0n the seventh day after the children of Israel left Egypt they reached the Red Sea. It was a moment of great suspense.

The children of Israel stopped at the waters of the Red Sea, while Pharaoh with his huge army was sweeping across the desert in hot pursuit.

A terrible cry arose from thousands of women and children, and the men turned their faces to heaven and prayed fervently.

Many voices rose in anger against Moses. There were men who had joined the Israelites in the hour of their triumph, but now that everything seemed lost, they were panic stricken.

"Are there no graves in Egypt that thou has taken us away, to die in the wilderness?" they cried to Moses.

"Fear not!" Moses tried to reassure them. "Be prepared to see G‑d's salvation .... G‑d will fight for you . . . .!"

But Moses' words did not reassure them. The distance between the onrushing Egyptians and the children of Israel was rapidly growing narrower.

Moses turned his eyes toward heaven, and G‑d's words came to him: "Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward and then you shall lift your rod and turn your hand over the sea and divide it.

Moses' face lit up.

"Into the sea!" he cried. "G‑d will divide it for you!"

But the children of Israel hesitated. The waves were beating against the shore.

Moses felt a deep pain in his heart. "Will my brethren fail in this emergency? Won't they show absolute faith in G‑d's words?" But the next moment he heard a splash, and saw how Nachshon the son of Aminadav jumped into the sea.

No sooner did Nachson's feet touch the waters of the Red Sea than the waters split into 12 lanes, one for each tribe, and the children of Israel rushed down to the bed of the sea. It was dry and hard, so easy to walk on, after struggling to walk on the sands of the wilderness.

Who was this brave man? Nachshon the son of Aminadav was the prince of the tribe of Judah. He was a great grandson of Judah, Jacob's brave son, whose courage was an inspiration to his brothers.

Nachshon the son of Aminadav was a worthy descendant of Judah, and a worthy prince of his tribe. He was greatly honored and beloved by all the children of Israel, and when the Mishkan was set up on the first day of Nissan of the following year, he was the first to offer his sacrifices upon it!

Jubilantly the children of Israel were crossing the Red Sea, and wonder of wonders! On each side of them the mighty waters of the sea piled up like crystal walls and formed a ceiling over their heads, so that, they were passing through tunnels which G‑d had carved out for them in the sea.

The Pillar of Fire lit up their passage and they could see each other through the clear walls of water. The bed of the sea was dry and smooth and the children of Israel walked on it with ease.

Here and there sweet water sprang forth from the walls of the sea-water on either side, so that if any one was thirsty he could easily refresh himself.

By the time the last of the children of Israel was out of the sea, the last of the Egyptians had entered the sea. At that moment G‑d caused the walls of water to collapse and all the Egyptians were swept and drowned.

Only King Pharaoh was spared but he wished he had been drowned too, for nothing but misery awaited him.