Exodus 14:5-14

This is the first of Israel’s many complaints against Moses and Yahweh that Moses recorded in Scripture. It is the first of ten that culminated in God’s judgment of them at Kadesh Barnea (Exodus 14:11; Numbers 14:22-23).

"This is the first example in the Old Testament of what some scholars call ’holy war’ or ’Yahweh war.’ That is, this war was undertaken by the Lord in defense of His own reputation, promises, and self-interest (Exodus 14:10-14; see also, for example, Exodus 15:3; Deuteronomy 1:30; Deuteronomy 3:22; Deuteronomy 20:4). It is to be distinguished from ’ordinary’ war that Israel might undertake on her own (Numbers 14:39-45)." [Note: Merrill, in The Old . . ., p. 54.]