The God of my father’s [house], and I will exalt Him. (3)יקוק, the Warrior— יקוק is His name!

Shirat HaYam is connected to Psalm 27 through לולא and the similarity of themes at the beginning of their compositions.


Writing on the Wall: Part 2
Besides the first letters of the first four lines of the structured text of Shirat HaYam (אלול-לולא), there is more "writing" to be found on the "wall".


It is worth looking at the first letters of the 15 "center bricks" (i.e., the middle section of text on the 15 lines with two gaps bounded by one leading word and one ending word):


אָ֣ז יָשִֽׁיר מֹשֶׁה֩ וּבְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת הַשִּׁירָ֤ה הַזֹּאת֙ לַֽיקוק וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ
לֵאמֹ֑ר אָשִׁ֤ירָה לַֽיקוק כִּֽי גָאֹ֣ה גָּאָ֔ה ס֥וּס
וְרֹכְב֖וֹ רָמָ֥ה בַיָּֽם׃ עׇזִּ֤י וְזִמְרָת֙ יָ֔-הּ וַֽיְהִי לִ֖י
לִֽישׁוּעָ֑ה זֶ֤ה אֵ-לִי֙ וְאַנְוֵ֔הוּ אֱלֹקֵ֥י
אָבִ֖י וַאֲרֹמְמֶֽנְהוּ׃ יקוק אִ֣ישׁ מִלְחָמָ֑ה יקוק
שְׁמֽוֹ׃ מַרְכְּבֹ֥ת פַּרְעֹ֛ה וְחֵיל֖וֹ יָרָ֣ה בַיָּ֑ם וּמִבְחַ֥ר
שָֽׁלִשָׁ֖יו טֻבְּע֥וּ בְיַם סֽוּף׃ תְּהֹמֹ֖ת יְכַסְיֻ֑מוּ יָרְד֥וּ בִמְצוֹלֹ֖ת כְּמוֹ
אָֽבֶן׃ יְמִֽינְךָ֣ יקוק נֶאְדָּרִ֖י בַּכֹּ֑חַ יְמִֽינְךָ֥
יקוק תִּרְעַ֥ץ אוֹיֵֽב׃ וּבְרֹ֥ב גְּאוֹנְךָ֖ תַּהֲרֹ֣ס
קָמֶ֑יךָ תְּשַׁלַּח֙ חֲרֹ֣נְךָ֔ יֹאכְלֵ֖מוֹ כַּקַּֽשׁ׃ וּבְר֤וּחַ
אַפֶּ֙יךָ֙ נֶ֣עֶרְמוּ מַ֔יִם נִצְּב֥וּ כְמוֹ נֵ֖ד
נֹזְלִ֑ים קָֽפְא֥וּ תְהֹמֹ֖ת בְּלֶב יָֽם׃ אָמַ֥ר
אוֹיֵ֛ב אֶרְדֹּ֥ף אַשִּׂ֖יג אֲחַלֵּ֣ק שָׁלָ֑ל תִּמְלָאֵ֣מוֹ
נַפְשִׁ֔י אָרִ֣יק חַרְבִּ֔י תּוֹרִישֵׁ֖מוֹ יָדִֽי׃ נָשַׁ֥פְתָּ
בְרוּחֲךָ֖ כִּסָּ֣מוֹ יָ֑ם צָֽלְלוּ֙ כַּֽעוֹפֶ֔רֶת בְּמַ֖יִם
אַדִּירִֽים׃ מִֽי כָמֹ֤כָה בָּֽאֵלִם֙ יקוק מִ֥י
כָּמֹ֖כָה נֶאְדָּ֣ר בַּקֹּ֑דֶשׁ נוֹרָ֥א תְהִלֹּ֖ת עֹ֥שֵׂה
פֶֽלֶא׃ נָטִ֙יתָ֙ יְמִ֣ינְךָ֔ תִּבְלָעֵ֖מוֹ אָֽרֶץ׃ נָחִ֥יתָ
בְחַסְדְּךָ֖ עַם ז֣וּ גָּאָ֑לְתָּ נֵהַ֥לְתָּ בְעׇזְּךָ֖ אֶל נְוֵ֥ה
קׇדְשֶֽׁךָ׃ שָֽׁמְע֥וּ עַמִּ֖ים יִרְגָּז֑וּן חִ֣יל
אָחַ֔ז יֹשְׁבֵ֖י פְּלָֽשֶׁת׃ אָ֤ז נִבְהֲלוּ֙ אַלּוּפֵ֣י
אֱד֔וֹם אֵילֵ֣י מוֹאָ֔ב יֹֽאחֲזֵ֖מוֹ רָ֑עַ נָמֹ֕גוּ
כֹּ֖ל יֹשְׁבֵ֥י כְנָֽעַן׃ תִּפֹּ֨ל עֲלֵיהֶ֤ם אֵימָ֙תָה֙
וָפַ֔חַד בִּגְדֹ֥ל זְרוֹעֲךָ֖ יִדְּמ֣וּ כָּאָ֑בֶן עַד
יַעֲבֹ֤ר עַמְּךָ֙ יקוק עַֽד יַעֲבֹ֖ר עַם ז֥וּ
קָנִֽיתָ׃ תְּבִאֵ֗מוֹ וְתִטָּעֵ֙מוֹ֙ בְּהַ֣ר נַחֲלָֽתְךָ֔ מָכ֧וֹן
לְשִׁבְתְּךָ֛ פָּעַ֖לְתָּ יקוק מִקְּדָ֕שׁ אדושם כּוֹנְנ֥וּ
יָדֶֽיךָ׃ יקוק ׀ יִמְלֹ֖ךְ לְעֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃ כִּ֣י
בָא֩ ס֨וּס פַּרְעֹ֜ה בְּרִכְבּ֤וֹ וּבְפָרָשָׁיו֙ בַּיָּ֔ם וַיָּ֧שֶׁב יקוק עֲלֵהֶ֖ם אֶת מֵ֣י
הַיָּ֑ם וּבְנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל הָלְכ֥וּ בַיַּבָּשָׁ֖ה בְּת֥וֹךְ הַיָּֽם


