Exodus 14:19-22

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 14:21-31

We have here the history of that work of wonder which is so often mentioned both in the Old and New Testament, the dividing of the Red Sea before th 3b1a e children of Israel. It was the terror of the Canaanites (Josh. 2:9, 10), the praise and triumph of the Israelites, Ps. 114:3; Ps. 106:9; 136:13, 14. It was a type of baptism, 1 Cor. 10:1, 2. Israel's passage through it was typical of the conversion of souls (Isa. 11:15), and the Egyptians? perdition in it was typical of the final ruin of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 14:19

And the Angel of God which went before the camp of Israel ,.... The Jews say F25 Pirke Eliezer, c. 42. this was Michael, the great prince, who became a wall of fire between Israel and the Egyptians; and if they understood by him the uncreated angel, the eternal Word, the Son of God, who is always in Scripture meant by Michael, they are right: for certainly this Angel of the Lord is the same with Jehovah, who is said to go before them in a pillar of cloud and fire, Exodus 13:21 , ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 14:20

And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel ,.... That is, the pillar of cloud, and the Angel of God, or Jehovah, in it, whereby the camp of Israel was secured from being annoyed by the camp of the Egyptians; and was an emblem of the gracious interposition of Christ between his spiritual Israel, whom he has redeemed by his blood, and their spiritual enemies, the Egyptians, the men of the world that hate them, from whose rage and malice Christ is their protection and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 14:21

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea ,.... With his rod in it, as he was directed to, Exodus 14:16 . What the poet says F26 "Tu flectis amnes, tu mare barbarum--" Horat. Carmin. l. 2. Ode 19. of Bacchus is more true of Moses, whose rod had been lift up upon the rivers Egypt, and now upon the Red sea: and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night ; and the direction of the Red sea being nearly, if not altogether, north and south, it was in a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 14:22

And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground ,.... Some Jewish writers say F3 Pirke Elizer, c. 42. , that the tribe of Judah went in first, and then the other tribes followed; but it is most likely, what Josephus says F4 Antiqu. l. 2. c. 16. sect. 2. , that Moses first entered in, and then the Israelites, encouraged by his example, went in after him; and a very adventurous action it was, and nothing but strong faith in the almighty power and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 14:19

The angel of God - It has been thought by some that the angel, i.e., messenger, of the Lord, and the pillar of cloud, mean here the same thing. An angel might assume the appearance of a cloud; and even a material cloud thus particularly appointed might be called an angel or messenger of the Lord, for such is the literal import of the word מלאך malach , an angel. It is however most probable that the Angel of the covenant, the Lord Jesus, appeared on this occasion in behalf of the people;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 14:20

It was a cloud and darkness to them, etc. - That the Israelites might not be dismayed at the appearance of their enemies, and that these might not be able to discern the object of their pursuit, the pillar of cloud moved from the front to the rear of the Israelitish camp, so as perfectly to separate between them and the Egyptians. It appears also that this cloud had two sides, one dark and the other luminous: the luminous side gave light to the whole camp of Israel during the night of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 14:21

The Lord caused the sea to go back - That part of the sea over which the Israelites passed was, according to Mr. Bruce and other travelers, about four leagues across, and therefore might easily be crossed in one night. In the dividing of the sea two agents appear to be employed, though the effect produced can be attributed to neither. By stretching out the rod the waters were divided; by the blowing of the vehement, ardent, east wind, the bed of the sea was dried. It has been observed, that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 14:22

And the waters were a wall unto them on their right and on their left - This verse demonstrates that the passage was miraculous. Some have supposed that the Israelites had passed through, favored by an extraordinary ebb, which happened at that time to be produced by a strong wind, which happened just then to blow! Had this been the case, there could not have been waters standing on the right hand and on the left; much less could those waters, contrary to every law of fluids, have stood as a... read more

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