Midrash
Midrash Tanchuma, Beshalach 14 מדרש תנחומא, בשלח י״ד
Part of: Siman 14
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תְּהֹמֹת יְכַסְיֻמוּ. וְכִי תְּהוֹמוֹת יֵשׁ שָׁם, וַהֲלֹא עֲשׁוּנִיּוֹת הִיא? אֶלָּא מְלַמֵּד שֶׁעָלָה תְּהוֹם הַתַּחְתּוֹן וּתְהוֹם הָעֶלְיוֹן וְהָיוּ הַמַּיִם נִלְחָמִים בָּהֶן בְּכָל מִינֵי פֻּרְעָנֻיּוֹת. כְּמוֹ אָבֶן. הֵם אָמְרוּ, וּרְאִיתֶן עַל הָאָבְנָיִם, לְפִיכָךְ נַעֲשָׂה לָהֶן הַמַּיִם כָּאֲבָנִים. דָּבָר אַחֵר, כְּמוֹ אָבֶן, הִיא נִקְמַת בֵּינוֹנִים. הָרְשָׁעִים שֶׁבָּהֶן, נִשְׂרָפִין כַּקַּשׁ. וְהַבֵּינוֹנִים, כָּאָבֶן. וְהַפִּקְחִין, צָלְלוּ כַּעוֹפֶרֶת.
The deeps cover them (Exod. 15:5). Were there actually any deeps? Is not the floor of the Red Sea flat and firm? This verse merely informs us that the lower depth as well as the upper level of the sea rose up against them, causing the waters to inflict all manner of punishment upon them. Like a stone (even) (Exod. 15:5). They said: Ye shall look upon the birth stones (avnayim) (Exod. 1:16), and therefore He made the water to be like stones to them. Another explanation of Like a stone. He judged between them, and the wicked ones were consumed like straw. The average ones were tossed about like stones, and the wise ones sank like lead.
The deeps cover them (Exod. 15:5). Were there actually any deeps? Is not the floor of the Red Sea flat and firm? This verse merely informs us that the lower depth as well as the upper level of the sea rose up against them, causing the waters to inflict all manner of punishment upon them. Like a stone (even) (Exod. 15:5). They said: Ye shall look upon the birth stones (avnayim) (Exod. 1:16), and therefore He made the water to be like stones to them. Another explanation of Like a stone. He judged between them, and the wicked ones were consumed like straw. The average ones were tossed about like stones, and the wise ones sank like lead.