Downwards, these 15 letters are: א-ז-מ-י-ת-ק-א-מ-נ-ש-א-ב-ת-י-ו.


This string of letters, with only the appropriate addition of spaces, seems to pose a question consisting of five words: ?אָז מִי תָּקִא מִנְּשׂא בָּתָּיו. Why should such a string of 15 letters have the potential to make any sense at all?


The first two words can be found in Shirat HaYam itself, as well as elsewhere in the Tanakh. The last three words of the question occur exactly once in the Tanakh, respectively:


(כה) וַתִּטְמָ֣א הָאָ֔רֶץ וָאֶפְקֹ֥ד עֲוֺנָ֖הּ עָלֶ֑יהָ וַתָּקִ֥א הָאָ֖רֶץ אֶת־יֹשְׁבֶֽיהָ׃

(25) Thus the land became defiled; and I called it to account for its iniquity, and the land spewed out its inhabitants.

(יג) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר קַ֖יִן אֶל־יקוק גָּד֥וֹל עֲוֺנִ֖י מִנְּשֹֽׂא׃

(13) Cain said to יקוק, “My punishment is too great to bear!

(יא) וַיִּתֵּ֣ן דָּוִ֣יד לִשְׁלֹמֹ֣ה בְנ֡וֹ אֶת־תַּבְנִ֣ית הָאוּלָם֩ וְֽאֶת־בָּ֨תָּ֜יו וְגַנְזַכָּ֧יו וַעֲלִיֹּתָ֛יו וַחֲדָרָ֥יו הַפְּנִימִ֖ים וּבֵ֥ית הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃

(11) David gave his son Solomon the plan of the porch and its houses, its storerooms and its upper chambers and inner chambers; and of the place of the Ark-cover;

Although the verb תָּקִא is used above in the third-person female (הָאָרֶץ) in the future tense (without the reversing וַ), it is also future tense for second-person male (c.f., future and past tenses in Lev. 18:28).


