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Soon after allowing the Children of
Israel to depart from Egypt, Pharaoh chases after them
to force their return, and the Israelites find
themselves trapped between Pharaoh's armies and the sea.
G-d tells Moses to raise his staff over the water; the
sea splits to allow the Israelites to pass through, and
then closes over the pursuing Egyptians. Moses and the
Children of Israel sing a song of praise and gratitude
to G-d. In the desert, the
people suffer thirst and hunger and repeatedly complain
to Moses and Aaron. G-d miraculously sweetens the bitter
waters of Marah, and later has Moses bring forth water
from a rock by striking it with his staff; He causes
manna to rain down from the heavens before dawn each
morning, and quails to appear in the Israelite camp each
evening.
The Children of Israel are instructed
to gather a double portion of manna on Friday, as none
will descend on Shabbat, the divinely decreed day of
rest. Some disobey and go to gather manna on the seventh
day, but find nothing. Aaron preserves a small quantity
of manna in a jar, as a testimony for future
generations.
In Rephidim, the people are attacked
by the Amalekites, who are defeated by Moses' prayers
and an army raised by Joshua.
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