Exodus 14

Yahweh Rescues Israel at the Red Sea

1 And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

2 "Speak to the {Israelites} so that they turn and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol {and the sea}; before Baal Zephon, [which is] opposite it, you will camp by the sea.

3 And Pharaoh will say of the {Israelites}, 'They are wandering around in the land. The desert has closed in on them.'

4 And I will harden the heart of Pharaoh, and he will chase after them, and I will be glorified through Pharaoh and through all his army, and [the] Egyptians will know that I [am] Yahweh." And they did so.

5 And it was told to the king of Egypt that the people fled, and the heart of Pharaoh was changed and [that of] his servants toward the people, and they said, "What [is] this we have done, that we have released Israel from serving us!"

6 And he harnessed his chariot and took with him his people.

7 And he took six hundred select chariots and all the chariots of Egypt and officers over all of them.

8 And Yahweh hardened the heart of Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and he chased after the {Israelites}. (Now the {Israelites} [were] going out {boldly}.)

9 And [the] Egyptians chased after them, and they overtook them encamped at the sea--all the horses of the chariots of Pharaoh and his charioteers and his army--at Pi-hahiroth before Baal Zephon.

10 And Pharaoh approached, and the {Israelites} lifted their eyes, and there were the Egyptians traveling after them! And they were very afraid, and the {Israelites} cried out to Yahweh.

11 And they said to Moses, "Because there are no graves in Egypt? Is that why you have taken us to die in the desert? What [is] this you have done to us by bringing us out from Egypt!

12 Isn't this the word we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, 'Leave us alone [so that] we can serve Egypt!' because serving Egypt is better for us than our dying in the desert."

13 And Moses said to the people, "You must not be afraid. Stand [still] and see the salvation of Yahweh, which he will accomplish for you today, because [the] Egyptians whom you see today you will see never again.

14 Yahweh will fight for you, and you must be quiet."

15 And Yahweh said to Moses, "Why do you cry out to me? Speak to the {Israelites} [so that] they set out.

16 And you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it [so that] the {Israelites} can go in the middle of the sea on the dry land.

17 And as for me, look, I [am] about to harden the heart of [the] Egyptians [so that] they come after them, and I will display my glory through Pharaoh and through all of his army, through his chariots and through his charioteers.

18 And [the] Egyptians will know that I [am] Yahweh when I display my glory through Pharaoh, through his chariots, and through his charioteers."

19 And the angel of God who was going before the camp of Israel set out and went behind them. And the column of cloud set out ahead of them, and it stood [still] behind them,

20 [so that] it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel. And {it was a dark cloud}, but it gave light [to] the night, [so that] {neither approached the other} all night.

21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and Yahweh moved the sea with a strong east wind all night, and he made the sea [become] dry ground, and the waters were divided.

22 And the {Israelites} entered the middle of the sea on the dry land. The waters [were] a wall for them on their right and on their left.

23 And [the] Egyptians gave chase and entered after them--all the horses of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his charioteers--into the middle of the sea.

24 And during the morning watch, Yahweh looked down to the Egyptian camp [from] in the column of fire and cloud, and he threw the Egyptian camp into a panic.

25 And he removed the wheels of their chariots [so that] they drove them with difficulty, and [the] Egyptians said, "We must flee away from Israel because Yahweh [is] fighting for them against Egypt."

26 And Yahweh said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, and let the waters return over [the] Egyptians, over their chariots, and over their charioteers."

27 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned {at daybreak} to its normal level, and [the] Egyptians [were] fleeing {because of it}, and Yahweh swept [the] Egyptians into the middle of the sea.

28 And the waters returned and covered the chariots and the charioteers--all the army of Pharaoh coming after them into the sea. Not {even} one survived among them.

29 But the {Israelites} walked on the dry land in the middle of the sea. The waters [were] a wall for them on their right and on their left.

30 And Yahweh saved Israel on that day from the hand of Egypt, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the shore of the sea.

31 And Israel saw the great hand that Yahweh displayed against Egypt, and the people feared Yahweh, and they believed in Yahweh and in Moses his servant.

Exodus 14 Commentary

Chapter 14

God directs the Israelites to Pihahiroth, Pharaoh pursues after them. (1-9) The Israelites murmur, Moses comforts them. (10-14) God instructs Moses, The cloud between the Israelites and the Egyptians. (15-20) The Israelites pass through the Red sea, which drowns the Egyptians. (21-31)

Verses 1-9 Pharaoh would think that all Israel was entangled in the wilderness, and so would become an easy prey. But God says, I will be honoured upon Pharaoh. All men being made for the honour of their Maker, those whom he is not honoured by, he will be honoured upon. What seems to tend to the church's ruin, is often overruled to the ruin of the church's enemies. While Pharaoh gratified his malice and revenge, he furthered the bringing to pass God's counsels concerning him. Though with the greatest reason he had let Israel go, yet now he was angry with himself for it. God makes the envy and rage of men against his people, a torment to themselves. Those who set their faces heavenward, and will live godly in Christ Jesus, must expect to be set upon by Satan's temptations and terrors. He will not tamely part with any out of his service.