(כח) וְלֹֽא־תָקִ֤יא הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ אֶתְכֶ֔ם בְּטַֽמַּאֲכֶ֖ם אֹתָ֑הּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר קָאָ֛ה אֶת־הַגּ֖וֹי אֲשֶׁ֥ר לִפְנֵיכֶֽם׃

(28) So let not the land spew you out for defiling it, as it spewed out the nation that came before you.

Three plausible answers to this question -- ?אָז מִי תָּקִא מִנְּשׂא בָּתָּיו -- can be found within the Tanakh. They depend on the interpretation of תָּקִא.


Interpreting תָּקִא in the second-person male future tense makes the question: Then whom will YOU (God) reject from raising his houses? This interpretation provides two of the three plausible answers. The two answers depend on the identity of whom/his.


Plausible Answer 1
Given the source of the last word בָּתָּיו, the one answer could be King David. God rejects King David as the builder of The Temple, in favor of his son, King Solomon (I Chron. 28:2-6).


(ב) וַיָּ֨קׇם דָּוִ֤יד הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ עַל־רַגְלָ֔יו וַיֹּ֕אמֶר שְׁמָע֖וּנִי אַחַ֣י וְעַמִּ֑י אֲנִ֣י עִם־לְבָבִ֡י לִבְנוֹת֩ בֵּ֨ית מְנוּחָ֜ה לַאֲר֣וֹן בְּרִית־יקוק וְלַֽהֲדֹם֙ רַגְלֵ֣י אֱלֹקֵ֔ינוּ וַהֲכִינ֖וֹתִי לִבְנֽוֹת׃ (ג) וְהָֽאֱלֹקִים֙ אָ֣מַר לִ֔י לֹא־תִבְנֶ֥ה בַ֖יִת לִשְׁמִ֑י כִּ֣י אִ֧ישׁ מִלְחָמ֛וֹת אַ֖תָּה וְדָמִ֥ים שָׁפָֽכְתָּ׃ (ד) וַיִּבְחַ֡ר יקוק אֱלֹקֵי֩ יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל בִּ֜י מִכֹּ֣ל בֵּית־אָבִ֗י לִהְי֨וֹת לְמֶ֤לֶךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לְעוֹלָ֔ם כִּ֤י בִֽיהוּדָה֙ בָּחַ֣ר לְנָגִ֔יד וּבְבֵ֥ית יְהוּדָ֖ה בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑י וּבִבְנֵ֣י אָבִ֔י בִּ֣י רָצָ֔ה לְהַמְלִ֖יךְ עַל־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (ה) וּמִ֨כׇּל־בָּנַ֔י כִּ֚י רַבִּ֣ים בָּנִ֔ים נָ֥תַן לִ֖י יקוק וַיִּבְחַר֙ בִּשְׁלֹמֹ֣ה בְנִ֔י לָשֶׁ֗בֶת עַל־כִּסֵּ֛א מַלְכ֥וּת יקוק עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (ו) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לִ֔י שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה בִנְךָ֔ הוּא־יִבְנֶ֥ה בֵיתִ֖י וַחֲצֵרוֹתָ֑י כִּֽי־בָחַ֨רְתִּי ב֥וֹ לִי֙ לְבֵ֔ן וַאֲנִ֖י אֶהְיֶה־לּ֥וֹ לְאָֽב׃

(2) King David rose to his feet and said, “Hear me, my brothers, my people! I wanted to build a resting-place for the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD, for the footstool of our God, and I laid aside material for building. (3) But God said to me,‘You will not build a house for My name, for you are a man of battles and have shed blood.’ (4) The LORD God of Israel chose me of all my father’s house to be king over Israel forever. For He chose Judah to be ruler, and of the family of Judah, my father’s house; and of my father’s sons, He preferred to make me king over all Israel; (5) and of all my sons—for many are the sons the LORD gave me—He chose my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. (6) He said to me, ‘It will be your son Solomon who will build My House and My courts, for I have chosen him to be a son to Me, and I will be a father to him.

