In this week’s parshah, the Jews sing, “Azi v’zimras Ka, vayehi li li’shua, zeh Keili v’anveihu.” Rashi writes that “v’zimras” can mean to cut down. Thus, “Azi v’zimras Ka, vayehi li li’shua” means “G-d is my strength and cut down the Egyptians, thereby becoming a salvation for me.”
Targum Onkelos interprets “Keili v’anveihu” to mean “I will build a Beis HaMikdash.” (Obviously, Onkelos believes “v’anveihu” comes from the root “naveh,” which means habitat – and the Beis HaMikdash is G-d’s domicile.)
The Birchas Ish wonders how the beginning and end of the verse are connected. He answers as follows: We all know that Hashem informed David HaMelech that he couldn’t build the Temple – a place of peace – since he had fought wars and shed blood. Had Bnei Yisrael smitten the Egyptians with their own hands, they wouldn’t have been able to build the Mishkan (“zeh Keili v’anveihu”). But since “Azi v’zimras Ka” – since it was G-d who cut them down – they were able to build it.
Inherent in this explanation is a very important lesson for every married couple. Every husband and wife is charged with building a Mikdash Me’at in their home. They can’t succeed, though, unless they keep violent emotions away from their home. Anger is anathema to creating a place for the Shechina. Couples must zealously endeavor to create an aura of gentleness and calm in their home.
I would like to suggest another explanation for how the beginning and end of the verse are connected. Tosafos (in Masechtas Pesachim) tells us that the letters of “perech” (which describes the rigorous labor the Jews performed in Egypt) become vav-gimmel-lamed under the A”t Ba”sh system. The numerical value of these three letters is 39.
In Egypt, we were forced to do all the 39 labors that we abstain from doing on Shabbos. And that’s why Shabbos commemorates the Exodus, as stated in the Ten Commandments. By abstaining from these 39 creative labors, we remember the slavery that G-d saved us from.
But how do we know which 39 melachos are forbidden on Shabbos? The Gemara notes that the Torah mentions Shabbos in proximity to building the Mishkan to teach us that the 39 labors used to build the Mishkan are prohibited on Shabbos.
Now we’ve come full circle beautifully. G-d saved us from the 39 labors we were forced to do in Egypt and said, “Instead of being servants to Pharaoh, you are now My servants.” To show our homage to Hashem, we utilized those same 39 labors to build a Mishkan for Hashem.
Now “Azi v’zimras Ka, vayehi li li’shua, zeh Keili v’anveihu” fits like a glove. “Azi v’zimras Ka vayehi li li’shua.” You are my strength and You, O G-d, cut down the Egyptians. You saved me from the 39 labors the Egyptians forced me to perform. Therefore, “zeh Keili v’anveihu,” I will build a Beis HaMikdash using these very same 39 labors in honor of your Holy Name.
May we soon merit the final redemption with good health and prosperity.