Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
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 14:15

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 14:15

Wherefore criest thou unto me? - We hear not one word of Moses' praying, and yet here the Lord asks him why he cries unto him? From which we may learn that the heart of Moses was deeply engaged with God, though it is probable he did not articulate one word; but the language of sighs, tears, and desires is equally intelligible to God with that of words. This consideration should be a strong encouragement to every feeble, discouraged mind: Thou canst not pray, but thou canst weep; if even... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 14:15

Verse 15 15.And the Lord (156) said I have used the praeter-pluperfect tense for the sake of avoiding ambiguity; for the reason is here given why Moses so confidently reproved the hesitation of the people, and promised that they should be safe under the present help of God; viz., because he had already been assured by divine revelation that God was willing to aid His people, and had in readiness a new means for their preservation. For he could not have been the proclaimer and witness of their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 14:10-23

The deliverance. Consider on this section:— I. THE CRITICAL SITUATION OF THE ISRAELITES . 1 . Their position. "Encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal Zephon" ( Exodus 14:9 ). The first view of the sea would probably be attractive to them. Its breeze, after the tedious travel of the desert, would be deliciously refreshing. They would look with a child's wonder and delight on the novel spectacle it presented. They would crowd to the beach to watch its... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 14:13-31

God completes the deliverance of the Israelites from Pharaoh and removes their terror. I. NOTE THE WAY IN WHICH MOSES MEETS THE COMPLAINTS OF THE ISRAELITES . They had addressed to him sarcastic, flippant, and in every way unworthy speeches. They were not so filled with fear, not so occupied with the troubles of their own hearts, but that they could find a malignant delight in striving to make him ridiculous. This mingling of feelings on their part, fear mingled... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 14:15

Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward! I. FORWARD !— GOD 'S CONSTANT INJUNCTION TO HIS CHURCH . The law of Christian life is advance. God never brings his Church or people into positions from which retreat is necessary, or in which advance is impossible. We may bring ourselves into false positions of this kind, but God never leads us into them. In proportion as we surrender ourselves to his guidance, we may depend on being conducted always "forward."... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 14:15-16

Wherefore criest thou to me? It is evident that Moses, while boldly encouraging the people, himself needed the support and consolation of prayer. The SyriActs translator shows us that he divined the fact aright, when he without authority intruded the words, "Moses then cried to Jehovah." The form of the Divine reply to his prayer seems to indicate a certain amount of reproach, as if Moses himself had become unduly anxious. Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward . The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 14:15-18

1 . The Israelites are to make themselves ready for a forward movement ( Exodus 14:15 ); 2 . Moses is to stretch oat his rod over the Red Sea, and it will be divided; 3 . The Israelites are then to make the passage on dry ground; 4 . The Egyptians are to follow, and then honour is to be gotten upon them; and they are to know by the result that God is indeed Jehovah. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 14:15-18

The reward of faith. God rewarded the faith and trust of Moses by a revelation of the manner of that deliverance which he so confidently expected. Hitherto the manner had been involved in mystery; and it is scarcely likely that any one had even conjectured it as a possible thing. There was no precedent for such an interference with the laws of nature; and the thought could scarcely occur to the imagination of any one. But, to reward his faithful servant, to quiet his anxiety, and give... read more

Group of Brands