Tehillim 69 and Nahshon Aminadav
Tehillim 69 and Nahshon Aminadav
Tehillim (69: 2–16):
«Hoshi'eini Elokim ki va'u mayim ad nafesh. Ta'ati biven metzulah ve-ein ma'amad; bati vema'amakei mayim, veshibolet shetafatni» - (Save me, O G-d, for the waters have reached my soul! I am sinking in deep mire, with no foothold. Let not the waters engulf me, and let not the deep swallow me).
Chazal attribute these words of Tehillim to Nahshon Aminadav.
The Torah tells us little about Nahshon Aminadav: he was the brother of Elisheva, the wife of Aharon, and an ancestor of King David: Peretz begot Chetzron, Chetzron begot Ram, Ram begot Aminadav, Aminadav begot Nahshon, Nahshon begot Salmon, Salmon begot Boaz, Boaz begot Oved, Oved begot Yishai, and Yishai begot David.
It is a little-known fact that Naomi—the mother-in-law of Ruth—was the daughter of the son of Nahshon Aminadav (his granddaughter).
What made Nahshon Aminadav famous was his deed: he was the first to leap into the Yam Suf.
The Talmud relates that Rabbi Yehuda told Rabbi Meir that in fact, none of the tribes wished to be the first to enter the sea. Nahshon ben Aminadav then stepped forward and leaped into the sea, where he recited the words of Tehillim (69: 2–16):
«Save me, O G-d, for the waters have reached my soul! I am sinking in deep mire, with no foothold. Let not the waters engulf me, and let not the deep swallow me».
At that moment, Moshe Rabbeinu was praying, so the Almighty answered him: «My beloved ones are drowning in the sea, and you continue praying before Me?»
And later, Tehillim 114: 3 says: «The sea saw [him] and fled».
Chazal say that the sea saw Nahshon Aminadav leaping into it and sanctifying Hashem's Name, and it parted before him.
By virtue of his deed, Nahshon merited that the monarchy in Israel would descend from him: «When Israel went forth from Egypt, the house of Yaakov from a people of strange speech, Yehudah became His sanctuary, Israel His dominion». (Tehillim 114: 1)
Mechilta De-Rabbi Yishmael on Beshalach says that the tribes stood arguing over who would enter the sea first: «Ephraim surrounds me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit». (Hoshea 12: 1)
Pirkei De-Rabbi Eliezer (42:1–6) cites the words of Rabbi Akiva:
«When Bnei Yisrael approached the Yam Suf, only the tribe of Binyamin was ready to rush into the sea, as it is said: «There is Binyamin, the youngest, ruling over them». (Tehillim 68:28)
They had already begun descending into the sea when they were immediately pelted with stones by the tribe of Yehudah: «The princes of Judah pelt them with stones».
And Nahshon leaped into the sea first, sanctifying the Name of the Almighty.
Five virtues of Nahshon Aminadav:
1) His name is Nahshon Aminadav because he leaped into the depths of the sea נחשול בים. [Shemot Rabbah]
2) He merited five remarkable descendants: David, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. [Shemot Rabbah]
3) The monarchy of Bnei Yisrael was given to his tribe—the tribe of Yehudah. Mashiach will also descend from him. [Gemara and Mechilta]
4) Nahshon was the first of the Nesi'im (the tribal leaders) to bring a korban in the Mishkan. [Bamidbar 7:12]
5) He was one of the 70 honored elders.
(https://www.mevaseret.org/mmy/images/KM/Kol_Mevaseret-5777_Final_150pages.pdf)
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Tags: Tehillim 69, Yam Suf, Kavanot of Shirat HaYam, Tehillim 69 and Nachshon Aminadav, Nachshon Aminadav
