Exodus 14:1-12

Pharaoh in Pursuit

1 Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2 "Tell the sons of Israel to turn back and camp before 1Pi-hahiroth, between 2Migdol and the sea; you shall camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it, by the sea.
3 "For Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, 'They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.'
4 "Thus 3I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and 4he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and 5the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD." And they did so.
5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart 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 his chariot ready and took his people with him;
7 and he took six hundred select chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them.
8 6The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he chased after the sons of Israel as the sons of Israel were going out 7boldly *.
9 Then 8the Egyptians chased after them with all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and they overtook them camping by the sea, 9beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.
10 As Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel looked *, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they became very frightened; 10so the sons of Israel cried out to the LORD.
11 Then 11they said to Moses, "Is it because * there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt?
12 "12Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians '? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."

Exodus 14:1-12 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. Numbers 33:7
  • 2. Jeremiah 44:1
  • 3. Exodus 4:21; Exodus 7:3; Exodus 14:17
  • 4. Exodus 14:23
  • 5. Exodus 7:5; Exodus 14:25
  • 6. Exodus 14:4
  • 7. Numbers 33:3; Acts 13:17
  • 8. Exodus 15:9; Joshua 24:6
  • 9. Exodus 14:2
  • 10. Joshua 24:7; Nehemiah 9:9; Psalms 34:17; Psalms 107:6
  • 11. Exodus 5:21; Exodus 15:24; Exodus 16:2; Psalms 106:7, 8
  • 12. Exodus 6:9

Footnotes 7

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