Esodo 14:10

10 E quando Faraone si fu avvicinato, i figliuoli d’Israele alzarono gli occhi: ed ecco, gli Egiziani marciavano alle loro spalle; ond’ebbero una gran paura, e gridarono all’Eterno.

Esodo 14:10 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 14:10

And when Pharaoh drew nigh
Or "caused to draw nigh" ^F20; that is, his army, brought it very near to the camp of the Israelites:

the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians
marched after them;
in great numbers, with full speed, threatening them with utter destruction:

and they were sore afraid;
being an unarmed people, though numerous, and so unable to defend themselves against armed and disciplined troops; and besides, through their long time of slavery their spirits were broken, and were a mean, abject, dispirited people; and especially were so on the sight of the Egyptians, whom they had so many years looked upon and served as their lords and masters:

and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord:
had they prayed unto him in this their distress for help and assistance, protection and preservation, with an holy and humble confidence in him for it, they had acted a right and laudable part; but their crying out to him seems to be only an outcry of the troubles they were in, and rather the effect of despair than of faith and hope; and was by way of complaint and lamentation of their miserable condition and circumstances, as appears by what follows, which shows what temper of mind they were in.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 (byrqh) "fecit accedere", Pagninus, Montanus; "admovit castra", Junius & Tremellius.

Esodo 14:10 In-Context

8 E l’Eterno indurò il cuor di Faraone, re d’Egitto, ed egli inseguì i figliuoli d’Israele, che uscivano pieni di baldanza.

9 Gli Egiziani dunque li inseguirono; e tutti i cavalli, i carri di Faraone, i suoi cavalieri e il suo esercito li raggiunsero mentr’essi erano accampati presso il mare, vicino a Pi-Hahiroth, di fronte a Baal-Tsefon.

10 E quando Faraone si fu avvicinato, i figliuoli d’Israele alzarono gli occhi: ed ecco, gli Egiziani marciavano alle loro spalle; ond’ebbero una gran paura, e gridarono all’Eterno.

11 E dissero a Mosè: "Mancavan forse sepolture in Egitto, che ci hai menati a morire nel deserto? Perché ci hai fatto quest’azione, di farci uscire dall’Egitto?

12 Non è egli questo che ti dicevamo in Egitto: Lasciaci stare, che serviamo gli Egiziani? Poiché meglio era per noi servire gli Egiziani che morire nel deserto".