What is the meaning of "Sirgalti l'Efrayim"?
Rashi: I sent in front of them a leader to lead them gently. This is like Hirgalti; there is nothing like this. Radak - there is a Tov in place of a Hai at the beginning of the word.
Rashi citing Tanchuma Vayechi 6: This refers to Yosef's sons. When he brought them in front of Yakov to bless them, Yakov saw Resha'im destined to descend from Efrayim - Yaravam and Achav, and Ru'ach ha'Kodesh departed from him. He asked "Mi Eleh" (Bereishis 48:8). Yosef requested mercy, and Ru'ach ha'Kodesh rested on Yakov, and he blessed them. Our verse teaches that I put My Ru'ach on Yakov for the sake of Efrayim, and he took them on his arms.
Radak: It mentions Efrayim, for [Yaravam from Efrayim] made the calves. How does he bestow this to Me?! I bestowed good upon them, and trained them at their pace, and I did not burden them with My Mitzvos and Avodah!
Radak citing his brother R. Moshe: Sirgalti is a noun. Its grammatical form is like Tif'arti, even though that is mil'Ra (the last syllable is accented), and here is mi'L'eil (the penultimate syllable is accented). It uses this expression because Yisrael were compared to a youth. Just like we train a youth to walk slowly, without exertion, so when I made them travel from encampment to encampment when I took them out of Egypt I made them go slowly, without exertion 1 . The cloud went in front of them during the day, and the pillar of fire at night.
Radak citing Targum Yonasan: I sent an angel to lead them...
Malbim: I am the footstool on which Efrayim stands, and I am the leg that carries them.
Rashi (Bamidbar 21:4): "Va'Tiktzar Nefesh ha'Am ba'Derech" - they complained about exertion on the road! Tanchuma (Bamidbar 2) - after Aharon died, the cloud departed, and they complained that the sun beat down on them.
What is the significance of "Kacham Al Zero'osav"?
Rashi: This refers to Moshe - "Ka'asher Yisa ha'Omen Es ha'Yonek" (Bamidbar 11:12). Radak - the first letter of the root is omitted. This is like Lakcham.
Malbim: I am the leg for Efrayim, which carries the Ba'alim on its arms. The verse depicts that Efrayim carries the Ba'alim on its arms, and stands with them on Me. I am the leg and the place of the foot. Those who serve Ba'al carry it, and I carry My creations.
Did they not know that I healed them?
Rashi: They knew, but they trampled with their ankles. They feigned not to know.
Radak: Correct. They did not recognize that I heal them from every illness and affliction - "Ki Ani Hashem Rofe'echa" (Shemos 15:26).
Malbim: Correct. When they find a cure for their illness, they think that the Ba'al, which they carry, found it. They do not realize that I heal and save, and not the idol!
