Exodus Chapters 14, 15 Commentary by Mark Dunagan

The Book Of Exodus Chapters 14-15

I. Chapter 14: 14:1-2 “Pi-hahiroth”-(pie huh HIGH rahth) “Midgol”-(MIG dahl) Meaning watchtower or fortress. Was the name of more than one Egyptian city.

“Baal-zephon”-(BAY uhl ZEE fon). Means “Baal of the North”, apparently was a Temple to the Canaanite god Baal, which was worshipped in Egypt.

Points To Note: 1.

Scholars and commentators are not in agreement concerning the location at which Israel crossed the Red Sea. Every body of water along the eastern edge of Egypt has been identified by some interpreter as the sea spoken of.

2. Older writers almost unanimously believed that the Israelites had crossed at the northern end of the Gulf of Suez. Most modern writers reject this view.

In addition they assert that the Red Sea should be called the Sea of Reeds or Weeds. They affirm that this refers to some body of water between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, possibly the Bitter Lakes, or Lake Timsah, or Lake Balah, or Lake Menzaleh, or even Lake Sirbonis on the Mediterranean coast. The Hebrew words (Yam Suph) usually translated Red Sea, does mean “Sea of Reeds”. The “reeds/weeds” can refer to water plants like cattails (Ex. 2:3,5) or sea weed (Jonah 2:5). In classical Greek usage, the term Red Sea was applied to the entire Indian Ocean, including what we call the Red Sea. The Bible also applies the phrase Yam Suph, to what we presently call the “Red Sea” (Numbers 21:4; 33:10; 1 Kings 9:26).

3. Fields is probably right when he says, “We have the uncomfortable feeling that the reason for locating the Sea of Reeds elsewhere than the Red Sea is the desire (deliberate or unconscious) to downgrade the great miracle of crossing the Red Sea into puny near-miracle of blowing a dry path across a shallow swamp area” (p. 47). 4. Any attempt to place the crossing in the north would contradict Exodus 13:17, which clearly states that God did not lead the people by the way of the Philistines. “Furthermore, Scripture clearly indicates that after crossing into the wilderness of Shur, the Israelites

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traveled for three days before coming to Marah (Exodus 15:22-23)….If the traditional site of Marah, ‘Ain-Hawarah’, is the correct one, then a three-day journey from the northernmost part of the Sinai peninsula to this site would not be possible” (Davis p. 176). 5. Where they crossed, the text clearly notes that the water was deep (15:5,8). 6. Finally, we need to remember that the New Testament endorses the historical accuracy of Exodus 14 (1 Corinthians 10:1). Davis notes, “A recent proposal…is the suggestion that the idea of crossing the ‘Red Sea’ is actually a mythological motif which was common to other ancient Near Eastern literatures….Such assertions, however, miss the point of prophetic admonition. If these historical events never occurred, there are no real theological or spiritual applications to be made….Even more potent is the argument of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 regarding the historic reality of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. In essence, he argues that if Christ did not literally and historically rise from the dead, we have no theology! Faith, as presented in Scripture, is predicated upon historical realities” (Davis pp. 181-182). “What is of special significance in the verse, however, is the fact that geographical details are given in considerable detail, implying that the site of Pi-hahiroth was not well known. It further indicates the fact that the author of Exodus was familiar with the geographical details of this area” (Davis p. 168).

14:2 “to turn back”-we aren’t told exactly how long the Israelites had been on the road at this time. “Many people have the impression that Pharaoh began to pursue Israel almost the next day after their departure. But the Scripture nowhere states exactly how much time elapsed between Israel’s departure and Pharaoh’s pursuit. During this time the Egyptians embalmed and buried their first born (Numbers 33:4). Surely a few days of mourning and shock followed these mass burials” (Davis p. 178). Israel had been traveling apparently in a south or southeast direction. “Turn back” may indicate a turn west or north.

Whatever the turn was, the Egyptians immediately interpreted it as meaning that the Israelites were lost and confused.

