change his posture. He that sat when it fell could not arise from his
place, and he that stood could not sit down. Nevertheless, the
Egyptians could see that the Israelites were surrounded by bright
light, and were enjoying a banquet where they stood, and when
they tried to speed darts and arrows against them, the missiles
were caught up by the cloud and by the angels hovering between
the two camps, and no harm came to Israel. [35]

THE PASSAGE THROUGH THE RED SEA

On the morning after the eventful night, though the sea was not yet
made dry land, the Israelites, full of trust in God, were ready to
cast themselves into its waters. The tribes contended with one
another for the honor of being the first to jump. Without awaiting
the outcome of the wordy strife, the tribe of Benjamin sprang in,
and the princes of Judah were so incensed at having been deprived
of pre-eminence in danger that they pelted the Benjamites with
stones. God knew that the Judaeans and the Benjamites were
animated by a praiseworthy purpose. The ones like the others
desired but to magnify the Name of God, and He rewarded both
tribes: in Benjamin's allotment the Shekinah took up her residence,
and the royalty of Israel was conferred upon Judah.

When God saw the two tribes in the waves of the sea, He called
upon Moses, and said: "My beloved are in danger of drowning, and
thou standest by and prayest. Bid Israel go forward, and thou lift
up thy rod over the sea, and divide it." Thus it happened, and Israel
passed through the sea with its water cleft in twain.

The dividing of the sea was but the first of ten miracles connected