Plausible Answer 2
Considering the first two words אָז מִי, another answer could be closer to Shirat HaYam itself. The last word of the question בָּתָּיו may be an allusion to בָּתִּים in Ex. 1:21:


(כא) וַיְהִ֕י כִּֽי־יָרְא֥וּ הַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֖ת אֶת־הָאֱלֹקִ֑ים וַיַּ֥עַשׂ לָהֶ֖ם בָּתִּֽים׃

(21) And [God] established households for the midwives, because they feared God.

According to Rashi, the midwives who have בָּתִּים established by God are Jochebed (Shifrah) and Miriam (Puah), and בָּתִּים refers to the dynasties of priesthood and royalty descended from them, respectively. Given בָּתָּיו, all of this points to Moses and Aaron, sons of Jochebed and brothers to Miriam.

Moses and Aaron are later rejected by God from leading the Israelites into Israel (Num. 20:12):


(יב) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יקוק אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֣ה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹן֒ יַ֚עַן לֹא־הֶאֱמַנְתֶּ֣ם בִּ֔י לְהַ֨קְדִּישֵׁ֔נִי לְעֵינֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לָכֵ֗ן לֹ֤א תָבִ֙יאוּ֙ אֶת־הַקָּהָ֣ל הַזֶּ֔ה אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥תִּי לָהֶֽם׃

(12) But יקוק said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust Me enough to affirm My sanctity in the sight of the Israelite people, therefore you shall not lead this congregation into the land that I have given them.”

Thus, God rejects Moses and Aaron each from establishing his houses in Israel. The tribe of Levi does not receive a territorial inheritance.


(א) לֹֽא־יִ֠הְיֶ֠ה לַכֹּהֲנִ֨ים הַלְוִיִּ֜ם כׇּל־שֵׁ֧בֶט לֵוִ֛י חֵ֥לֶק וְנַחֲלָ֖ה עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אִשֵּׁ֧י יקוק וְנַחֲלָת֖וֹ יֹאכֵלֽוּן׃ (ב) וְנַחֲלָ֥ה לֹא־יִֽהְיֶה־לּ֖וֹ בְּקֶ֣רֶב אֶחָ֑יו יקוק ה֣וּא נַחֲלָת֔וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּר־לֽוֹ׃ {ס}

(1) The levitical priests, the whole tribe of Levi, shall have no territorial portion with Israel. They shall live only off יקוק’s offerings by fire as their portion, (2) and shall have no portion among their brother tribes: יקוק is their portion, as promised.

Plausible Answer 3
Yet another answer arises from interpreting תָּקִא in the third-person female future tense. The question becomes: Then whom will she reject from raising his houses?


This interpretation strongly suggests the Prophetess and Judge Deborah and Barak, son of Abinoam. Their account with her Song is the Haftarah (for Ashkenazim) for Parashat Beshalach, which contains Shirat HaYam. Their initial encounter in Judges 4:4-9 appears surprisingly relevant.


