Eternal Power of Song

במדרש אז ישיר פיה פתחה בחכמה כו' משנברא אדם לא מצינו מי שיאמר שירה.

“In the Midrash: ‘Then sang’—‘Her mouth opens with wisdom,’ etc. Since the creation of Adam, we do not find anyone who sang a song.”

The Sefat Emet notes that the Midrash emphasizes a unique quality of the Song at the Sea: from the time of Adam, no one had truly sung a song in the full, enduring sense.

ומקשין הלא איתא כמה שירות הי' אדה"ר אמר שירה כשנתקבל בתשובה וכן ביצ"מ אמרו שירה דכ' כליל התקדש חג כו'.

“But they ask: is it not stated that there were several songs? Adam sang when his repentance was accepted, and at the Exodus they also sang, as it says: ‘On the night the festival was sanctified,’ etc.”

The Sefat Emet raises the traditional objection: earlier generations did sing songs, so why does the Midrash deny this?

אך לא מצינו אמר המדרש.

“But the Midrash says: we do not find [such a song].”

He returns to the Midrash’s wording to highlight that its denial must refer to a particular kind of song, not all songs.

שלא נעשה מאלה השירות פרשה בתורה לדורות.

“Because none of those earlier songs were made into a Torah section for all generations.”

The distinction is that earlier songs were momentary, while the Song at the Sea was fixed in the Torah as an eternal portion.

ושירה זו נעשה לדורות כמ"ש ויאמרו לאמר.

“But this song was established for all generations, as it says: ‘They spoke, saying.’”

The phrasing ‘saying’ is interpreted as an instruction for perpetual repetition, indicating lasting relevance.

ז"ש ותורת חסד על לשונה שמהחסד שעשה השי"ת עמהם עשאו שירה לדורות.

“This is the meaning of ‘A Torah of kindness is on her tongue’: from the kindness that God did for them, He made it a song for all generations.”

The enduring nature of the song stems from the enduring kindness it represents, a kindness that continues to shine for future generations.

שיכולין בכל יום למצוא הארה באלה הדברים לכן תקנו לאומרו בכל יום.

“For every day one can find illumination in these words; therefore they instituted its daily recitation.”

Because the Song at the Sea contains a daily-accessible spiritual light, it became part of the regular liturgy.

ושירות אחרים היו בפרט.

“But the other songs were only in particular circumstances.”

Other biblical songs were tied to specific individuals or events and did not carry universal scope.

וכן יצ"מ הי' בפרט כמ"ש ואתם לא תצאו איש מפתח ביתו כו'.

“And so too the Exodus was in particular, as it says: ‘And none of you shall leave the entrance of his house,’ etc.”

The Exodus itself involved elements restricted to private or household experience, not a fully national and open revelation.

אבל קי"ס הי' בכלל ישראל ונשאר השירה לדורות.

“But the splitting of the sea was for all Israel collectively, and therefore the song remained for all generations.”

Because the miracle of the sea was universal for the entire people, its song became permanently embedded in the collective memory of Israel.

Summary: The Sefat Emet explains that earlier biblical songs were tied to private or moment-specific experiences, but the Song at the Sea was a collective revelation whose spiritual light endures daily; therefore it became an eternal Torah portion and part of daily prayer.