Exodus 14:1-10

Crossing the Red Sea

1 Then the LORD said to Moses,
2 "Tell the people of Israel to 1turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between 2Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea.
3 For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, 'They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.'
4 And 3I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, and I will 4get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, 5and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD." And they did so.
5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the 6mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, "What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?"
6 So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him,
7 and took 7six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them.
8 And 8the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while 9the people of Israel were going out defiantly.
9 The 10Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them 11encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.
10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel 12cried out to the LORD.

Exodus 14:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 14

This chapter begins with directions of God to Moses, to be given to the children of Israel about the course they were to steer in their journey, with the reason thereof, Ex 14:1-4, which they observing, a report was brought to Pharaoh that they were fled, and this determined him and his servants to get ready and pursue after them, as they did with a great army, Ex 14:5-9, which when the Israelites saw, it put them in great fear, and set them to murmuring and complaining against Moses for bringing them out of Egypt, Ex 14:10,11,12, who desired them to be still and quiet, and they should see the salvation of the Lord, Ex 14:13,14, and he is bid to order the people to go on in their journey, and to take his rod and stretch it over the sea and divide it, that Israel might pass through it on dry ground, and the Egyptians follow them, whereby God would be honoured and glorified, Ex 14:15-18, upon which the Angel of the Lord in a pillar of cloud removed from before there, and went behind them for their protection, Ex 14:19,20, and Moses stretching out his hand over the sea, and a strong east wind blowing upon it, the waters divided and the Israelites went into it, and the Egyptians followed them, but their host being troubled by the Lord, and their chariot wheels taken off, they found themselves in great danger, and were thrown into a panic, Ex 14:20-25 and upon Moses's stretching out his hand again over the sea, the waters returned, and Pharaoh and his host were drowned, but the Israelites passed through safely, as on dry land, Ex 14:26-29, which great work of the Lord being observed by them, influenced their fear of him, their faith in him and his servant Moses, Ex 14:30,31.

Cross References 12

  • 1. Exodus 13:18, 20; Numbers 33:7, 8
  • 2. Jeremiah 44:1
  • 3. See Exodus 4:21
  • 4. Rom. 9:17, 22, 23; See Exodus 9:16
  • 5. Exodus 7:5
  • 6. Psalms 105:25
  • 7. Exodus 15:4; [Isaiah 31:1]
  • 8. [See ver. 4 above]
  • 9. Exodus 6:1; Exodus 13:3, 9, 16; Numbers 33:3; Deuteronomy 26:8; Acts 13:17; [Exodus 3:19]
  • 10. Exodus 15:9; Joshua 24:6
  • 11. ver. 2
  • 12. Joshua 24:7; Nehemiah 9:9
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.