Exodus 14:15 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And the Lord said unto Moses— We may observe once for all, that though ו vau, in the Hebrew, and και in the Greek, have various significations; yet our translators have almost invariably rendered them by the particle and. A little variety had certainly added elegance and propriety to their version: for if, in the present passage for instance, we read, now the Lord had said unto Moses, a reason will be given for that confidence which Moses shews in the former verse; and which, as the next words prove, was grounded on his prayer to God. It is not to be conceived, that when the Lord says, Wherefore criest thou unto me? he was displeased at Moses for so doing: it only implies, that, his prayers being heard, he was now to exert all those rational endeavours, which are well consistent with the state of prayer and absolute dependence upon God. Though we are to apply to God by prayer, in the midst of distress; yet we are not to rest only therein: but, with a firm reliance on that Power to whom we pray, are to exert every prudent and proper endeavour for our own relief. Mr. Chais renders the former part of this verse agreeable to our remark: Or l'Eternel avoit dit a Moise, Now the Lord had said unto Moses.