אז ישיר משה. משפט לשון הקדש לו' לשון עתיד תחת עבר עם מלת אז אז יבנה שלמה אז ידבר יהושע. אז יבדיל משה. וככה בלשון ישמעאל. משה לבדו חבר השירה ולמדוה ישראל ושורר כ"א ואומר אשירה לה'. וכמוהו ויצו משה וזקני ישראל כי המצוה משה לבדו אמרה וזקני ישראל אמרוה לכל: THEN SANG MOSES. It is Hebrew style to employ an imperfect preceded by the word az (then) in place of a perfect.1Az yashir mosheh (then sang Moses) literally means: then Moses will sing. I.E. points out that an imperfect preceded by the word az occasionally has the meaning of a perfect. Similarly, in the next three verses cited by I.E. verbs that are in the imperfect are to be translated as perfects, for the imperfects are preceded by the word az. Compare, Az yivneh shelomoh (then did Solomon build) (I Kings 11:7);2Yivneh is an imperfect that means will build. Thus az yivneh shelomoh literally means: then will Solomon build. az yedabber yehoshu’a (then spoke Joshua) (Josh. 10:12);3Yedabber is an imperfect that means will speak. Therefore az yedabber yehoshu’a literally means: then will Joshua speak. az yavdil mosheh (then Moses separated) (Deut. 4:41).4Yavdil is an imperfect that means will separate. Thus az yavdil mosheh means: then Moses will separate. The same is true in Arabic. Moses composed the song by himself. He then taught it to all of Israel, each one of whom then sang and said, I will sing unto the Lord.5Hence the song is in the singular even though the verb which introduces it reads, va-yomeru (and spoke), which literally means: and they spoke. Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song may be interpreted to mean that Moses and Israel simultaneously broke into song. However, this interpretation is untenable, as it is impossible for a whole nation to know the contents of a song without first being taught its words. Hence I.E.’s comment. And Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people (Deut. 27:1) is similar. The commandment was first spoken only by Moses. The elders of Israel then repeated it to everyone.6For Moses and the elders did not simultaneously command the people.
ויאמרו לאמר. כל א' וא' ככה. או בכל דור ודור: AND SPOKE, SAYING.7In Hebrew, lemor (saying). Lemor is used when a statement is directed to someone. However, what follows is a hymn, hence I.E.’s comment. Cf. Filwarg. Each one of the Israelites was to say the following, or the following was to be said in every generation.
כי גאה גאה. הראה גאותו. כי הסום שיש לו גאוה וגבורה. והרוכב שהוא גבור. שניהם השליכם בים כמשליך חץ. כי רמה בים כמו נושקי רומי קשת: FOR HE IS HIGHLY EXALTED. He demonstrated His exaltation by casting both the mighty rider and his exalted and powerful steed into the sea as one casts an arrow. The meaning of ramah (thrown) in ramah va-yam (hath He thrown into the sea) is similar to the word rome (throws) in armed with that which a bow throws (Ps. 78:9).8Translated according to I.E.