Ver. 1. And the Lord spake.] It was of God, then, that the people fell into such straits: that where human help failed, divine might come in. Necesse est adesse divinum, ubi humanum cessat auxilium. -Philo Jud.
Ver. 2. That they turn,] i.e., Return. In passing the Red Sea, the Israelites made a semicircle. Compare Exodus 13:20 Nu 33:8. God must be followed, though he lead us through a maze or labyrinth.
Ver. 3. They are entangled.] Perplexed; intricated; they know not what to do, or which way to turn. Enemies watch opportunities, but oft miss of their meaning.
Ver. 4. And I will be honoured.] By subduing this sturdy rebel, and bringing “his violent dealing upon his own pate.” (Psalms 7:16) When the prophet cried to Jeroboam’s altar, it clave presently asunder. (1 Kings 13:2,3) But the mighty “hammer” of “God’s word,” (Jeremiah 23:29) with ten miracles, gave ten mighty strokes at Pharaoh’s heart, and yet could find no entrance. God will therefore now take another course with him.
Ver. 5. That the people fled,] i.e., Ran quite away, without any resolution ever to return. This troubled the tyrant. Crowns have their cares. Little David likes his hook the better ever since he saw the court.
Ver. 6. Made ready his chariot.] To meet his destruction.
Ver. 7. Six hundred chosen chariots.] They fought of old out of chariots armed with scythes and hooks; which at first were a terror, and after a scorn. Veget., lib. i. cap. 24.
Ver. 8. With a high hand.] Bravely; boldly; in battle array, not as runaways; in all comely equipage.
Ver. 9. But the Egyptians pursued.] And God made fair way before them, till they came into the Red Sea.
Ver. 10. And they were sore afraid.] Because sorely distressed. They saw no way to escape, unless they could have gone up to heaven: which because they could not, heaven came down to them, though unworthy, that God might get him a name. (Isaiah 63:12,14) The Israelites herein were far more happy than those ancient Britons, who, being greatly distressed by their northern enemies in the time of Valentinian III, implored the aid of Aetius, the Roman prefect of Gaul, using these words: “To Aetius, thrice consul, the sighs of the Britons”: and after thus they complain, “The barbarous enemy beats us to the sea; the sea beats us back to the enemy: between these two kinds of deaths, we are either murdered or drowned.” But their implorations prevailed not. Neither found they any other remedy than what the Prince of Orange showed to his soldiers at the battle of Newport; when they had the sea on one side and the Spaniards on the other. If, saith he, you will live, you must either eat up these Spaniards, or drink up this sea. Daniel’s Chronicle. Hist. of Netherl.
Ver. 11. Because there were no graves.] Thus “they provoked him at the sea, at the Red Sea; nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake.” (Psalms 106:7,8)
Ver. 12. Is not this the word?] Invalidum omne natura querulum. Weak spirits are ever quarrelling and contending. Seneca.
Ver. 13. Stand still, and see the salvation.] Thus God “heard their cry at the Red Sea,” (Nehemiah 9:9) though it were not the cry of faith, but of fright and perturbation. So he “heard the voice of the lad.” (Genesis 21:17)
Ver. 14. Ye shall hold your peace,] i.e., Ye shall neither say nor do.
Ver. 15. Wherefore criest thou unto me?] so., With inward groanings, without any audible voice. Moses egit vocis silentio, ut corde clamaret. And God was readier to answer than he to ask. Speak unto the children of Israel,] q.d., There is something more to be done than to pray. Ora et labora. We must not only crave God’s help, but be forward in the course whereby to make way for God’s help. That they go forward.] Though upon a manifest danger. This is an act of strong faith, pure obedience. August.
Ver. 16. But lift thou up thy rod.] This rod God makes use of, fo: the greater manifestation of his own power, and the gracing of his servant Moses.
Ver. 17. I will harden.] See on Exodus 9:35.
Ver. 18. When I have gotten me honour.] Made me “a name as at this day.” (Nehemiah 9:10) For this he was famous in far countries. Jethro, the first proselyte to the Jewish Church, was hereby converted, say the Rabbins. And the Philistines cry, “Woe unto us! these are the gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.” (1 Samuel 4:8)
Ver. 19. And the Angel of God.] Christ, the Angel of God’s presence. See Exodus 13:21 23:23. Went behind them.] So “the glory of the Lord” was “their rearward.” (Isaiah 58:8) He will be to his both van and rear. (Isaiah 52:12)
Ver. 20. A cloud and darkness to them.] [See Trapp on “Heb 12:2”]
Ver. 21. And Moses stretched out his hand.] Of that pseudo-Moses that cozened many credulous Jews of Crete into the midst of the sea, anno 434, see Funceius’s Chron. at that year. And the waters were divided.] So was that torrent of fire, if Aristotle may be believed, that ran from Etna, consuming the country, and yet parted itself; making a kind of a lane for those that ventured to rescue their aged parents. De Mundo, cap. 6.
Ver. 22. Were a wall unto them.] Every main affliction is our Red Sea, saith one, which, while it threats to swallow, preserves us.
Ver. 23. And the Egyptians pursued.] God permitting it, and making fair weather before them, they also blustering, and “breathing out threatenings,” saying, “I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil,” &c., till anon “they sank as lead in the mighty waters.” (Exodus 15:9,10)
Ver. 24. In the morning watch.] God “watcheth upon the evil to bring it” upon his enemies then when he may do them a greatest mischief. (Daniel 9:14) He picketh his times for vengeance: “Now will I rise, saith the Lord; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.” (Isaiah 33:10) The Lord looked unto the host.] He set his eyes upon them; as Paul did upon Elymus the sorcerer; with highest offence, and utmost indignation. After which lightning follows that terrible thunderclap, wherewith he troubled them and took off their wheels. See Psalms 77:18,19,18:15.
Ver. 26. That the waters may come again.] By wind that God sent. (Exodus 15:10) “The winds blow, the waters flow.” (Psalms 147:18)
Ver. 27. Returned to his strength.] For by being divided, it had been weakened. Si collidimur, frangimur. The daughter of dissension is dissolution.
Ver. 28. There remained not so much as one of them.] No more doth there of our subdued iniquities. (Micah 7:10) Peccata non redeunt. We shall see them no more, any otherwise than these Israelites did their enemies, dead upon the shore.
Ver. 29. But the children of Israel walked upon dry land.] This is applied as a type of Christ, (1 Corinthians 10:2) to show that Christ is present with his people, to save them in all troubles and afflictions, (Isaiah 43:2) and from all their spiritual enemies and sins, both by justification and sanctification, (Micah 7:19) through faith in him, (Hebrews 11:29) and will in the end give them songs of victory and triumph. (Exodus 15:1 Revelation 15:3)
Ver. 30,31. Thus the Lord.] A mercy never enough memorised. What, then, is our redemption from sin, death, and hell
Ver. 31. [See Trapp on “Ex 14:30”]