14:3 On the surface this might look like God is tempting Pharaoh, but we know that God never tempts people to do evil (James 1:13). “They are wandering aimlessly”-God knew that when Pharaoh was updated concerning the whereabouts of the Israelites that he would immediately jump to the conclusion that they had lost their way, were wandering in the deserts in complete confusion, and thus vulnerable and ripe for the picking. This is the type of assumption that would be reached by a man who was still arrogant and hadn’t yet humbled himself.

14:4 Note what will harden Pharaoh’s heart this time. The mere appearance that the Israelites were vulnerable. The appearance of an opportunity to take revenge.

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Point To Note: Many people make the same types of mistakes today. They just assume that if life is good that they must be right with God. Seeing that God doesn’t immediately punish the sinner, they either assume that God doesn’t exist or that God doesn’t care. Many people harden their hearts against the truth, because they assume that external circumstances are teaching a greater truth than that taught in the Bible.

14:5 Sure enough, Pharaoh was updated concerning the Israelites strange change in direction. At this point, Pharaoh could of said, “I don’t care what they are doing, I have learned my lesson, their God is God indeed. After a year’s worth of plagues and seeing the power of God, I am not doing to jump to the ridiculous conclusion that their God has lost His power, forsaken His people, or doesn’t know how to read a map!” But Pharaoh and his servants chose to completely ignore the lessons of the past. “greed and the desire for gain once again came to the fore” (Gispen p. 142).

14:5 “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?”—It seems that wealth was more important to them, then the death of their firstborn!

“The upper classes of Egypt had depended on the manual labor of Israel to do the physical labor that made their comforts possible…The Egyptians now see Goshen empty, the brickyards deserted, the fields forsaken (1:14). This loss was socially and economically paralyzing” (Fields p. 300). Chapter 15:9 notes that revenge, resentment, hatred and greed were involved in the motivation to pursue the Israelites.

Point To Note: How quickly we can forget why we humbled ourselves before God, why we were so eager to learn the gospel and why we couldn’t live another minute without being baptized. How many people who obeyed the gospel, end up thinking some time after, “Why did I ever give up the old life?” Note how greed, pride, arrogance, hatred, the desire for revenge, etc…., can blind us to reality and can send us right into the arms of destruction (1 Timothy 6:9).

14:6-7 “Select” chariots probably refers to men and chariots chosen because of their proven effectiveness in past battles. “It is interesting to observe the prominence given to chariot forces in this passage. The Eighteenth Dynasty was noted for its standardization of the chariot as army equipment” (Davis p.

168). Typically, such chariots were manned by two men: a charioteer and a warrior. “Though the Israelite men numbered over 600,000, Pharaoh was apparently encouraged by their seeming indecisiveness and by his own superior 3

military prowess” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 131). And if God hadn’t been involved, Pharaoh would have wiped out the Israelites, for they obviously didn’t have the courage to put up a fight (14:10-11). “During the ten plagues the military forces of Egypt were never mentioned. They were the “sleeper”, the silent threat in the shadows” (Fields p. 302). This verse could also mean that Pharaoh took 600 crack or elite chariots, including other forces.

14:8 “boldly”-The Israelites had left triumphantly and confidently. This had probably made the Egyptians even more enraged when they beheld and remembered these slaves leaving with heads held high.

14:9-10 “The narrative now becomes very vivid and gripping. As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites noticed the swirling clouds of dust and saw the Egyptians in the distance (cf. 13:20). To the east was the sea, to the south and west were the mountains, and the north was blocked by Pharaoh’s armies” (Gispen pp. 142-143). Note how they cried out to the Lord, and then quickly blamed Moses. Lack of real faith and trust in God will quickly turn our concerns and fears into murmuring and complaints. They cried out to the Lord, but they had no confidence in His help. Pharaoh wasn’t the only one who had forgotten about the plagues.

14:11-12 Unbelief tends to exaggerate and seeks to rewrite history and the past. “Their reference to previous encounters with Moses was somewhat exaggerated as an examination of Exodus 5:21 will indicate. Their statement that it would have been better for them to have served the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness exhibits a remarkably short memory. Had they so quickly forgotten the humiliation and despair and hopelessness of the situation from which they had been delivered (cf. 2:23-24)” (Davis p. 169). Unbelief also refuses to wait for God to act. “Surprisingly, as they came to their greatest moment of deliverance, the people of God were full of distrust and fear” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 131).

