In this week's Parsha, Parshat Beshalach we start off strong in the first pasuk that says וַיְהִי בְּשַׁלַּח פַּרְעֹה אֶת־הָעָם וְלֹא־נָחָם אֱלֹהִים דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּים כִּי קָרוֹב הוּא כִּי אָמַר אֱלֹהִים פֶּן־יִנָּחֵם הָעָם בִּרְאֹתָם מִלְחָמָה וְשָׁבוּ מִצְרָיְמָה׃ Now when Paroh let the people go, Hashem did not lead them by way of the land of the Plishtim, although it was nearer; for Hashem said, “The people may have a change of heart when they see war, and return to Egypt.” (Shemot 13:17) Chacham Shem Tob Gagin writes in his book Pachad Yitzchak in the name of Rabbi Yisrael Hacohen Yaffa a beautiful hint in this Pasuk. What does it mean when it says כִּי קָרוֹב הוּא literally meaning “because it close”, to understand this we can go back to Parshat Noach מִצְרַיִם יָלַד אֶת־לוּדִים ……וְאֶת־כַּסְלֻחִים אֲשֶׁר יָצְאוּ מִשָּׁם פְּלִשְׁתִּים And Mizraim begot the Ludim, ….. and the Casluhim, whence the Plishtim came forth. (Bereshit 10:13-14) From here we learn that the Plishtim are descendants of the original Mitzrayim, the forefather of the Egyptians. So when it says that וְלֹא־נָחָם אֱלֹהִים דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּים כִּי קָרוֹב הוּא Hashem did not lead them by way of the land of the Plishtim because they are close what he was saying is that once the plishtim see the Jews they will certainly fight on the side of the brothers - and this is what that pasuk is saying in the continuation כִּי אָמַר אֱלֹהִים פֶּן־יִנָּחֵם הָעָם בִּרְאֹתָם מִלְחָמָה וְשָׁבוּ מִצְרָיְמָה׃ The people may have a change of heart when they see war, and return to Egypt. Shabbat Shalom!
