1 And the Lord spake vnto Moses, saying,
2 Speake vnto the children of Israel, that they turne and encampe before Pi-hahiroth, betweene Migdol and the sea, ouer against Baal-Zephon: before it shall ye encampe by the sea.
3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are intangled in the land, the wildernesse hath shut them in.
4 And I will harden Pharaohs heart, that he shall follow after them, and I will be honoured vpon Pharaoh, and vpon all his hoste, 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 seruants was turned against the people, and they said, Why haue wee done this, that we haue let Israel goe from seruing vs?
6 And hee made ready his charet, and tooke his people with him.
7 And hee tooke sixe hundred chosen charets, and all the charets of Egypt, and captaines ouer euery 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 charets of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army) and ouertooke them encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth before Baal-Zephon.
10 ¶ And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lift vp their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them, and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel lift vp their eyes, and beholde, the Egyptians marched after them, and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out vnto the Lord.
11 And they said vnto Moses, Because there were no graues in Egypt, hast thou taken vs away to die in the wildernesse? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with vs, to cary vs foorth out of Egypt?
12 Is not this the word that wee did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let vs alone, that we may serue the Egyptians? For it had bene better for vs to serue the Egyptians, then that wee should die in the wildernesse.
13 ¶ And Moses saide vnto the people, Feare ye not, stand still, and see the saluation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye haue seene to day, ye shall see them againe no more for euer.
14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
15 ¶ And the Lord saide vnto Moses, Wherefore criest thou vnto me? Speake vnto the children of Israel, that they goe forward.
16 But lift thou vp thy rodde, and stretch out thine hand ouer the Sea, and diuide it: and the children of Israel shall goe on dry ground thorow the mids of the Sea.
17 And I, beholde, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get mee honour vpon Pharaoh, and vpon all his hoste, vpon his charets, and vpon his horsemen.
18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I haue gotten me honour vpon Pharaoh, vpon his charets, and vpon his horsemen.
19 ¶ And the Angel of God which went before the campe of Israel, remoued and went behind them, and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behinde them.
20 And it came betweene the campe of the Egyptians, and the campe of Israel, and it was a cloud and darkenesse to them, but it gaue light by night to these: so that the one came not neere the other all the night.
21 And Moses stretched out his hand ouer the Sea, and the Lord caused the Sea to goe backe by a strong East winde all that night, and made the Sea dry land, and the waters were diuided.
22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the Sea vpon the dry ground, and the waters were a wall vnto 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, euen all Pharaohs horses, his charets and his horsemen.
24 And it came to passe, that in the morning watch the Lord looked vnto the hoste of the Egyptians, through the pillar of fire, and of the cloude, and troubled the hoste of the Egyptians,
25 And tooke off their charet wheeles, that they draue them heauily: So that the Egyptians said, Let vs flee from the face of Israel: for the Lord fighteth for them, against the Egyptians.
26 ¶ And the Lord saide vnto Moses, Stretch out thine hand ouer the Sea, that the waters may come againe vpon the Egyptians, vpon their charets, and vpon their horsemen.
27 And Moses stretched foorth his hand ouer the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared: and the Egyptians fled against it: and the Lord ouerthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
28 And the waters returned, and couered the charets, and the horsemen, and all the hoste 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 vpon drie land, in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall vnto them on their right hand, and on their left.
30 Thus the Lord saued Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians: and Israel sawe the Egyptians dead vpon the sea shore.
31 And Israel saw that great worke which the Lord did vpon the Egyptians: & the people feared the Lord, and beleeued the Lord, and his seruant Moses.
God directs the Israelites to Pihahiroth, Pharaoh pursues after them. (1-9) The Israelites murmur, Moses comforts them. (10-14) God instructs Moses, The cloud between the Israelites and the Egyptians. (15-20) The Israelites pass through the Red sea, which drowns the Egyptians. (21-31)1-9 Pharaoh would think that all Israel was entangled in the wilderness, and so would become an easy prey. But God says, I will be honoured upon Pharaoh. All men being made for the honour of their Maker, those whom he is not honoured by, he will be honoured upon. What seems to tend to the church's ruin, is often overruled to the ruin of the church's enemies. While Pharaoh gratified his malice and revenge, he furthered the bringing to pass God's counsels concerning him. Though with the greatest reason he had let Israel go, yet now he was angry with himself for it. God makes the envy and rage of men against his people, a torment to themselves. Those who set their faces heavenward, and will live godly in Christ Jesus, must expect to be set upon by Satan's temptations and terrors. He will not tamely part with any out of his service.
10-14 There was no way open to Israel but upward, and thence their deliverance came. We may be in the way of duty, following God, and hastening toward heaven, yet may be troubled on every side. Some cried out unto the Lord; their fear led them to pray, and that was well. God brings us into straits, that he may bring us to our knees. Others cried out against Moses; fear set them murmuring as if God were not still able to work miracles. They quarrel with Moses for bringing them out of Egypt; and so were angry with God for the greatest kindness ever done them; thus gross are the absurdities of unbelief. Moses says, Fear ye not. It is always our duty and interest, when we cannot get out of troubles, yet to get above our fears; let them quicken our prayers and endeavours, but not silence our faith and hope. "Stand still," think not to save yourselves either by fighting or flying; wait God's orders, and observe them. Compose yourselves, by confidence in God, into peaceful thoughts of the great salvation God is about to work for you. If God brings his people into straits, he will find a way to bring them out.
15-20 Moses' silent prayers of faith prevailed more with God than Israel's loud outcries of fear. The pillar of cloud and fire came behind them, where they needed a guard, and it was a wall between them and their enemies. The word and providence of God have a black and dark side toward sin and sinners, but a bright and pleasant side toward the people of the Lord. He, who divided between light and darkness, #Ge 1:4|, allotted darkness to the Egyptians, and light to the Israelites. Such a difference there will be between the inheritance of the saints in light, and that utter darkness which will be the portion of hypocrites for ever.
21-31 The dividing the Red sea was the terror of the Canaanites, #Jos 2:9|; the praise and triumph of the Israelites, #Ps 114:3; 106:9; 136:13|. It was a type of baptism, #1Co 10:1,2|. Israel's passage through it was typical of the conversion of souls, #Isa 11:15|; and the Egyptians being drowned in it was typical of the final ruin of all unrepenting sinners. God showed his almighty power, by opening a passage through the waters, some miles over. God can bring his people through the greatest difficulties, and force a way where he does not find it. It was an instance of his wonderful favour to his Israel. They went through the sea, they walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea. This was done, in order to encourage God's people in all ages to trust him in the greatest straits. What cannot he do who did this? What will not he do for those that fear and love him, who did this for these murmuring, unbelieving Israelites? Then followed the just and righteous wrath of God upon his and his people's enemies. The ruin of sinners is brought on by their own rage and presumption. They might have let Israel alone, and would not; now they would flee from the face of Israel, and cannot. Men will not be convinced, till it is too late, that those who meddle with God's people, meddle to their own hurt. Moses was ordered to stretch out his hand over the sea; the waters returned, and overwhelmed all the host of the Egyptians. Pharaoh and his servants, who had hardened one another in sin, now fell together, not one escaped. The Israelites saw the Egyptians dead upon the sands. The sight very much affected them. While men see God's works, and feel the benefit, they fear him and trust in him. How well were it for us, if we were always in as good a frame as sometimes! Behold the end to which a Christian may look forward. His enemies rage, and are mighty; but while he holds fast by God, he shall pass the waves in safety guarded by that very power of his Saviour, which shall come down on every spiritual foe. The enemies of his soul whom he hath seen to-day, he shall see no more for ever.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.