(ד) וּדְבוֹרָה֙ אִשָּׁ֣ה נְבִיאָ֔ה אֵ֖שֶׁת לַפִּיד֑וֹת הִ֛יא שֹׁפְטָ֥ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִֽיא׃ (ה) וְ֠הִ֠יא יוֹשֶׁ֨בֶת תַּחַת־תֹּ֜מֶר דְּבוֹרָ֗ה בֵּ֧ין הָרָמָ֛ה וּבֵ֥ין בֵּֽית־אֵ֖ל בְּהַ֣ר אֶפְרָ֑יִם וַיַּעֲל֥וּ אֵלֶ֛יהָ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לַמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃ (ו) וַתִּשְׁלַ֗ח וַתִּקְרָא֙ לְבָרָ֣ק בֶּן־אֲבִינֹ֔עַם מִקֶּ֖דֶשׁ נַפְתָּלִ֑י וַתֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו הֲלֹ֥א צִוָּ֣ה ׀ יקוק אֱלֹהֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לֵ֤ךְ וּמָֽשַׁכְתָּ֙ בְּהַ֣ר תָּב֔וֹר וְלָקַחְתָּ֣ עִמְּךָ֗ עֲשֶׂ֤רֶת אֲלָפִים֙ אִ֔ישׁ מִבְּנֵ֥י נַפְתָּלִ֖י וּמִבְּנֵ֥י זְבֻלֽוּן׃ (ז) וּמָשַׁכְתִּ֨י אֵלֶ֜יךָ אֶל־נַ֣חַל קִישׁ֗וֹן אֶת־סִֽיסְרָא֙ שַׂר־צְבָ֣א יָבִ֔ין וְאֶת־רִכְבּ֖וֹ וְאֶת־הֲמוֹנ֑וֹ וּנְתַתִּ֖יהוּ בְּיָדֶֽךָ׃ (ח) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ בָּרָ֔ק אִם־תֵּלְכִ֥י עִמִּ֖י וְהָלָ֑כְתִּי וְאִם־לֹ֥א תֵֽלְכִ֛י עִמִּ֖י לֹ֥א אֵלֵֽךְ׃ (ט) וַתֹּ֜אמֶר הָלֹ֧ךְ אֵלֵ֣ךְ עִמָּ֗ךְ אֶ֚פֶס כִּי֩ לֹ֨א תִֽהְיֶ֜ה תִּֽפְאַרְתְּךָ֗ עַל־הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתָּ֣ה הוֹלֵ֔ךְ כִּ֣י בְֽיַד־אִשָּׁ֔ה יִמְכֹּ֥ר יקוק אֶת־סִֽיסְרָ֑א וַתָּ֧קׇם דְּבוֹרָ֛ה וַתֵּ֥לֶךְ עִם־בָּרָ֖ק קֶֽדְשָׁה׃

(4) Deborah, wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet; she led Israel at that time. (5) She used to sit under the Palm of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would come to her for decisions. (6) She summoned Barak son of Abinoam, of Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “The ETERNAL, the God of Israel, has commanded: Go, march up to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun. (7) And I will draw Sisera, Jabin’s army commander, with his chariots and his troops, toward you up to the Wadi Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hands.” (8) But Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go; if not, I will not go.” (9) “Very well, I will go with you,” she answered. “However, there will be no glory for you in the course you are taking, for then GOD will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.

Deborah rejects (or delivers God's rejection of) Barak from achieving glory with 10,000 men from Naphtali and Zebulun, because he will not march up to Mt. Tabor without her. The two tribes led by Barak could be described by בָּתָּיו (his houses).


None of the "writing on the wall" would be possible without the structured text.


Who Could Have Built the Wall?
As noted above, the structured text of Shirat HaYam does not violate Deut. 4:2 by adding to or subtracting from the Torah any word.


The question here is: Was the structure of Shirat HaYam original to its composition or created some time after the text itself was composed? If the latter, then the person or people responsible for creating the structure for the earlier text of Shirat HaYam needed to have the knowledge, authority, opportunity, and motive to do so.


When viewed as a whole, structuring the text of Shirat HaYam has interesting outcomes. First, Shirat HaYam becomes a "wall" with 30 lines. The first line is continuous (i.e., no gaps), and the ensuing 29 lines alternate between 2 gaps with a "center brick" and 1 gap with right and left bricks. This is coincidentally like the Jewish months having 29 or 30 days. The number of lines (30) is also the same as the height of The Temple in cubits (I Kings 6:2):


(ב) וְהַבַּ֗יִת אֲשֶׁ֨ר בָּנָ֜ה הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה֙ לַיקוק שִׁשִּׁים־אַמָּ֥ה אׇרְכּ֖וֹ וְעֶשְׂרִ֣ים רׇחְבּ֑וֹ וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים אַמָּ֖ה קוֹמָתֽוֹ׃

(2) The House that King Solomon built for GOD was 60 cubits long, 20 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high.

Interestingly, its height is given as 120 (cubits) in II Chron. 3:4:


(ד) וְהָאוּלָ֡ם אֲשֶׁר֩ עַל־פְּנֵ֨י הָאֹ֜רֶךְ עַל־פְּנֵ֤י רֹֽחַב־הַבַּ֙יִת֙ אַמּ֣וֹת עֶשְׂרִ֔ים וְהַגֹּ֖בַהּ מֵאָ֣ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֑ים וַיְצַפֵּ֥הוּ מִפְּנִ֖ימָה זָהָ֥ב טָהֽוֹר׃

(4) The length of the porch in front [was equal] to the breadth of the House—20 cubits, and its height was 120. Inside he overlaid it with pure gold.

