Exodus 14:1 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Exodus 14. (Exodus 14:1-4 P, Exodus 14:5 f. J, Exodus 14:7 a(b) E, Exodus 14:8 P Exodus 14:9 a E, Exodus 14:9 (b)c - Exodus 14:10 a (afraid) J, Exodus 14:10 b E, Exodus 14:11-14 J, Exodus 14:15 a E, Exodus 14:15 b P, Exodus 14:16 a (rod) E, Exodus 14:16 b - Exodus 14:18 P, Exodus 14:19 a E, Exodus 14:19 b J, Exodus 14:21 a P, Exodus 14:21 b (dry land) J, Exodus 14:21 c - Exodus 14:23 P, Exodus 14:24 a (cloud) J, Exodus 14:24 b E, Exodus 14:25 J, Exodus 14:26-27 a P, Exodus 14:27 b (and the sea) J, Exodus 14:28 a (sea) P, Exodus 14:28 b J, Exodus 14:29 Rp, Exodus 14:30 J, Exodus 14:31 Rje). The dramatic last phase of the escape of Israel from the Egyptians, by passing dryshod over the water barrier that seemed to hem them in, is unanimously presented by all the narrators. Space will not allow any display of the disentangling process by which the threads of narrative are identified. In J once more the scene, though wonderful, is built up of every-day elements. No sooner is Israel gone than Pharaoh (Exodus 14:5) sees what he has lost. So the hard fact constantly belies the merely fancied future. He and his men pursue and bring terror (Exodus 14:10). The Faintheart family give eloquent tongue (Exodus 14:11 f.). Moses calms them (Exodus 14:13) with a word, Stand firm (not still) and see the salvation (i.e. deliverance) of Yahweh. The pillar of fiery cloud moved to guard their rear (Exodus 14:19 b); the east wind drove back the ebb tide till the shallows were dry; at dawn Yahweh flashed defiance from the cloud upon the pursuing foes, and bound (mg.) their chariot wheels and made them drive heavily (mg.), and Egypt said, Let me flee; the tide coming back to its wonted flow (mg.) caught and destroyed them (Exodus 14:27 b); and Israel saw Egypt (so Heb.) dead upon the sea-shore (Exodus 14:30). Of E's story we have less: the pursuit (Exodus 14:7; Exodus 14:9 a); the Israelites-' frenzied prayer, apparently (cf. Exodus 14:15 a) echoed by Moses; the order to lift up his wonder-working rod (vv. Exodus 14:16 a); the angel of God as rear-guard (Exodus 14:19 a, Exodus 14:20 a); and the discomfiting of the Egyptians (Exodus 14:24 b). In P we find a seeming precision about places (Exodus 14:2) which is of no avail since we cannot identify them; the purpose of Israel's peril is the enhancement of Yahweh's honour (Exodus 14:4); the pursuit is the result of Divine hardening, and Israel does not escape in haste but goes out defiantly (Exodus 14:8); no wind, but the hand of Moses, like the mantle of Elijah, must divide the sea (Exodus 16:6); the waters are a wall on either hand (Exodus 14:22), in this writer perhaps not a mere metaphor for a barrier on either flank; and the pursuers are enveloped at the signal of the outstretched hand (Exodus 14:26). The locality of this baptism unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea (1 Corinthians 10:2) has sometimes been fixed on either side of Suez, where there is a ford at low tide; but not a little historical and scientific evidence goes to prove that the sea penetrated far across the isthmus (cf. Exodus 13:18 *), and that at several points S. of L. Timsã h, or N. or S. of the Bitter Lakes, the conditions would then have made the crossing possible. Driver discusses the evidence and alternatives fully (CB, 122- 128). Gressmann thoroughly carries through his idea (cf. Exodus 13:21 *) of a volcanic explanation. He refers to an eruption of Monte Nuovo near Naples in 1538, when the sea was laid bare for 200 paces, and waggon-loads of fish were gathered before the water returned. This attractive theory demands the further assumption that the crossing was over the Gulf of Akaba, as only there are volcanic rocks to be found. For the bearing of this on the site of Sinai, see Exodus 19:1 *.

Exodus 14:4. follow after: pursue (Exodus 14:8 f., Exodus 14:23).

Exodus 14:7. captains: rather knights (cf. Driver's note for the Heb. term).

Exodus 14:9. all the horses. army: omit as a gloss. Horsemen here and elsewhere are an anachronism: Egyptians did not ride till much later, cf. Isaiah 31:1.

Exodus 14:20 b. The text seems corrupt, cf. Joshua 24:7 E.

Related Commentaries of Exodus 14:1

Exodus 14:1-31

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.

3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.

4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so.

5 And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?

6 And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:

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

8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.

9 But 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 Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.

10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.

11 And 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 carry us forth out of Egypt?

12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:

16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

17 And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.

18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.

19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:

20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

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

22 And 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.

23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

24 And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,

25 And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.

26 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.

27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrewa the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.

28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.

29 But 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.

30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.

31 And Israel saw that great workb which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.