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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 14:10-14

We have here, I. The fright that the children of Israel were in when they perceived that Pharaoh pursued them, Exod. 14:10. They knew very well the strength and rage of the enemy, and their own weakness; numerous indeed they were, but all on foot, unarmed, undisciplined, disquieted by long servitude, and (which was worst of all) now penned up by the situation of their camp, so that they could not make their escape. On the one hand was Pi-hahiroth, a range of craggy rocks impassable; on the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 14:15-20

We have here, I. Direction given to Israel's leader. 1. What he must do himself. He must, for the present, leave off praying, and apply himself to his business (Exod. 14:15): Wherefore cryest thou unto me? Moses, though he was assured of a good issue to the present distress, yet did not neglect prayer. We read not of one word he said in prayer, but he lifted up to God his heart, the language of which God well understood and took notice of. Moses's silent prayers of faith prevailed more with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 14:10

And when Pharaoh drew nigh ,.... Or "caused to draw nigh" F20 הקריב "fecit accedere", Pagninus, Montanus; "admovit castra", Junius & Tremellius. ; that is, his army, brought it very near to the camp of the Israelites: the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them ; in great numbers, with full speed, threatening them with utter destruction: and they were sore afraid ; being an unarmed people, though numerous, and so unable to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 14:11

And they said unto Moses ,.... The Targum of Jonathan is,"the ungodly of that generation said unto Moses;'but it seems rather to be understood of the body of the people in general, and is not to be limited to some particular persons of the worse characters among them: because there were no graves in Egypt ; as if there had been none, when there were so many; the Egyptians being more solicitous about their graves than their houses, as Diodorus Siculus reports F21 Bibliothec. l. 1. p.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 14:12

Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt ,.... The thing they suggested to him, and talked with him about while they were in the land of Egypt, before they came out of it, particularly after their service and bondage were made more severe and cruel upon Moses and Aaron's demanding their dismission, see Exodus 5:21 , saying, let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians ? peaceably and quietly, as we have been used to do, since there is no likelihood of being freed, and since... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 14:13

And Moses said unto the people ,.... Not in wrath and anger, but very coolly and sedately, agreeably to his character of the meekest man on earth; though what they had said to him was very insulting and provoking: fear ye not ; Pharaoh and his numerous host, do not be dismayed at them or possess yourselves with a dread of them, and of destruction by them: stand still ; do not stir from the place where you are, do not offer to run away, or to make your escape by flight (and which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 14:14

The Lord shall fight for you ,.... By commanding the wind of the heavens, and the waves of the sea, and employing them against their enemies, and on their behalf; they being unarmed, and so not in a condition to fight for themselves, as well as they had no heart or spirit for it: and ye shall hold your peace ; be still, and quiet, and easy in your minds, and forbear saying or doing anything; "be silent"; and neither express the fear and distress of their minds, by any mournful sounds,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 14:15

And the Lord said unto Moses, wherefore criest thou unto me ?.... The Targum of Jonathan is,"why standest thou and prayest before me?'and no doubt this crying is to be understood of prayer, of mental prayer, of secret ejaculations put up by Moses to the Lord without a voice, for no mention is made of any: this shows, that though Moses most firmly believed that God would work salvation for them, yet he did not neglect the use of means, prayer to God for it; nor was the Lord displeased with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 14:16

But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it ,.... Even the same rod with which so many wonders had been done in Egypt; and Artapanus, the Heathen, says F24 Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 27. p. 436. , that Moses being bid by a divine voice to smite the sea with his rod, he hearkened to it, and touched the water with it, and so it divided, as it is said it did, Exodus 14:21 . and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 14:17

And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians ,.... That they shall have no sense of danger, and be fearless of it, incautious and thoughtless, hurried on with wrath and fury, malice and revenge: and they shall follow them ; the Israelites into the sea, supposing it to be as safe for the one as the other: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen : by the utter destruction of them, in just retaliation for the... read more

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