Exodus14
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
2Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn back and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal-zephon: over against it shall ye encamp by the sea.
3And Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.
4And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he shall follow after them; and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; and the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah. And they did so.
5And it was told the king of Egypt that the people were fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed towards the people, and they said, What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?
6And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:
7and he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over all of them.
8And Jehovah hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: for the children of Israel went out with a high hand.
9And the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon.
10And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto Jehovah.
11And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to bring us forth out of Egypt?
12Is not this the word that we spake unto thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it were better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
13And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of Jehovah, which he will work for you to-day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to-day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
14Jehovah will fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
15And Jehovah said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.
16And lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thy hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go into the midst of the sea on dry ground.
17And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall go in after them: and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
18And the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah, when I have gotten me honor upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
19And the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud removed from before them, and stood behind them:
20and it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud and the darkness, yet gave it light by night: and the one came not near the other all the night.
21And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and Jehovah caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
22And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
23And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
24And it came to pass in the morning watch, that Jehovah looked forth upon the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and discomfited the host of the Egyptians.
25And he took off their chariot wheels, and they drove them heavily; so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for Jehovah fighteth for them against the Egyptians.
26And Jehovah said unto Moses, Stretch out thy hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
27And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and Jehovah overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
28And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, even all the host of Pharaoh that went in after them into the sea; there remained not so much as one of them.
29But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
30Thus Jehovah saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea-shore.
31And Israel saw the great work which Jehovah did upon the Egyptians, and the people feared Jehovah: and they believed in Jehovah, and in his servant Moses.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Exodus 14.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: 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).
vv1-9
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.
vv10-14
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.
vv15-20
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, Ge 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.
Key Words
דָבַר: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
שׁוּב: to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again
חָנָה: properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening); specifically, to pitch atent; gen. to encamp (for abode or siege)
פָּנִים: the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
פִּי הַחִירֹת: Pi-ha-Chiroth, a place in Egypt
מִגְדּוֹל: Migdol, a place in Egypt
יָם: a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river, or an artifical basin; locally, the west, or (rarely) the south
בַּעַל צְפוֹן: Baal-Tsephon, a place in Eqypt
Cross References
Exodus 14Paul cites Pharaoh's hardening to show how God raises up rulers to show His power.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Passing through the sea under the cloud as a type of baptism into Moses.
Supported by Matthew Henry
By faith Israel passed through the Red sea as by dry land, which Egyptians assaying were drowned.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Traces the precise geographic itinerary of the turn back to Pi-hahiroth and Migdol.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Paul explains that Israel was baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
Supported by Matthew Henry
He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up; leading them through the depths.
Supported by Matthew Henry
To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Explicitly confirms that Israel went out of Egypt triumphantly 'with an high hand'.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Reflects on Israel's early rebellion and lack of understanding at the Red Sea.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Echoes Moses' command to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Identifies the original position of the pillar of cloud that now moves behind them.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Rahab testifies that the terror of Israel fell on Canaanites because the Lord dried up the Red sea.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The Lord drying up the tongue of the Egyptian sea, a type of ultimate spiritual redemption.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Poetic description of the Red sea seeing and fleeing before the presence of God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Then believed they his words; they sang his praise immediately following the deliverance.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Jethro acknowledges that the Lord is greater than all gods due to this victory.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Describes God turning the hearts of the Egyptians to hate and plot against His people.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Stephen notes how in their hearts the fathers turned back to Egypt.
Supported by John Calvin
Deuteronomy's standard military law that the Lord fights for Israel against their enemies.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The 'Angel of his presence' saved them, matching the Angel of God moving here.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel miracle where Israel passes Jordan on dry ground, completing the journey begun at the Red sea.
Supported by John Calvin
Song of Moses recalls Pharaoh's horses and chariots going into the sea and Israel on dry land.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Fulfills Moses' promise: 'The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.'
Supported by Matthew Poole
Song of Moses captures the boastful, pursuing spirit of the enemy.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Joshua's farewell speech recounts Israel crying out and God putting darkness between them.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Matches the historical complaint of the Israelites when Moses first went to Pharaoh.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Moses executes the direct command to lift up his rod and stretch his hand over the sea.
Supported by JFB
He led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Fulfills 'the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more.'
Supported by Matthew Poole