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Exodus 14-15
New Catholic Bible
Exodus 14-15
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 14
“I Will Display My Glory against Pharaoh.”[a] 1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Order the children of Israel to turn around and camp in front of Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon. You shall camp in front of it by the sea. 3 Pharaoh will think that the children of Israel are wandering through the land because the desert has blocked them in. 4 I shall harden the heart of Pharaoh, and he will follow them. I will display my glory against Pharaoh and all his army, so that the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” This is what they did.
5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the heart of Pharaoh and his ministers was turned against the people. They said, “What have we done in letting Israel leave so that they will no longer serve us?” 6 He prepared his chariot and took his soldiers with him.
7 Pharaoh took six hundred choice chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with warriors on each of them. 8 The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, who then pursued the children of Israel while they were marching away in triumph. 9 The Egyptians followed and caught up with them while they were camped near the sea. All the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army were near Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon.
10 When Pharaoh approached, the children of Israel looked up and saw that the Egyptians were marching after them. The children of Israel were terrified and called upon the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out to the desert to die? Was it because there were not enough graves in Egypt? What have you done bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Did we not tell you in Egypt, ‘Let us stay here and serve the Egyptians?’ It is better for us to serve than for us to die in the desert?”
13 Moses answered, “Do not be afraid. Be strong, and you will see the salvation that the Lord will work for you today, for you will never again see the Egyptians that you see today. 14 The Lord will battle for you. Be calm!”
15 The Children of Israel Cross the Red Sea.[b] The Lord said to Moses, “Why do they cry out to me? Order the children of Israel to set out again. 16 You are to lift up your staff, stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it so that the children of Israel may pass through the midst of the sea on dry land. 17 I will harden the heart of the Egyptians so that they will enter after them. I will display my glory against Pharaoh and all his army, against his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I display my glory against Pharaoh, against his chariots and his horsemen.”
19 The angel of God, who had gone in front of Israel’s camp, now moved and went in back of them. The pillar of cloud also moved from their front to their back. 20 They were, therefore, between the camps of the Egyptians and the children of Israel. The cloud was dark for the former group, while it lit up the night for the other. Thus, one group could not approach the other throughout the night.
21 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. During the night the Lord caused the sea to move back with a strong east wind, producing dry ground. The waters split in two. 22 The children of Israel entered the sea on dry land, while the waters formed a wall on their right and their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued them with all the horses of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen. They entered after them in the midst of the sea. 24 Just before dawn the Lord of the column of fire and cloud looked upon the camp of the Egyptians and threw them into confusion. 25 He clogged the wheels of their chariots so that they could hardly move. The Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the children of Israel for the Lord is fighting with them against the Egyptians.”
26 The Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea. The waters will flow back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and their horsemen.”
27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. At dawn the sea flowed back to its normal depth. While the Egyptians were fleeing right into it, the Lord overthrew them in the midst of the sea. 28 The waters flowed back and covered the chariots and the horsemen of the whole army of Pharaoh. Not a single one of those who had entered the sea to follow the children of Israel escaped.
29 The children of Israel had walked in the midst of the sea on dry land, the water forming walls on the right and the left. 30 On that day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shores of the sea. 31 Israel saw the mighty hand that the Lord had extended against Egypt. The people feared the Lord and believed in him and in his servant Moses.
Chapter 15
The Song of Moses and Miriam.[c] 1 Moses and the children of Israel therefore sang this song to the Lord:
“I will sing in honor of the Lord, for he is gloriously triumphant,
horse and horseman he has cast into the sea.
2 My strength and my song is the Lord,
for he has saved me.
He is my God, and I wish to praise him,
the God of my father, and I wish to exalt him.
3 “The Lord is a warrior,
Lord is his name.
4 He has cast Pharaoh’s chariots and his army into the sea.
His choice troops were drowned in the Red Sea.
5 The depths covered them
and they sank like a stone.