The stone blocks for constructing the walls of The Temple were very likely arranged in a pattern similar to that suggested by the structure of Shirat HaYam.


Second, the structured text places מִי כָמֹכָה בָּאֵלִם יקוק exactly in the center of Shirat HaYam. It appears as the "center brick" of the 8th of the 15 lines with center bricks. Overall, it appears in the center of the 16th of the 30 lines of Shirat HaYam. If the first line with no gaps (i.e., without bricks) is ignored, מִי כָמֹכָה בָּאֵלִם יקוק appears in the center of the 15th of the 29 lines with bricks, with 14 such lines before and also after it.


From an external evidentiary perspective (i.e., known ancient scrolls and manuscripts), the structure of Shirat HaYam is present in the Leningrad Codex (~1008 CE; as shown here, the last line apparently lacks a gap) and also in a Torah remnant dating back to the 7th or 8th century CE, known as the Ashkar-Gilson Hebrew Manuscript #2 (see Missing Link in Hebrew Bible Formation by Paul Sanders here). This Torah remnant contains the same structure of Shirat HaYam (as far as it can be evaluated). The source Torah may have been written in Egypt (see Song of the Sea: An Unknown Scroll Fragment from the 8th Century here).


In the Dead Sea Scrolls, according to Sanders (above source), Shirat HaYam does not have this structure. However, the ages of the individual texts among the Dead Sea Scrolls range from the 3rd century BCE to the 1st century CE. It is also not clear what these scrolls represent or the circumstances of their being deposited in these caves. For instance, some of the scrolls are religious but ultimately non-canonical (e.g., The War Scroll ("The War of the Sons of Light Against the Sons of Darkness").


It is interesting to consider the possibility that the structured text of Shirat HaYam might have emerged between the 3rd century BCE and the 8th century CE. This possibility could be ruled out by the discovery and verification of an earlier scroll with this structured text, such as a scroll written at the time of Ezra the Scribe, or soon thereafter, in the 5th or 4th century BCE.


A significant event during this period was the The Hasmonean Revolt (167 BCE) against the Seleucids (Syrian Greeks), who controlled Asia after the demise of Alexander the Great and the division of his empire among three of his generals, including Seleucus. The revolt was led by the Hasmonean family of high priests in Modi'in, Mattathias and his five sons. His third son, Judah, was known as Judah The Maccabee (Judas Maccabeus). According to I Macc. 2:68, Mattathias says the following before dying during the revolt:


יהודה המכבי איש גיבור ובן חיל מנעוריו, הוא יהיה לכם לראש במלחמה.

As for Judas Maccabeus, he hath been mighty and strong, even from his youth up: let him be your captain, and fight the battle of the people.

This source renders Judah The Maccabee in Hebrew as יהודה המכבי. There is no known contemporaneous scroll or manuscript written in Hebrew to verify the authentic Hebrew spelling of "Maccabee". This Hebrew spelling of "Maccabee" (מכבי) is consistent with the Greek spelling of "Maccabee" in the Septuagint that uses the letter kappa (corresponding with כ and k) rather than chi (corresponding with ק and q) to effect the k/q sound of "Maccabee". Presumably, the scholars who translated the Hebrew into Greek for the Septuagint were sensitive to the spelling and sounds of Hebrew words that had to be transliterated into Greek.


At the same time, "Maccabee" has been given the meaning of "hammer", as in Judah The Hammer, perhaps reflecting that "[Judah] hath been mighty and strong, even from his youth up". The Hebrew word for hammer, מקבת, has a ק rather than a כ (see Jud. 4:21). In this case, the Hebrew spelling would be מקבי.


Both of these alternative Hebrew spellings for "Maccabee", מקבי and מכבי, can support its sound grammatically, particularly the consecutive hard consonant sounds of k/q and b:


(יב)כַּבֵּ֥ד אֶת־אָבִ֖יךָ וְאֶת־אִמֶּ֑ךָ לְמַ֙עַן֙ יַאֲרִכ֣וּן יָמֶ֔יךָ עַ֚ל הָאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־יקוק אֱלֹקֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ׃ {ס}

(12) Honor your father and your mother, that you may long endure on the land that your God יקוק is assigning to you.

