Exodus 15:22-25

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 15:22-27

It should seem, it was with some difficulty that Moses prevailed with Israel to leave that triumphant shore on which they sang the foregoing song. They were so taken up with the sight, or with the song, or with the spoiling of the dead bodies, that they cared not to go forward, but Moses with much ado brought them from the Red Sea into a wilderness. The pleasures of our way to Canaan must not retard our progress, but quicken it, though we have a wilderness before us. Now here we are told, I.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 15:22

So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea ,.... Or "caused them to journey" F1 ויסע "et fecit proficisci", Pagninus & Montanus, Drusius; "jussit proficisci", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. , which some think was done with difficulty, they being so eager and intent upon the spoil and plunder of the Egyptians cast upon the sea shore, the harness of their horses being, as Jarchi observes, ornamented with gold and silver, and precious stones; or as others, they had some... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 15:23

And when they came to Marah ,.... A place in the wilderness, afterwards so called from the quality of the waters found here; wherefore this name is by anticipation: they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter ; and they must be very bitter for people in such circumstances, having been without water for three days, not to be able to drink of them: some have thought these to be the bitter fountains Pliny F6 Nat. Hist. l. 6. c. 29. speaks of, somewhere between... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 15:24

And the people murmured against Moses ,.... For bringing them into a wilderness where they could find no water fit to drink; saying: what shall we drink ? what shall we do for drink? where can we drink? this water is not drinkable, and, unless we have something to drink, we, and our wives, and children, and servants, and cattle, must all perish. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 15:25

And he cried unto the Lord ,.... Or prayed, as all the Targums, that God would appear for them, and relieve them in their distress, or, humanly speaking, they must all perish: happy it is to have a God to go to in time of trouble, whose hand is not shortened that it cannot save, nor his ear heavy that he cannot hear! Moses knew the power of God, and trusted in his faithfulness to make good the promises to him, and the people, that he would bring them to the land he had swore to give them: ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 15:22

The wilderness of Shur - This was on the coast of the Red Sea on their road to Mount Sinai. See the map. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 15:23

Marah - So called from the bitter waters found there. Dr. Shaw conjectures that this place is the same as that now called Corondel, where there is still a small rill which, if not diluted with dews or rain, continues brackish. See his account at the end of Exodus ( Exodus 40:38 ; (note)). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 15:24

The people murmured - They were in a state of great mental degradation, owing to their long and oppressive vassalage, and had no firmness of character. See Clarke's note on Exodus 13:17 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 15:25

He cried unto the Lord - Moses was not only their leader, but also their mediator. Of prayer and dependence on the Almighty, the great mass of the Israelites appear to have had little knowledge at this time. Moses, therefore, had much to bear from their weakness, and the merciful Lord was long-suffering. The Lord showed him a tree - What this tree was we know not: some think that the tree was extremely bitter itself, such as the quassia; and that God acted in this as he generally does,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 15:22

Verse 22 22.So Moses brought. Moses now relates that, from the time, of their passage through the sea, they had been suffering for three days from the want of water, that the first they discovered was bitter, and that thence the name was given to the place. This was indeed no light temptation, to suffer thirst for three days in a dry land, and nowhere to meet with relief or remedy. No wonder, then, that they should have groaned with anxiety; but grief, when it is full of contumacy, deserves no... read more

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