Verses 10-14 There was no way open to Israel but upward, and thence their deliverance came. We may be in the way of duty, following God, and hastening toward heaven, yet may be troubled on every side. Some cried out unto the Lord; their fear led them to pray, and that was well. God brings us into straits, that he may bring us to our knees. Others cried out against Moses; fear set them murmuring as if God were not still able to work miracles. They quarrel with Moses for bringing them out of Egypt; and so were angry with God for the greatest kindness ever done them; thus gross are the absurdities of unbelief. Moses says, Fear ye not. It is always our duty and interest, when we cannot get out of troubles, yet to get above our fears; let them quicken our prayers and endeavours, but not silence our faith and hope. "Stand still," think not to save yourselves either by fighting or flying; wait God's orders, and observe them. Compose yourselves, by confidence in God, into peaceful thoughts of the great salvation God is about to work for you. If God brings his people into straits, he will find a way to bring them out.

Verses 15-20 Moses' silent prayers of faith prevailed more with God than Israel's loud outcries of fear. The pillar of cloud and fire came behind them, where they needed a guard, and it was a wall between them and their enemies. The word and providence of God have a black and dark side toward sin and sinners, but a bright and pleasant side toward the people of the Lord. He, who divided between light and darkness, ( Genesis 1:4 ) , allotted darkness to the Egyptians, and light to the Israelites. Such a difference there will be between the inheritance of the saints in light, and that utter darkness which will be the portion of hypocrites for ever.

Verses 21-31 The dividing the Red sea was the terror of the Canaanites, ( Joshua 2:9 ) ; the praise and triumph of the Israelites, ( Psalm 114:3 , Psalm 106:9 , Psalm 136:13 ) . It was a type of baptism, #1Co. 10:1, #1Co. 10:2 . Israel's passage through it was typical of the conversion of souls, ( Isaiah 11:15 ) ; and the Egyptians being drowned in it was typical of the final ruin of all unrepenting sinners. God showed his almighty power, by opening a passage through the waters, some miles over. God can bring his people through the greatest difficulties, and force a way where he does not find it. It was an instance of his wonderful favour to his Israel. They went through the sea, they walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea. This was done, in order to encourage God's people in all ages to trust him in the greatest straits. What cannot he do who did this? What will not he do for those that fear and love him, who did this for these murmuring, unbelieving Israelites? Then followed the just and righteous wrath of God upon his and his people's enemies. The ruin of sinners is brought on by their own rage and presumption. They might have let Israel alone, and would not; now they would flee from the face of Israel, and cannot. Men will not be convinced, till it is too late, that those who meddle with God's people, meddle to their own hurt. Moses was ordered to stretch out his hand over the sea; the waters returned, and overwhelmed all the host of the Egyptians. Pharaoh and his servants, who had hardened one another in sin, now fell together, not one escaped. The Israelites saw the Egyptians dead upon the sands. The sight very much affected them. While men see God's works, and feel the benefit, they fear him and trust in him. How well were it for us, if we were always in as good a frame as sometimes! Behold the end to which a Christian may look forward. His enemies rage, and are mighty; but while he holds fast by God, he shall pass the waves in safety guarded by that very power of his Saviour, which shall come down on every spiritual foe. The enemies of his soul whom he hath seen to-day, he shall see no more for ever.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [b]. Literally "and between the sea"
• [c]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [d]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [e]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [f]. Literally "with a raised/high hand"
• [g]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [h]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [i]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [j]. Or "journey," "move on," "travel"
• [k]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [l]. Literally "the cloud was and the darkness"
• [m]. Or "it illumined the night"
• [n]. Literally "this did not come near to this"
• [o]. Or "caused the sea to go," "drove the sea"
• [p]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [q]. Or "pursued," "chased"
• [r]. Or "let turn aside"
• [s]. Or "let us flee," "let me run away"; the verb is singular, but it is plural in context
• [t]. Literally "at the turning of morning"
• [u]. Literally "to/for/from the meeting of it"
• [v]. Literally "up to," "as far as"
• [w]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [x]. Or "power"
• [y]. Or "power"

Chapter Summary

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.