Literary Devices – Shemot 15/0

Literary Devices – Shemot 15

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Structure

Prof. Cassuto suggests that the song of the sea can be divided into three strophes, each ending with a celebration of Hashem's supremacy, formulated with a poetic doubling.¹ The division is further marked by the fact that the  penultimate verse² of each stanza contains a comparison of the drowning Egyptians to either stone or lead. The poem would be divided as follows:³

• Verses 1-6: Introduction
• Verses 7-11: Details of the Miracle
• Verses 12-end:  Wish for Future Salvation

Character Titles

¹ In each case the verse opens, diverges to mention the subject or to elaborate, and then doubles the opening before finishing the thought, as in verse 6: "יְמִינְךָ י"י נֶאְדָּרִי בַּכֹּחַ יְמִינְךָ י"י תִּרְעַץ אוֹיֵב".  This specific type of poetic doubling is noted by Rashbam as being a common phenomenon; see his (and Rashi's) comments on verse 6 for other examples.  See also R. D"Z Hoffmann who suggests that the Song of the Sea is responsive; Moshe sings each stanza and the nation replies with these poetic doublings.

² In the third strophe, the imagery is found slightly earlier in the stanza.

³ One might alternatively divide the song into two halves, verses 1-12 which peak of the current miraculous salvation and verses 13-end which speak of future redemption.