In Shirat Haazinu, or, as it is otherwise known, Shirat Moshe, Moshe describes the future rebellions of the children of Israel against God. Before turning to this subject, however, he presents a summary of God’s relationship with His people, offering a rationale for their continued loyalty. At one point, the poem reminds His people of how He protected them during their sojourn in the desert:

He found him (yimtza’eihu) in the wilderness land, in the waste of the howling desert. He encircled him, watched him like the apple of His eye. (Deuteronomy 32:10)

This verse portrays God as “finding” His people in the desert and thereafter protecting them. This seemingly contradicts verse 6 of the song, where God is described as the father and creator of His people. This led some early commentators and translators to interpret yimtza’eihu according to a different verb form, yamtza’uhu“ – He provided them [with their needs].” (J. Tigay, Devarim, Mikra L’Yisrael, p. 732.)

In either case, however, it is........

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