Exodus 14WEB
Books
All books

Exodus14

World English Bible · Public Domain

1Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

2“Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn back and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal Zephon. You shall encamp opposite it by the sea.

3Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, ‘They are entangled in the land. The wilderness has shut them in.’

4I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will follow after them; and I will get honor over Pharaoh, and over all his armies; and the Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh.” They did so.

5The king of Egypt was told that the people had fled; and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?”

6He prepared his chariot, and took his army with him;

7and he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, with captains over all of them.

8Yahweh hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; for the children of Israel went out with a high hand.

9The Egyptians pursued them. All the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen, and his army overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baal Zephon.

10When Pharaoh came near, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and they were very afraid. The children of Israel cried out to Yahweh.

11They said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you treated us this way, to bring us out of Egypt?

12Isn’t this the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

13Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh, which he will work for you today; for you will never again see the Egyptians whom you have seen today.

14Yahweh will fight for you, and you shall be still.”

15Yahweh said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Speak to the children of Israel, that they go forward.

16Lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. Then the children of Israel shall go into the middle of the sea on dry ground.

17Behold, I myself will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will go in after them. I will get myself honor over Pharaoh, and over all his armies, over his chariots, and over his horsemen.

18The Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh when I have gotten myself honor over Pharaoh, over his chariots, and over his horsemen.”

19The angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them, and stood behind them.

20It came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel. There was the cloud and the darkness, yet it gave light by night. One didn’t come near the other all night.

21Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and Yahweh caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

22The children of Israel went into the middle of the sea on the dry ground; and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

23The Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the middle of the sea: all of Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

24In the morning watch, Yahweh looked out on the Egyptian army through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and confused the Egyptian army.

25He took off their chariot wheels, and they drove them heavily; so that the Egyptians said, “Let’s flee from the face of Israel, for Yahweh fights for them against the Egyptians!”

26Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come again on the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.”

27Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it. Yahweh overthrew the Egyptians in the middle of the sea.

28The waters returned, and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even all Pharaoh’s army that went in after them into the sea. There remained not so much as one of them.

29But the children of Israel walked on dry land in the middle of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

30Thus Yahweh saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.

31Israel saw the great work which Yahweh did to the Egyptians, and the people feared Yahweh; and they believed in Yahweh and in his servant Moses.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Exodus 14.

Full AI study →

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

saidH1696Hebrew

דָבַר: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

peopleH1121Hebrew

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.)

IsraelH3478Hebrew

יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

backH7725Hebrew

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

encampH2583Hebrew

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)

frontH6440Hebrew

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.)

Pi-hahirothH6367Hebrew

פִּי הַחִירֹת: Pi-ha-Chiroth, a place in Egypt

MigdolH4024Hebrew

מִגְדּוֹל: Migdol, a place in Egypt

seaH3220Hebrew

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

Baal-zephonH1189Hebrew

בַּעַל צְפוֹן: Baal-Tsephon, a place in Eqypt

Cross References

Exodus 14
v4Romans 9:17thematic

Paul 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

v22Hebrews 11:29thematic

By faith Israel passed through the Red sea as by dry land, which Egyptians assaying were drowned.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v2Numbers 33:7thematic

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

v21Psalms 106:9thematic

He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up; leading them through the depths.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v21Psalms 136:13thematic

To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v8Numbers 33:3thematic

Explicitly confirms that Israel went out of Egypt triumphantly 'with an high hand'.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v11Psalms 106:7thematic

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

v19Exodus 13:21thematic

Identifies the original position of the pillar of cloud that now moves behind them.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v21Joshua 2:9thematic

Rahab testifies that the terror of Israel fell on Canaanites because the Lord dried up the Red sea.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v21Isaiah 11:15typology

The Lord drying up the tongue of the Egyptian sea, a type of ultimate spiritual redemption.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v21Psalms 114:3-5thematic

Poetic description of the Red sea seeing and fleeing before the presence of God.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v31Psalms 106:12thematic

Then believed they his words; they sang his praise immediately following the deliverance.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v4Exodus 18:11thematic

Jethro acknowledges that the Lord is greater than all gods due to this victory.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v5Psalms 105:25thematic

Describes God turning the hearts of the Egyptians to hate and plot against His people.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v12Acts 7:39thematic

Stephen notes how in their hearts the fathers turned back to Egypt.

Supported by John Calvin

v14Deuteronomy 20:4thematic

Deuteronomy's standard military law that the Lord fights for Israel against their enemies.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v19Isaiah 63:9thematic

The 'Angel of his presence' saved them, matching the Angel of God moving here.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v22Joshua 3:17thematic

Parallel miracle where Israel passes Jordan on dry ground, completing the journey begun at the Red sea.

Supported by John Calvin

v22Exodus 15:19thematic

Song of Moses recalls Pharaoh's horses and chariots going into the sea and Israel on dry land.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v25Exodus 14:14fulfillment

Fulfills Moses' promise: 'The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.'

Supported by Matthew Poole

v5Exodus 15:9thematic

Song of Moses captures the boastful, pursuing spirit of the enemy.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v10Joshua 24:7thematic

Joshua's farewell speech recounts Israel crying out and God putting darkness between them.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v12Exodus 5:21thematic

Matches the historical complaint of the Israelites when Moses first went to Pharaoh.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v21Exodus 14:16fulfillment

Moses executes the direct command to lift up his rod and stretch his hand over the sea.

Supported by JFB

v27Psalms 78:53thematic

He led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v28Exodus 14:13fulfillment

Fulfills 'the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more.'

Supported by Matthew Poole