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Parshat Beshalach
2004
Oy Nebach!
Exodus 14:1-4
The Lord said to Moses: Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp before Pi-hahairoth, between Migdol andthe sea, before Baal-Tzefon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea. Pharaoh will say of the Israelites, "They are NeVuCHIM in the land; the wilderness has closed in on them." Then I will stiffen Pharaoh's heart and he will pursue them that I may gain glory through Pharaoh and all his hosts; and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord."
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From the context, what do you think the word NeVuCHIM means?
A Word
In Yiddish, a Nebach is a person who lives in a constant state of bewilderment. The Nebach is an endearingly pathetic person in need of perpetual rescue. Its origins come from this verse, when God says, "Do something that makes no sense and Pharaoh will have the pretext to convince his army to pursue you."
The commentatorsRashi,Ibn Ezra and Rashbam each has his own spin on the word "Nevuchim."For Rashi, "Nevuchim" means "trapped because they do not know how to get out orknow which way to go." Ibn Ezra concurs and says it means when a person does not know how to seek counsel and does not know what to do. Rashbam disagrees and says: Nevuchim means that the sea has closed off their route for escape, but does not necessarily refer to their state of mind.
On one issue all the opinions agree. The Israelites had placed themselves in a vulnerable position; the only question is what caused them to do so. Godexplicitly saysthat this will help Him stiffen Pharaoh's resolve to pursue them in the desert and that this is all part of the plan.But the Children of Israel, knowing that this is God's plan, still do not believe God, andfeeling "Nebby," they complain to Moshe who then proceeds to rebuke them andthen takes them across the sea. The children of Israel meekly follow as God inadvertantly casts a label on B'nei Yisrael as a bunch of Nebbishes.It is a stigma we have been trying to remove from time immemorial.
Prepared by Rabbi Avi Weinstein, director, Joseph Meyerhoff Center for Jewish Learning.
Learn More
Additional commentaries and text studies on Parshat Beshalach at MyJewishLearning.com.
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