Exodus 14

1 locutus est autem Dominus ad Mosen dicens

2 loquere filiis Israhel reversi castrametentur e regione Phiahiroth quae est inter Magdolum et mare contra Beelsephon in conspectu eius castra ponetis super mare

3 dicturusque est Pharao super filiis Israhel coartati sunt in terra conclusit eos desertum

4 et indurabo cor eius ac persequetur vos et glorificabor in Pharao et in omni exercitu eius scientque Aegyptii quia ego sum Dominus feceruntque ita

5 et nuntiatum est regi Aegyptiorum quod fugisset populus inmutatumque est cor Pharaonis et servorum eius super populo et dixerunt quid voluimus facere ut dimitteremus Israhel ne serviret nobis

6 iunxit ergo currum et omnem populum suum adsumpsit secum

7 tulitque sescentos currus electos quicquid in Aegypto curruum fuit et duces totius exercitus

8 induravitque Dominus cor Pharaonis regis Aegypti et persecutus est filios Israhel at illi egressi erant in manu excelsa

9 cumque persequerentur Aegyptii vestigia praecedentium reppererunt eos in castris super mare omnis equitatus et currus Pharaonis et universus exercitus erant in Ahiroth contra Beelsephon

10 cumque adpropinquasset Pharao levantes filii Israhel oculos viderunt Aegyptios post se et timuerunt valde clamaveruntque ad Dominum

11 et dixerunt ad Mosen forsitan non erant sepulchra in Aegypto ideo tulisti nos ut moreremur in solitudine quid hoc facere voluisti ut educeres nos ex Aegypto

12 nonne iste est sermo quem loquebamur ad te in Aegypto dicentes recede a nobis ut serviamus Aegyptiis multo enim melius est servire eis quam mori in solitudine

13 et ait Moses ad populum nolite timere state et videte magnalia Domini quae facturus est hodie Aegyptios enim quos nunc videtis nequaquam ultra videbitis usque in sempiternum

14 Dominus pugnabit pro vobis et vos tacebitis

15 dixitque Dominus ad Mosen quid clamas ad me loquere filiis Israhel ut proficiscantur

16 tu autem eleva virgam tuam et extende manum super mare et divide illud ut gradiantur filii Israhel in medio mari per siccum

17 ego autem indurabo cor Aegyptiorum ut persequantur vos et glorificabor in Pharaone et in omni exercitu eius in curribus et in equitibus illius

18 et scient Aegyptii quia ego sum Dominus cum glorificatus fuero in Pharaone et in curribus atque in equitibus eius

19 tollensque se angelus Dei qui praecedebat castra Israhel abiit post eos et cum eo pariter columna nubis priora dimittens post tergum

20 stetit inter castra Aegyptiorum et castra Israhel et erat nubes tenebrosa et inluminans noctem ut ad se invicem toto noctis tempore accedere non valerent

21 cumque extendisset Moses manum super mare abstulit illud Dominus flante vento vehementi et urente tota nocte et vertit in siccum divisaque est aqua

22 et ingressi sunt filii Israhel per medium maris sicci erat enim aqua quasi murus a dextra eorum et leva

23 persequentesque Aegyptii ingressi sunt post eos omnis equitatus Pharaonis currus eius et equites per medium maris

24 iamque advenerat vigilia matutina et ecce respiciens Dominus super castra Aegyptiorum per columnam ignis et nubis interfecit exercitum eorum

25 et subvertit rotas curruum ferebanturque in profundum dixerunt ergo Aegyptii fugiamus Israhelem Dominus enim pugnat pro eis contra nos

26 et ait Dominus ad Mosen extende manum tuam super mare ut revertantur aquae ad Aegyptios super currus et equites eorum

27 cumque extendisset Moses manum contra mare reversum est primo diluculo ad priorem locum fugientibusque Aegyptiis occurrerunt aquae et involvit eos Dominus in mediis fluctibus

28 reversaeque sunt aquae et operuerunt currus et equites cuncti exercitus Pharaonis qui sequentes ingressi fuerant mare ne unus quidem superfuit ex eis

29 filii autem Israhel perrexerunt per medium sicci maris et aquae eis erant quasi pro muro a dextris et a sinistris

30 liberavitque Dominus in die illo Israhel de manu Aegyptiorum

31 et viderunt Aegyptios mortuos super litus maris et manum magnam quam exercuerat Dominus contra eos timuitque populus Dominum et crediderunt Domino et Mosi servo eius

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.

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.