(ח) וַ֠יָּבֹ֠א אַחַ֨ר אִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶל־הַקֻּבָּ֗ה וַיִּדְקֹר֙ אֶת־שְׁנֵיהֶ֔ם אֵ֚ת אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאֶת־הָאִשָּׁ֖ה אֶל־קֳבָתָ֑הּ וַתֵּֽעָצַר֙ הַמַּגֵּפָ֔ה מֵעַ֖ל בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

(8) he followed the Israelite man into the chamber and stabbed both of them, the Israelite man and the woman, through the belly. Then the plague against the Israelites was checked.

However, given that the Greek transliteration of "Maccabee" from the Hebrew favors מכבי over מקבי, another reason for favoring מכבי is its meaning as an acronym: מִי כָמֹכָה בָּאֵלִם יקוק.


After the victory of the Maccabees (i.e., Hasmoneans) over the Seleucids, the Hasmoneans acted as kings for more than 100 years, although they were high priests with no legitimate religious claim to the kingship of Israel (arguably, this was one reason why the Tanakh does not include the books of the Maccabees). The Hasmoneans restored and rededicated The Temple after its desecration by Antiochus. Among other things, Antiochus also pulled down walls and houses in Jerusalem and burned Torah scrolls wherever found:


(לג) ויבוז את העיר, ויצת אש בקרבה, ויהרוס את הבתים ואת החומות מסביב.

(33) And when he had taken the spoils of the city, he set it on fire, and pulled down the houses and walls thereof on every side.

(נד) ויזבחו ויקטרו בחוצות העיר ולפני פתחי ביתם, ויקרעו את ספרי תורת יקוק לקרעים, וישרפו אותם באש.

(54) And burnt incense at the doors of their houses, and in the streets. And when they had rent in pieces the books of the law which they found, they burnt them with fire.

It is very interesting that I Macc. 1:33 contains the same two themes as presented here for Shirat HaYam:
  1. "Walls" as in its structured text composed of rows of stacked bricks; and
  2. "Houses" (בתים) as related to the last word of the question (בתיו) composed by the first letters of the 15 "center bricks" reading downwards.
In rededicating The Temple and restoring Jerusalem, the Hasmoneans presumably had the knowledge, authority, opportunity, and motive, as well as the need, to have Torah scrolls written. They could have had the text of Shirat HaYam structured to resemble a brick wall (of The Temple 30 cubits high?) with מכבי in its exact center as the statement, מִי כָמֹכָה בָּאֵלִם יקוק. As noted above, doing so would neither add to nor subtract from the Torah any word. As high priests, they needed to observe the prohibition of Deut. 4:2.
It is interesting that the Jewish month of Kislev--during which Hanukkah falls as a commemoration of the Hasmoneans' rededication of The Temple--is one of only two Jewish months that has either 29 or 30 days in a given year (Heshvan is the other month). It is an interesting coincidence that the structured text of Shirat HaYam has 30 lines in total, the first having no gaps and the subsequent 29 lines having two gaps or one gap.


Apparently, external evidence does not so far rule out the possibility that the Hasmoneans (or their supporters) created the structured text of Shirat HaYam to subtly mark their accomplishments. In fact, as high priests, the Hasmoneans would have had motive to ask and to write the question, ?אָז מִי תָּקִא מִנְּשׂא בָּתָּיו, onto Shirat HaYam. Their ruling dynasty did not last. The presentation of לולא in the first letters of the first four lines (reading upwards) could speak to the Hasmoneans' own sense of questioning whether the end of their dynasty could have been avoided: "If not for ...".


The structure of Shirat HaYam, as we have it today, may turn out to be the sole legacy of the Hasmoneans in the Tanakh.


This circumstantial speculation could be readily refuted by one ancient scroll or manuscript with the structured text of Shirat HaYam proven to be written prior to the revolt led by the Hasmoneans.