XV. THE SONG OF MOSES. (1) THEN SANG MOSES AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. — With his usual modesty, Moses does not say that he composed the magnificent ode which follows; but it is scarcely conceivable that it can have had any other author. It bears a close resemblance to the Egyptian religious poetry,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH AND SONG. — Heb., _My strength and song is Jah._ The contracted form of Jehovah, Jah, is here used for the first time; but its existence in the current speech has already been indicated by the name Moriah, which occurs in Genesis 22:1. It is here used on account of the rhythm... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD IS A MAN OF WAR. — The directness and boldness of the anthropomorphism is markedly archaic, and is wisely retained by our translators. How turgid and yet weak are the Samaritan, “mighty in battle,” and the LXX., “crusher of wars,” in comparison! THE LORD IS HIS NAME. — In the very name, Je... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS CHOSEN CAPTAINS. — Comp. Exodus 14:7, where the same word is used. ARE DROWNED. — Rather, _were drowned. _... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DEPTHS HAVE COVERED THEM. — Rather, _covered them._ The first stanza, or strophe, here terminates — the first historical review is completed. In it attention is concentrated on the one great fact of the deliverance by the destruction of the Egyptians in the Red Sea. At the close it is probable t... [ Continue Reading ]
THY RIGHT HAND. — Here is a second anthropomorphism, following naturally on the first, and occuring in the later Scriptures frequently, though now used for the first time. HATH DASHED IN PIECES. — Rather, _dashes in pieces._ The verb is in the future, but is a future of continuance. THOU HAST OVER... [ Continue Reading ]
(6-10) The second stanza, or strophe, expands the subject-matter of the first. It begins, like the first, with some general expressions, setting forth the glory and power of Jehovah (Exodus 15:6), as shown in the recent catastrophe. From this it proceeds to the catastrophe itself, which it describes... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ENEMY SAID. — Pharaoh’s soldiers were as anxious as their master to come to blows. (See above, Exodus 15:7.) They hoped to acquire the rich spoil which the Israelites had carried off from Egypt in the shape of gold and silver ornaments and goodly apparel (Exodus 12:35), as well as their flocks a... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU DIDST BLOW WITH THY WIND. — A new fact, additional to the narrative in Exodus 14, but in complete harmony with it. As a strong east (southeast) wind had driven the waters of the Bitter Lakes to the north-westward, so (it would seem) their return was aided and hastened by a wind from the opposit... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO IS LIKE UNTO THEE... AMONG THE GODS ? — This is undoubtedly the true meaning. It had been a main object of the entire series of miraculous visitations to show that Jehovah was “exalted far above all other gods.” (See Exodus 7:5; Exodus 14:4; Exodus 14:18.) Moses now emphasises the contrast by ad... [ Continue Reading ]
Stanza 3 is a short one, entering into no details — simply summing up the entire result in two sentences: one, parallel to Exodus 15:2; Exodus 15:6, setting forth the glory of God, as shown in the occurrences; the other emphasising the great fact of the occasion, and stating it in the briefest possi... [ Continue Reading ]
The earth swallowed them. — The sea, which actually “swallowed them,” was a part of the earth. Literalism might argue that the statement contravened former ones (Exodus 15:4; Exodus 15:10); but the fact is otherwise. If we only allow our common sense fair play, and permit sacred writers the same lat... [ Continue Reading ]
(13-18) The concluding stanza of the ode involves a change of attitude, and deals with new matters. The poet’s eye fixes itself upon the future. First, he speaks of the guidance of God, lately begun, and about to continue until Canaan is reached (Exodus 15:13). Then his glance turns to the enemies o... [ Continue Reading ]
HAST LED FORTH... HAST GUIDED. — Or, _leadest forth_... _guidest._ The guidance was not over; rather, it was just begun. The want of a present tense in Hebrew causes the preterite and future to have, both of them, under certain circumstances, the force of the present. THY HOLY HABITATION. — It might... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PEOPLE. — Heb., _The peoples: i.e.,_ all the various tribes and nations of the desert and of Palestine — the Amalekites, Edomites, Philistines, Moabites, Amorites, &c. SHALL HEAR, AND BE AFRAID. — On the fear which was actually felt, see Numbers 22:3; Joshua 2:11; Joshua 5:1; Joshua 9:3, &c. T... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DUKES OF EDOM. — Comp. Genesis 36:15, where the same title is found. Apparently in the course of the thirty-eight years between the Exodus and the approach to. Canaan, the oligarchy of _“_dukes” had been replaced by a monarchy. (See Numbers 20:14.) The fear of Israel had also passed away; and th... [ Continue Reading ]
FEAR AND DREAD SHALL FALL UPON THEM. — A portion of the Edomites felt so much fear of Israel that they allowed them to pass through their coasts (Deuteronomy 2:4). The Moabites of Aracted similarly (Deuteronomy 2:29). TILL THY PEOPLE PASS OVER — i.e., cross the frontier of the Canaanites, and enter... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE MOUNTAIN OF THINE INHERITANCE. — Some suppose Mount Moriah to be especially intended; but it is better to understand Canaan generally, which is a country consisting almost entirely of mountains, with only two plains of any extent — those of Sharon and Esdraelon. THE SANCTUARY can only mean th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD SHALL REIGN FOR EVER AND EVER. — Compare Psalms 10:16; Psalms 29:10; Psalms 145:13; Psalms 146:10. In simplicity and consequent force the expression of the idea by Moses transcends all later ones.... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse is parenthetic. It forms no part of the “Song of Moses.” Originally, perhaps, when that song was a separate document, it was appended as an historical comment, showing the occasion on which the poem was composed. When the records of Moses were collected — either by himself, towards the cl... [ Continue Reading ]
MIRIAM THE PROPHETESS. — In Miriam we have the first of that long series of religious women presented to us in Holy Scripture who are not merely pious and God-fearing, but exercise a quasi-ministerial office. Examples of other “prophetesses” will be found in Judges 4:4; 2 Kings 22:14; Isaiah 8:3; Lu... [ Continue Reading ]
MIRIAM ANSWERED THEM. — Miriam and her maidens at the close of each portion of the “Song” — i.e., at the end of Exodus 15:5; Exodus 15:10; Exodus 15:12; Exodus 15:18 — sang the refrain which is here given — a refrain very slightly altered from the opening verse of the “Song” itself, marking, no doub... [ Continue Reading ]
THE JOURNEY FROM THE RED SEA TO ELIM. (22) SO MOSES BROUGHT ISRAEL. — Rather, _And Moses brought Israel._ The regular narrative is here resumed from Exodus 14:31, and the Israelites are brought two stages upon their journey towards Sinai (Exodus 3:12) — first to Marah (Exodus 15:23), and next to Eli... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WATERS OF MARAH... WERE BITTER. — The extreme bitterness of the springs at the southern extremity of the wilderness of Shur is witnessed to by all travellers. (Burckhardt: _Travels in Syria,_ p. 777; Robinson: _Palestine,_ vol. i., p. 106; Wellsted, _Arabia,_ vol. ii., p. 38, &c.) There are seve... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD SHEWED HIM A TREE. — There are trees which have the power of sweetening bitter water; but none of them is at present found in the Sinaitic peninsula, and the Arabs are not now acquainted with any means of rendering the bitter waters of Howarah and the neighbouring springs palatable. Perhaps... [ Continue Reading ]
ELIM — the next stage to Marah, where there were “twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees” — seems to be rightly identified with the Wady Ghurundel in which “abundant grass grows thick and high,” where acacias and tamarisks are plentiful, and in which, notwithstanding the ruthless d... [ Continue Reading ]