Exodus 15

1 tunc cecinit Moses et filii Israhel carmen hoc Domino et dixerunt cantemus Domino gloriose enim magnificatus est equum et ascensorem deiecit in mare

2 fortitudo mea et laus mea Dominus et factus est mihi in salutem iste Deus meus et glorificabo eum Deus patris mei et exaltabo eum

3 Dominus quasi vir pugnator Omnipotens nomen eius

4 currus Pharaonis et exercitum eius proiecit in mare electi principes eius submersi sunt in mari Rubro

5 abyssi operuerunt eos descenderunt in profundum quasi lapis

6 dextera tua Domine magnifice in fortitudine dextera tua Domine percussit inimicum

7 et in multitudine gloriae tuae deposuisti adversarios meos misisti iram tuam quae devoravit eos ut stipulam

8 et in spiritu furoris tui congregatae sunt aquae stetit unda fluens congregatae sunt abyssi in medio mari

9 dixit inimicus persequar et conprehendam dividam spolia implebitur anima mea evaginabo gladium meum interficiet eos manus mea

10 flavit spiritus tuus et operuit eos mare submersi sunt quasi plumbum in aquis vehementibus

11 quis similis tui in fortibus Domine quis similis tui magnificus in sanctitate terribilis atque laudabilis et faciens mirabilia

12 extendisti manum tuam et devoravit eos terra

13 dux fuisti in misericordia tua populo quem redemisti et portasti eum in fortitudine tua ad habitaculum sanctum tuum

14 adtenderunt populi et irati sunt dolores obtinuerunt habitatores Philisthim

15 tunc conturbati sunt principes Edom robustos Moab obtinuit tremor obriguerunt omnes habitatores Chanaan

16 inruat super eos formido et pavor in magnitudine brachii tui fiant inmobiles quasi lapis donec pertranseat populus tuus Domine donec pertranseat populus tuus iste quem possedisti

17 introduces eos et plantabis in monte hereditatis tuae firmissimo habitaculo tuo quod operatus es Domine sanctuarium Domine quod firmaverunt manus tuae

18 Dominus regnabit in aeternum et ultra

19 ingressus est enim equus Pharao cum curribus et equitibus eius in mare et reduxit super eos Dominus aquas maris filii autem Israhel ambulaverunt per siccum in medio eius

20 sumpsit ergo Maria prophetis soror Aaron tympanum in manu egressaeque sunt omnes mulieres post eam cum tympanis et choris

21 quibus praecinebat dicens cantemus Domino gloriose enim magnificatus est equum et ascensorem eius deiecit in mare

22 tulit autem Moses Israhel de mari Rubro et egressi sunt in desertum Sur ambulaveruntque tribus diebus per solitudinem et non inveniebant aquam

23 et venerunt in Marath nec poterant bibere aquas de Mara eo quod essent amarae unde et congruum loco nomen inposuit vocans illud Mara id est amaritudinem

24 et murmuravit populus contra Mosen dicens quid bibemus

25 at ille clamavit ad Dominum qui ostendit ei lignum quod cum misisset in aquas in dulcedinem versae sunt ibi constituit ei praecepta atque iudicia et ibi temptavit eum

26 dicens si audieris vocem Domini Dei tui et quod rectum est coram eo feceris et oboedieris mandatis eius custodierisque omnia praecepta illius cunctum languorem quem posui in Aegypto non inducam super te ego enim Dominus sanator tuus

27 venerunt autem in Helim ubi erant duodecim fontes aquarum et septuaginta palmae et castrametati sunt iuxta aquas

Exodus 15 Commentary

Chapter 15

The song of Moses for the deliverance of Israel. (1-21) The bitter waters at Marah, The Israelites come to Elim. (22-27)

Verses 1-21 This song is the most ancient we know of. It is a holy song, to the honour of God, to exalt his name, and celebrate his praise, and his only, not in the least to magnify any man. Holiness to the Lord is in every part of it. It may be considered as typical, and prophetical of the final destruction of the enemies of the church. Happy the people whose God is the Lord. They have work to do, temptations to grapple with, and afflictions to bear, and are weak in themselves; but his grace is their strength. They are often in sorrow, but in him they have comfort; he is their song. Sin, and death, and hell threaten them, but he is, and will be their salvation. The Lord is a God of almighty power, and woe to those that strive with their Maker! He is a God of matchless perfection; he is glorious in holiness; his holiness is his glory. His holiness appears in the hatred of sin, and his wrath against obstinate sinners. It appears in the deliverance of Israel, and his faithfulness to his own promise. He is fearful in praises; that which is matter of praise to the servants of God, is very dreadful to his enemies. He is doing wonders, things out of the common course of nature; wondrous to those in whose favour they are wrought, who are so unworthy, that they had no reason to expect them. There were wonders of power and wonders of grace; in both, God was to be humbly adored.

Verses 22-27 In the wilderness of Shur the Israelites had no water. At Marah they had water, but it was bitter; so that they could not drink it. God can make bitter to us that from which we promise ourselves most, and often does so in the wilderness of this world, that our wants, and disappointments in the creature, may drive us to the Creator, in whose favour alone true comfort is to be had. In this distress the people fretted, and quarrelled with Moses. Hypocrites may show high affections, and appear earnest in religious exercises, but in the time of temptation they fall away. Even true believers, in seasons of sharp trial, will be tempted to fret, distrust, and murmur. But in every trial we should cast our care upon the Lord, and pour out our hearts before him. We shall then find that a submissive will, a peaceful conscience, and the comforts of the Holy Ghost, will render the bitterest trial tolerable, yea, pleasant. Moses did what the people had neglected to do; he cried unto the Lord. And God provided graciously for them. He directed Moses to a tree which he cast into the waters, when, at once, they were made sweet. Some make this tree typical of the cross of Christ, which sweetens the bitter waters of affliction to all the faithful, and enables them to rejoice in tribulation. But a rebellious Israelite shall fare no better than a rebellious Egyptian. The threatening is implied only, the promise is expressed. God is the great Physician. If we are kept well, it is he that keeps us; if we are made well, it is he that recovers us. He is our life and the length of our days. Let us not forget that we are kept from destruction, and delivered from our enemies, to be the Lord's servants. At Elim they had good water, and enough of it. Though God may, for a time, order his people to encamp by the bitter waters of Marah, that shall not always be their lot. Let us not faint at tribulations.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 15

This chapter contains the song of Moses, and of the children of Israel, on the banks of the Red sea; in which they celebrate their passage through it, the destruction of Pharaoh and his host in it, and the glory of the divine perfections displayed therein, interspersed with prophetic hints of things future, Ex 15:1-19 which same song was sung by the women, with Miriam at the head of them, attended with timbrels and dances, Ex 15:20,21, an account is given of the march of the children of Israel from the Red sea to the wilderness of Shur, and of the bitter waters found at Marah, which occasioned a murmuring, and of their being made sweet by casting a tree into them, Ex 15:22-25 when they were told by the Lord, that if they would yield obedience to his commandments, they should be free from the diseases the Egyptians had been afflicted with, Ex 15:26, and the chapter is concluded with their coming to Elim, where they found twelve wells of water, and seventy palm trees, and there encamped, Ex 15:27.