Exode 14

1 L'Eternel parla à Moïse, et dit:

2 Parle aux enfants d'Israël; qu'ils se détournent, et qu'ils campent devant Pi-Hahiroth, entre Migdol et la mer, vis-à-vis de Baal-Tsephon; c'est en face de ce lieu que vous camperez, près de la mer.

3 Pharaon dira des enfants d'Israël: Ils sont égarés dans le pays; le désert les enferme.

4 J'endurcirai le coeur de Pharaon, et il les poursuivra; mais Pharaon et toute son armée serviront à faire éclater ma gloire, et les Egyptiens sauront que je suis l'Eternel. Et les enfants d'Israël firent ainsi.

5 On annonça au roi d'Egypte que le peuple avait pris la fuite. Alors le coeur de Pharaon et celui de ses serviteurs furent changés à l'égard du peuple. Ils dirent: Qu'avons-nous fait, en laissant aller Israël, dont nous n'aurons plus les services?

6 Et Pharaon attela son char, et il prit son peuple avec lui.

7 Il prit six cents chars d'élite, et tous les chars de l'Egypte; il y avait sur tous des combattants.

8 L'Eternel endurcit le coeur de Pharaon, roi d'Egypte, et Pharaon poursuivit les enfants d'Israël. Les enfants d'Israël étaient sortis la main levée.

9 Les Egyptiens les poursuivirent; et tous les chevaux, les chars de Pharaon, ses cavaliers et son armée, les atteignirent campés près de la mer, vers Pi-Hahiroth, vis-à-vis de Baal-Tsephon.

10 Pharaon approchait. Les enfants d'Israël levèrent les yeux, et voici, les Egyptiens étaient en marche derrière eux. Et les enfants d'Israël eurent une grande frayeur, et crièrent à l'Eternel.

11 Ils dirent à Moïse: N'y avait-il pas des sépulcres en Egypte, sans qu'il fût besoin de nous mener mourir au désert? Que nous as-tu fait en nous faisant sortir d'Egypte?

12 N'est-ce pas là ce que nous te disions en Egypte: Laisse-nous servir les Egyptiens, car nous aimons mieux servir les Egyptiens que de mourir au désert?

13 Moïse répondit au peuple: Ne craignez rien, restez en place, et regardez la délivrance que l'Eternel va vous accorder en ce jour; car les Egyptiens que vous voyez aujourd'hui, vous ne les verrez plus jamais.

14 L'Eternel combattra pour vous; et vous, gardez le silence.

15 L'Eternel dit à Moïse: Pourquoi ces cris? Parle aux enfants d'Israël, et qu'ils marchent.

16 Toi, lève ta verge, étends ta main sur la mer, et fends-la; et les enfants d'Israël entreront au milieu de la mer à sec.

17 Et moi, je vais endurcir le coeur des Egyptiens, pour qu'ils y entrent après eux: et Pharaon et toute son armée, ses chars et ses cavaliers, feront éclater ma gloire.

18 Et les Egyptiens sauront que je suis l'Eternel, quand Pharaon, ses chars et ses cavaliers, auront fait éclater ma gloire.

19 L'ange de Dieu, qui allait devant le camp d'Israël, partit et alla derrière eux; et la colonne de nuée qui les précédait, partit et se tint derrière eux.

20 Elle se plaça entre le camp des Egyptiens et le camp d'Israël. Cette nuée était ténébreuse d'un côté, et de l'autre elle éclairait la nuit. Et les deux camps n'approchèrent point l'un de l'autre pendant toute la nuit.

21 Moïse étendit sa main sur la mer. Et l'Eternel refoula la mer par un vent d'orient, qui souffla avec impétuosité toute la nuit; il mit la mer à sec, et les eaux se fendirent.

22 Les enfants d'Israël entrèrent au milieu de la mer à sec, et les eaux formaient comme une muraille à leur droite et à leur gauche.

23 Les Egyptiens les poursuivirent; et tous les chevaux de Pharaon, ses chars et ses cavaliers, entrèrent après eux au milieu de la mer.

24 A la veille du matin, l'Eternel, de la colonne de feu et de nuée, regarda le camp des Egyptiens, et mit en désordre le camp des Egyptiens.

25 Il ôta les roues de leurs chars et en rendit la marche difficile. Les Egyptiens dirent alors: Fuyons devant Israël, car l'Eternel combat pour lui contre les Egyptiens.

26 L'Eternel dit à Moïse: Etends ta main sur la mer; et les eaux reviendront sur les Egyptiens, sur leurs chars et sur leurs cavaliers.

27 Moïse étendit sa main sur la mer. Et vers le matin, la mer reprit son impétuosité, et les Egyptiens s'enfuirent à son approche; mais l'Eternel précipita les Egyptiens au milieu de la mer.

28 Les eaux revinrent, et couvrirent les chars, les cavaliers et toute l'armée de Pharaon, qui étaient entrés dans la mer après les enfants d'Israël; et il n'en échappa pas un seul.

29 Mais les enfants d'Israël marchèrent à sec au milieu de la mer, et les eaux formaient comme une muraille à leur droite et à leur gauche.

30 En ce jour, l'Eternel délivra Israël de la main des Egyptiens; et Israël vit sur le rivage de la mer les Egyptiens qui étaient morts.

31 Israël vit la main puissante que l'Eternel avait dirigée contre les Egyptiens. Et le peuple craignit l'Eternel, et il crut en l'Eternel et en Moïse, son serviteur.

Exode 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.

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.