Exodus 14:24 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

In the morning-watch— A watch was a fourth part of the time from sun-setting to sun-rising; so called, from soldiers keeping guard by night; who being changed four times during the night, the periods came to be called watches. See Matthew 14:25.Mark 13:35.Luke 12:38. It was in the morning-watch, the last of the four, that the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians, through the pillar of fire and of the cloud. It is difficult to say, what is implied by this look of the Lord; or how, by means of it, the host of the Egyptians was troubled: it was, no doubt, a look of anger and displeasure; see Psalms 104:32 but, whether it was attended, as some suppose, with dreadful thunders, lightning, and hailstones, shot from the cloud, is difficult to determine. Dr. Hammond supposes, that the 77th psalm, Exodus 14:16-20 refers to this event; and if so, it is a noble exposition of it. Some render troubled the host, by debilitated the host: but the true meaning of the word המם hamam, seems to be that which our translation gives; to trouble, or put into tumult and confusion. It does not appear by the text, that the Egyptians were sensible that they were entering into the sea; and it is more than probable, that they were too eager after their pursuit, and had too little light, to perceive the danger they were running into: unless we should suppose, with Josephus, that, because they saw the Israelites march safely through the sea, they vainly hoped that they might do the same; and were not undeceived till it was too late.