Point To Note: “The reaction of the Hebrews is quite typical of those who spiritual perspectives are those which are conditioned by the present alone. Without a historical consciousness of what God has done and a deep-rooted faith in what God will do, one is easily moved by the emotion of a given situation. The shallow responses of the Hebrews should be a warning to all of those who put all their emphasis on the present. This generation is bent on a philosophy which centers on ‘telling it like it is.’ The full responsibility of the man of God, however, in the light of revealed Scripture is not only to ‘tell it like it is’—but to tell it as it was and as it will be” (Davis pp. 169-170). See Hebrews 13:5,8.

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14:13-15 In contrast, Moses believed what God had said. His command to “stand by” (take your stand-side ref.), means to stand firm, reflecting a mature faith and confidence in the power of God. “The Hebrews were not called upon to prepare defenses or organize to fight” (Davis p. 170). Notice the stress on being quiet! Oh, what God could accomplish in our lives if we would just be quiet and stop our complaining.

14:15 “Why are you crying out to Me?”-Evidently, after his manifestation of faith, after his previous words to the people, Moses himself cried out to God. God quickly reminds Moses that right now isn’t the time to be crying out to Him— things need to be done.

14:16-20 “Seeing the Israelites making their way through the waters would provide an occasion for the Egyptians to ‘harden their hearts’, i.e. suppress their fear of drowning and plunge forward in pursuit of the escaping Israelites” (Smith p. 285). “The anxiety of the Egyptians perhaps to recover lost treasures and bring upon these people a bloody revenge caused them to pursue the Israelites with abandon into the waters” (Davis p. 171). The Egyptians apparently had reached the vicinity of the Hebrew’s camp somewhere near the early evening. A supernatural cloud protected them at night (14:20), and kept both camps apart.

Modern Day Unbelievers It is ironic that this section of Scripture in which we have people who don’t have any real confidence in the power of God, is today the subject of so much debate among those who don’t believe that God parted the Red Sea. Who is the greater unbeliever? The Hebrew who murmured, or the modern day scholar who rejects the historical accuracy of this account? Some simply deny the historical truthfulness of the entire event, and yet in doing do one must also deny the historical trustworthiness of the N.T., at the same time (1 Cor. 10:1). Others argue that a strong natural wind parted a very narrow and shallow channel. “A very popular view is that the Israelites crossed in a generally shallow and marshy district which could easily have been cleared of water and laid dry by the normal action of a strong wind” (Davis p. 172).

It is obvious that the above theory is wrought with many problems: 1. If the water was so shallow, then what prevented them from crossing in the first place, why are they crying out to God for deliverance? 2. How did the entire Egyptian army drown in a shallow marsh? Did they sink like lead in a foot of water? 3.

If a natural wind parted the waters, the same wind would have prevented anyone from walking through at the same time. “The velocity required of such a wind to move a considerable amount of water would have prohibited them from crossing such an area” (Davis p. 172). I am amazed at how people will claim that believing what the bible says requires too much faith on their part (“I need real, 5

objective and scientific evidence for my convictions”), but will at the same time believe that this parting of the water was the result of air waves 350 times more powerful than those of a hydrogen bomb, which were caused by a volcanic eruption which destroyed the presumed lost continent of Atlantis!

14:21-22 God used wind, but this event also clearly included supernatural and miraculous elements. 1. The wind under consideration didn’t prevent the Israelites from crossing. 2. Overnight, such a wind had completely dried out a sea bed. For a muddy and soft bottom would have prevented anyone from making any real kind of progress. 3. This wind made two walls of water. God’s command for Moses to stretch out his hand was to demonstrate that this parting was not an accident, coincidence or natural occurrence.

Point To Note: Paul agrees with this description of the waters, adding that a cloud was over the Israelites when they passed through the sea (1 Cor. 10:1). This is viewed as a type of baptism, for it was: 1. A complete covering (a wall on either side and covered with a cloud), hence a great example of how baptism is a submersion or immersion. 2. This event marked final deliverance, the sea was their path from the land of bondage to the land of promise. Hence, baptism is the line at which one is delivered from spiritual bondage (sin) (Mark 16:16).

