Exodus 15:19-21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 15:1-21

Having read how that complete victory of Israel over the Egyptians was obtained, here we are told how it was celebrated; those that were to hold their peace while the deliverance was in working (Exod. 14:14) must not hold their peace now that it was wrought; the less they had to do then the more they had to do now. If God accomplishes deliverance by his own immediate power, it redounds so much the more to his glory. Moses, no doubt by divine inspiration, indited this song, and delivered it to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 15:19

For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea ,.... Meaning not that particular and single horse on which Pharaoh was carried, but all the horses of his that drew in his chariots, and all on which his cavalry was mounted; these all went into the Red sea, following the Israelites thither: these words are either the concluding part of the song, recapitulating and reducing into a compendium the subject matter of it; or are a reason why Moses and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 15:20

And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron ,.... The same, it is highly probable, that is called the sister of Moses, Exodus 2:3 , her name Miriam is the same as Mary with us, and signifies bitterness; and, as the Hebrews F24 Seder Olam Rabba, c. 3. p. 9. Dibre Hayamim, fol. 2. 2. observe, had it from the bitterness of the times, and the afflictions the Israelites endured and groaned under when she was born; which is a much more probable signification and reason of her name than... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 15:21

And Miriam answered them ,.... The men, for the word is masculine; that is, repeated, and sung the same song word for word after them, as they had done, of which a specimen is given by reciting the first clause of the song: sing ye to the Lord ; which is by way of exhortation to the women to sing with her, as Moses begins the song thus: "I will sing unto the Lord": for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea ; See Gill on Exodus 15:1 , the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 15:20

And Miriam the prophetess - We have already seen that Miriam was older than either Moses or Aaron: for when Moses was exposed on the Nile, she was a young girl capable of managing the stratagem used for the preservation of his life; and then Aaron was only three years and three months old, for he was fourscore and three years old when Moses was but fourscore, (see Exodus 7:7 ;); so that Aaron was older than Moses, and Miriam considerably older than either, not less probably than nine or... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 15:19

Verse 19 19.For the horse of Pharaoh went in. This verse does not; seem to be suited to the song, and therefore I am rather of opinion that Moses returns here to the history, and assigns the reason why the Israelites so magnificently celebrated the praises of God. For the sake of avoiding ambiguity, it would perhaps be better thus to render it, — “For the horse of Pharaoh had gone in, and the Lord had brought again the waters of the sea upon them, but; the children of Israel had gone on dry... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 15:20

Verse 20 20.And Miriam the prophetess. Moses here introduces in his song the ἀντιστροφὴ, such as were constantly used by the lyric poets. For God would have not only men to be the proclaimers of this great miracle, but associated the women with them. When, therefore, the men had finished their song, the women followed in order. Although it is not certain whether the first verse was intercalary, (as the sacred history testifies the following sentence to have been in a solemn hymn: — “For his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 15:1-19

Moses' Song. The sublimity of this noble ode is universally admitted. It brings Moses before us in the new character of "poet." Moses does not seem to have devoted himself largely to this species of composition; but the three specimens of his work which remain to us—this ode, his "Song" and "Blessing" in Deuteronomy, and Psalms 90:1-17 .—show him to have possessed a poetical genius of the very highest order; to have been as great as poet, as we know him to have been as warrior, leader,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 15:1-19

The song of triumph-God exalted in the lips of the people. This song we may take as being in some measure the result and expression of the state of feeling mentioned in Exodus 14:31 . People who feared Jehovah and believed in him were very likely, in such a rush of feeling, to sing as did the Israelites here: at the same time we must be careful not to rest content with attributing this song merely to natural causes . There is no need to deny the presence of genius; if only we bear in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 15:1-19

The song of triumph. The sense of Israel ' s obligation to Jehovah fully expressed . God, we have noticed, is lifted up in this song. We now proceed to observe how he is lifted up in the midst of his people, whom he encompasses with his protection, whom he cheers and illuminates with his favour. His destruction is not mere destruction; his supremacy is not only over his enemies, but also as the guide, the comforter, and the portion of his own. Hence we discover almost immediately on... read more

Group of Brands