Exodus 14:24

24 Then during the morning watch, the Lord looked down on the Egyptian forces from the pillar of fire and cloud, and threw them into confusion.

Exodus 14:24 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 14:24

And it came to pass, that in the morning watch
The Romans divided the night into four watches, so the Hebrews; though some say into three only. The first began at six o'clock, and lasted till nine, the second was from thence to twelve, the third from thence to three in the morning, and the last from three to six, which is here called the morning watch; so that this was some time between three and six o'clock in the morning:

the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians, through the pillar of
fire and of the cloud;
the Angel of the Lord, and who was Jehovah himself, who was in it, he looked to the army of the Egyptians; not to know whereabout they were, he being the omniscient God; nor in a friendly manner, but as an enemy, with indignation and wrath. The Targum of Jonathan is,

``he looked through the pillar of fire, to cast upon them coals of fire, and through the pillar of cloud, to cast upon them hailstones.''

The Jerusalem Targum is,

``pitch, fire, and hailstones;''

and Josephus F17 speaks of storms and tempests, of thunder and lightning, and of thunderbolts out of the clouds; and Artapanus F18 of fire or lightning flashing out against them, by which many perished. Perhaps the psalmist may have reference to this in ( Psalms 106:10-15 )

and troubled the host of the Egyptians;
the thunder and lightning no doubt frightened the horses, so that they broke their ranks, and horsemen and chariots might run foul on one another, and the hailstones scatter and destroy many; however, the whole must be terrible and distressing to them, especially it being in the night season.


FOOTNOTES:

F17 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 2. c. 16. sect. 2.)
F18 Apud Euseb. ut supra. (Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 27. p. 436.)

Exodus 14:24 In-Context

22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with the waters [like] a wall to them on their right and their left.
23 The Egyptians set out in pursuit-all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen-and went into the sea after them.
24 Then during the morning watch, the Lord looked down on the Egyptian forces from the pillar of fire and cloud, and threw them into confusion.
25 He caused their chariot wheels to swerve and made them drive with difficulty. "Let's get away from Israel," the Egyptians said, "because the Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!"
26 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back on the Egyptians, on their chariots and horsemen."
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