14:23 Evidently, the cloud that had kept the Hebrews and the Egyptians apart, was removed. In spite of the great miracle that the Egyptians were themselves seeing, they still went in after the Hebrews. Oh, how arrogance and hate can blind us to reality! While we might stand amazed at the foolishness of the Egyptians, how many people today are rushing to a similar disaster? How many people are completely unprepared to meet God in judgment, who in addition to this are virtually challenging and daring God to act?

14:24 “the morning watch”-would be around 2 or 3 in the morning.

14:25 God either made driving the chariots very difficult or actually caused their wheels to fall off. Their wheels began to swerve or jam up. This prevented the Egyptians from escaping. Those who persist in fighting God and His truth will find no time for repentance at the end. “The Egyptians wanted to flee when they realized that the Lord was fighting for the Israelites. They had forgotten all too soon, and now it was too late” (Gispen pp. 144-145).

14:26-31 There always comes a time when God’s patience is no longer extended to unbelievers (2 Peter 3:9). Too many lessons had been given, this time the Egyptians won’t be given a chance to live so they can question or mock God in the future. The walls caved in sending tons of water down upon the 6

Egyptian army. Obviously, there were no survivors. (Neh. 9:11; Psalm 106:11; 78:53). The text says that God “overthrew” the Egyptians (14:27). The Hebrew word means that He shook them off, God shook them off as we might shake off a crawling bug from our hand. This verse also suggests that as the Egyptians attempted to flee they ran into a solid wall of water Points To Note: 1.

In order for the Israelites to cross in one night, they obviously didn’t march single file through the sea. If they moved a thousand abreast, they would occupy a space of more than half a mile wide, and be at least 2000 people in depth. Such a group of people could cross a four mile stretch before the morning watch came. 2. Did Pharaoh die in the sea? See these passages (14:4,6,10; Psalm 136:15). 3. If he did, then his body could have been recovered and embalmed. The mummy of Amenhotep II with his great bow alongside it has been found.

II. Chapter 15: 15:1-6 In this first section the theme is immediately stated—the destruction of the Egyptian army. “The spectacular victory wrought by God over the armies of Egypt not only guaranteed freedom, but confirmed the fact that Israel had indeed been the recipient of special favor. For the first time in over four hundred years the Israelites were able to call themselves free men. Such freedom, however, was only from the slavery experienced in Egypt. With this freedom came a solemn obligation to obey the God who had delivered them” (Davis p. 183).

Points To Note: 1. With ease, God had disposed of probably the most powerful army on the face of the earth at this time. 2. And such a God is my God! 3. The Lord will fight for His people, He is a warrior and He will deal with the opposition.

4. God had destroyed not merely the Egyptian army, but their elite forces.

15:5 “deeps cover them; they went down into the depths like a stone”-Such a statement contradicts the idea that the Red Sea referred to was a shallow marsh. The word “deeps” refers to “depths, abyss”. “The Hebrew word for depths…which usually carries the sense of oceanic depths, the sea or any abyss” (Davis p. 184).

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15:7-11 How God had crushed the Egyptians. Note that God’s excellence is seen in destroying those who oppose Him! (15:7) If we are offended by God’s judgments, then we are offended by His glory. Moses is praising God for His wrath! For punishing those who attempt to defy God and harm His people. The wind in chapter 14 is poetically pictured as a mere breath from God. From these verses we also are given insight concerning what motivated the Egyptians to pursue the Hebrews into the sea, “I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my desire shall be gratified against them” (15:9). The Egyptian soldiers really thought that they would win this battle! Their desires were those of vengeance and anger. “They sank like lead in the mighty waters” (15:10), only adds further confirmation that the water was quite deep where the waters had been parted. How can you sink like lead in a shallow marsh? Note how God’s holiness is linked with this judgment. God is holy when He executes judgment upon sinners. “Because of His holiness God was above all that was created and all that was sinful” (Gispen p. 149). The expression, “Who is like Thee”, places God in a category by Himself (Psalm 35:10; 71:19; 77:13; 89:6; 113:5; Micah 7:18). None of the supposed ‘gods’ of Egypt or any another other nation for that matter can compare to Him. Only God could have delivered Israel from the evil intentions of the Egyptian army.

