To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:
To him which divided the Red sea into parts - literally, 'into divisions' (Exodus 14:22, "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"). The 'divisions' were the two parts of the one division-the one on the right hand, the other on the left. The Rabbins fancied from this passage that the Red Sea was divided into as many divisions as there were tribes-namely, twelve, in order that each tribe should have its own way open before it. But Exodus 14:1-31 disproves this. At the same time the language implies that He divided it most widely, so that they passed abreast, not merely by twos or threes, but by thousands (Gejer). A northeast wind striking the sea at Ayun Mousa would sweep the whole breadth of the sea for sixteen or eighteen miles in front. This is just what the Mosaic narrative requires. Almost three millions, with flocks and herds, had to cross the sea in one night. The Wady Mousa (the valley of Moses) or Tawarik (i:e., the valley of nocturnal travelers: cf. Exodus 12:31-42) presents the only level and open space along the Egyptian shore or west side, and is eighteen miles between the extreme points, Baal-zephon and Migdol. Along the whole fine of eighteen miles at once the Israelite army entered the dry channel Not one needless hour was lost in reaching the opposite side. To have crossed in one night was impossible, except by entering by thousands, or even tens of thousands, simultaneously and abreast. Opposite are the Ayun Mousa - i:e., wells of Moses (C. Forster).