We separated and distinguished between some of it and some until there became paths for you in it. And it was read: 'We differentiated,' meaning we separated. It is said: to differentiate between two things, and to separate between things, because the paths were twelve in number, corresponding to the number of the tribes. If you say: What is the meaning of 'by you'? I say: There are several interpretations: It is intended that they were traversing it. [Mawlid said: 'It is possible that they were traversing... etc. Ahmad said: So the 'by' in this case is for assistance, like in 'I wrote with the pen.'] And the water separates at their passage, so it is as if it differentiated with them, just as one differentiates between two things by that which is between them. And it is meant that we differentiated it because of you. [Mawlid said: 'It is possible that it is meant we differentiated it because of you.' Ahmad said: And in this case, it is causal, as you say: 'I honored you because of your kindness to me.'] And because of your salvation, and it could be in the position of a state. [Mawlid said: 'It is possible that it is in the position of a state... etc. Ahmad said: And in this case, it is for companionship, like in: 'I leaned my back against the wall.' The first interpretation is weak in that it implies that the differentiation of the sea occurred because of the Children of Israel. What is transmitted and stated in the noble Book is that the sea was differentiated by the staff of Moses, as evidenced by His saying: (Strike with your staff the sea.) So it split, and each part was like a great mountain. The tool for the differentiation is the staff, not the Children of Israel.] Meaning we differentiated it entangled with you, as in the saying:

'You tread upon the skulls and the earth.' [As if our horses were accustomed to them... drinking from their skulls.]

So they passed by, not fleeing from them... treading upon the skulls and the earth.

By Abu al-Tayyib al-Mutanabbi. And 'drinking' is in the intensive form, and 'skulls' is the plural of 'skull' in the genitive, and it is said in the nominative: it is the bone above the brain and a small wooden vessel. And 'milk' is the milk that has been drawn, meaning as if they were accustomed to them, so they passed by them in tranquility. 'Treading upon their skulls' means their heads while we are upon their backs. And 'the earth' is a language for dust, meaning treading upon it while we are riding it. It has been narrated that the Children of Israel said to Moses: Where are our companions? We do not see them. He said: Move forward, for they are on a path like your path. They said: We will not be satisfied until we see them. He said: O Allah, help me with their bad character. So it was revealed to him: Say with your staff like this. So he struck it against the walls, and it became full of openings. They threw themselves and heard their words while you were looking at that and witnessing it, without doubt in it.