Point To Note: At times professed believers are afraid to stand for the truth lest they bring upon themselves the wrath and ridicule of unbelievers. In siding with God the Israelites found themselves hated by the Egyptians all the more intently. But just about the time that we think that the world has the upper hand, or that we have stuck our neck out only to get our head cut off—right at that time God can accomplish great things.

15:12 It had looked like when the sea returned that the earth itself had simply swallowed the Egyptian army.

15:14-16 Because of this deliverance the people in Canaan and surrounding regions will be terrified. This prophecy will have a very literal fulfillment as evidenced from Joshua 2:9-11, 24 and 5:1.

15:17 This verse looks forward to the time when God would bring them into the land of Promise.

15:18 “The Lord shall reign forever and ever”-This whole exodus experience is a commentary upon what the reign of God is. “We must be cautious not to think of the reign of God as being totally in the future” (Fields p. 328). God reigned in the O.T., and God presently reigns!

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Miriam 15:20-21 Who was probably in her nineties by this time. She is called a prophetess (Numb. 12:2; Judges 4:4; 2 Kings 22:14; Isaiah 8:3). “She was a prophetess because of God’s divine gift, and not because of natural poetic and musical ability” (Fields p. 329). A timbrel was a small drum, like a tambourine, without the small jingling metal pieces. Hebrew men and women danced on occasions of victory (1 Samuel 18:6) and on special religious holidays (Judges 21:21). Such dances seem to have been practiced by each sex alone, and hardly resemble our modern social dancing.

Bitter Waters 15:22 The desert of Shur is also called the wilderness of Etham (Num. 33:8) Shur means wall. “It may have acquired this name from the abrupt wall-like rise in the land ten to twelve miles east of the Red Sea….The wilderness of Shur lies in the NW part of the Sinai peninsula” (Fields p. 330).

15:23 “Marah”-(MAH rah). This site is often identified with modern Ain Hawarah, which is located 47 miles from the town of Suez. To this day the water in this region is bitter. Hence the sweetening in this chapter was of a temporary nature.

Most of the springs in Sinai are bitter and unpleasant because of mineral salts dissolved in the water. “We must remember that Israel passed through this area in springtime. S.C. Barlett reported that when he passed through in February, the temperature some days dropped to the freezing point at night, and then shot up to 98 degrees in the sun at noon” (Fields p. 330).

15:24 It only took the people three days to forget about the power of God. Would He part the Red Sea, but allow them to die of thirst in the wilderness?

“They quickly forgot His works” (Psalm 106:13). Remember, their murmuring is a warning to us, for God still feels the same way when we grumble and complain (1 Cor. 10:11).

15:25 God was testing the people in the sense of allowing them to get thirsty, to see if they would trust Him to give them water when they needed it. Faith means trusting that God will meet all our needs. Allowing God to determine where and when our needs will be meet. Knowing that God will deliver. But how many of us are like these people? Are we quick to complain or question God’s care when something goes wrong? Or when God isn’t cooperating with our time schedule?

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15:26 Note the word “if”, these people had a choice. Serving God included keeping His commandments. And note the promise, “I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians”: This may refer to the plagues. If they were disobedient, God would also send plagues among them.

In addition, obedience to God will also typically keep one from suffering many of the ailments which afflict unbelievers, i.e. diseases which are the result of a selfish and sinful lifestyle.

15:27 “Elim”-(E lim). The best location for this site might be Wadi Gharandel, which is located about seven miles south of Marah. “This place is characterized by a plentiful supply of comparatively good water with groves of palms, tamarisks, acacias and some grass. This site is used frequently today as a stopping place by the Bedouin who travel that area….Details such as the count of the wells and the number of palm trees would hardly have been something included by a much later writer” (Davis p. 188).

Closing Thought Carefully note that plenty of refreshing and good water was only about a day’s journey away when the Israelites grumbled and were ready to forsake God and His servant Moses. How many people in like manner camp at Marah and never move on to the refreshing waters which are a short distance away? How many people refuse to trust God to meet their needs and selfishly strike out on their own, when in reality, their needs would have been met in the near future? How many great blessings will we miss in our lives because we couldn’t wait for God?

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