Why does the Torah write here that the Egyptians "sunk like a stone;" in 15:10 - "like lead;" and in 15:7 - "like straw"?
1.
Rashi: The Resha'im were tossed around like straw before they finally drowned; the Beinonim, like a stone; whereas the 'Tzadikim' sunk immediately, like lead.
2.
Hadar Zekenim (to 15:10): Others maintain that it was the other way round: The 'Tzadikim' were tossed around like straw - and lived longer; the Beinonim, like stone; and the Resha'im sunk like lead - and died immediately.
2)
What idea does this Pasuk add to our praise of Hashem?
1.
Maharal (Gevuros Hashem Ch. 47, p. 190): A human warrior or army might at times emerge victorious - but just barely. Here we say how Hashem struck the Egyptians with a tremendous blow, and they sunk to the depths with great momentum.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
3)
Rashi writes: "Yechasyu'mu - ... There is no parallel word in Tanach with this vowel [structure]; it is usually vowelized with a Melapum (i.e. a Cholam)." Which letter should receive a Cholam?
1.
Gur Aryeh: It is not the Yud, but rather the Mem, which should receive the Cholam. That construct appears many times in the Shirah, e.g. "Tivla'ei'mo" (15:12); "Tevi'ei'mo v'Sita'ei'mo" (15:17). So too, this word would be expected to read 'Yechasyu'mo.'
1
The reason that Rashi's examples have a Tzeirei, whereas "Yechasyu'mu" has a Kubutz under the Yud, is merely because the subject of the other verbs is singular (in 15:12, "Eretz;" or in 15:17, referring to Hashem); whereas the subject here is plural ("Tehomos"). (CS)
