_A.M. 2513. B.C. 1491._ Here is, (1,) The extreme distress that Israel was in at the Red sea. 1, Notice given of it to Moses before, Exodus 14:1; Exodus 14:2, The cause of it was Pharaoh's pursuit of them, Exodus 14:5; Exodus 14:3, Israel was in a consternation upon it, Exodus 14:10; Exodus 14:4, M... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord spake_ Or rather had spoken, before they came to Succoth, Exodus 12:37. For what was there briefly and generally expressed, is here more largely and particularly declared, together with the occasion of it, which was God's command. _Speak unto the children of Israel_ They were got to the _e... [ Continue Reading ]
_Pharaoh will say they are entangled_ He will presume that you are hemmed in between the rocks and the sea. _I will harden Pharaoh's heart_ See note on Exodus 4:21; Exodus 7:13. The meaning is, that Pharaoh would take occasion, from the apparently distressed situation the Israelites were now in, enc... [ Continue Reading ]
_It was told the king that the people fled_ As they had been ordered by the Lord to turn a different way from that which led directly to mount Horeb, it is probable that, as soon as Pharaoh heard of it, he concluded they had no intention of going thither, but were escaping out of Egypt. He either fo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Six hundred chosen chariots_ The strength of ancient Egypt, which is a plain country, consisted in cavalry and military chariots. Indeed, it appears from sundry passages of Scripture, that the eastern nations in general, in the early ages of the world, made great use of armed chariots in war. _Capt... [ Continue Reading ]
_With a high hand_ Boldly and resolutely. It seems the latter part of the verse had better be rendered, _even the children of Israel, going away with a high hand_, or, in other words, _in spite of him._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Chariots and horsemen_ It seems he took no foot with him, because the king's business required haste. _The children of Israel cried out unto the Lord_ Partly by petition, and partly by complaint and expostulation; probably, however, more from despair than trust in God, for _they were sore afraid_,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moses said, Fear ye not, stand still_ Hebrew, _make yourselves to stand._ Let not your hearts fail, or sink, or stagger, through unbelief: but with quiet minds look up to God. _The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace_ Ye shall contribute nothing to the victory, neither by your wo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore criest thou to me?_ Moses, though he was assured of a good issue, yet did not neglect prayer. We read not of one word he said in prayer, but he _lifted up his heart_ to God, and God well understood, and took notice of it. Moses's silent prayer prevailed more with God than Israel's loud ou... [ Continue Reading ]
_The angel of God_ Whose ministry was made use of in the pillar of cloud and fire, went from _before the camp of Israel_, where they did not now need a guide, (there was no danger of missing their way through the sea,) and came _behind them_, where now they needed a guard, the Egyptians being just r... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Moses stretched out his hand_, &c. We have here the history of that work of wonder which is so often mentioned both in the Old and New Testaments. An instance of God's almighty power in dividing the sea, and opening a passage through the waters. It was a bay, or gulf, or arm of the sea, two or... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the Egyptians went in after them into the midst of the sea _ They thought, Why might they not venture where Israel did? They were more advantageously provided with chariots and horses, while the Israelites were on foot.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord_ Called the angel before; _looked unto the host of the Egyptians_ He looked upon them in anger, Psalms 104:32. He visited them with marks of his displeasure, and _troubled the Egyptians_ with terrible winds, lightnings, and thunders, Exodus 15:10; Psalms 77:18; also, with terror of mind. _... [ Continue Reading ]
_They drave heavily_ They had driven _furiously_, but they now found themselves embarrassed at every step; the way grew deep, their hearts grew sad, their wheels dropped off, and the axle-trees failed. They had been flying upon the back of Israel as the hawk on the dove; but now they cried, _Let us... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thy hand over the sea _ And give a signal to the waters to _close again_, as before upon the word of command they had _opened to the right and the left._ He did so, and immediately the waters returned to their place, and overwhelmed all the host of the Egyp... [ Continue Reading ]
_The sea returned to its strength_ Its force had, as it were, been checked and held back by the reins of the divine power; but now full scope is given to its impetuous rage. The expression implies that the sea returned not leisurely, as in ordinary tides, but rushed upon them precipitately.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon_ the _sea-shore_ Rather, _Israel upon_ (or from) _the sea-shore saw the Egyptians dead_ That is, saw their dead bodies floating upon the waters. It is likely, however, that the bodies of many of them were cast on shore, and became food to the beasts and birds of p... [ Continue Reading ]
_The people feared the Lord_ This great work, which the Lord had done upon the Egyptians, was a means of begetting in them, for the present at least, awful thoughts of God, and devout affections toward him. _And they believed the Lord and his servant Moses_ Now they were ashamed of their distrusts a... [ Continue Reading ]