6 “Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in its power.
Your right hand, O Lord, has destroyed the enemy.
7 With the greatness of your majesty you have overthrown those who rose up against you.
You sent forth your anger and it devoured them like straw.
8 At the breath of your nostrils, the waters piled up.
The flood waters piled up and stood like a mound;
the deep waters congealed in the midst of the sea.
9 “The enemy had said, ‘I will pursue and overtake them.
I will divide the spoil, and my passion will be satisfied on them.
I will draw my sword, and my hand will destroy them.’
10 You blew your wind, and the sea covered them.
Like lead they sank in the mighty waters.
11 “Who is like you among the gods, O Lord?
Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
awesome in praise, doing wonders?
12 You extended your right hand
and the earth swallowed them.
13 “In your mercy you guided the people you had redeemed.
You guided them with strength to your holy dwelling.
14 The people will hear and be afraid.
Anguish will seize the inhabitants of Philistia.
15 The leaders of Edom tremble,
the mighty ones of Moab are gripped with fear,
all the inhabitants of Canaan melt away.
16 Fear and terror fall upon them.
The greatness of your arm makes them still as stone,
until your people have passed over, O Lord,
until your people whom you have acquired have passed over.
17 You will bring them in and plant them
on the mountain of your inheritance,
in the place that you have prepared for your dwelling, O Lord,
the sanctuary that your own hands have founded.
18 The Lord reigns forever and ever.”
19 When the horses of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought the waters of the sea back upon them, while the children of Israel walked through the midst of the sea on dry ground. 20 Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the other women came out after her playing their tambourines and dancing. 21 Miriam led them in the refrain:
“Sing to the Lord for he is wondrously triumphant;
horse and horsemen he has cast into the sea.”
The Journey through the Wilderness[d]
22 The Waters of Marah and Elim. Moses led the children of Israel away from the Red Sea, and they traveled toward the Desert of Shur. They walked three days into the desert and they did not find water. 23 They arrived at Marah, but they could not drink the waters of Marah for they were bitter. That is why the place was called Marah.[e] 24 So the people murmured against Moses, saying, “What will we drink?” 25 He called upon the Lord, who showed him a tree. When he cast it into the water, it became sweet.
The Lord made a statute and an ordinance for them there and put them to the test. 26 He said, “If you listen to the voice of the Lord, your God, and you do what is right in his sight, if you listen to his ordinances and observe all of his laws, I will not bring upon you any of the diseases that I brought upon the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”
27 Then they arrived at Elim where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees. Here they camped near the waters.
Footnotes
- Exodus 14:1 As the Master of history, the Lord makes use of even his enemies to accomplish his plan of salvation.
- Exodus 14:15 At last, the chosen people throw off their bondage by traversing the waters on dry feet thanks to God who fights for them. Israel could do no less than acknowledge its liberator. God wrests his people from the imminent catastrophe. Tradition seized upon this event and multiplied and exaggerated its details in order to magnify a feat that gave glory to God. History has become epic.
- Exodus 15:1 Although this hymn is here put into the mouth of the leader, it shows the extent to which the biblical poets were determined to magnify the wonders that accompanied the crossing of the Red Sea (see Ps 106:9; Wis 19:6-9). The refrain attributed to Miriam, Moses’ sister (Ex 15:21), may be regarded as the seed out of which the poem grew; it was later expanded (vv. 4-5, 8) and subsequently completed, for the song also in fact extols the journey to the Promised Land (vv. 13-16) and the building of the Temple (v. 17), both of which were other signs of God’s merciful presence in the midst of his people.
- Exodus 15:22 The Hebrews journey through a desolate and hostile land that puts them in a sullen mood. God does not cease to multiply benefits in their favor. They thus represent the Church, the New People of God, who pursues her terrestrial march sustained by the Lord despite the failings of his children. It is in this long passage that the unity of Israel is forged and that it acquires its fundamental religious conceptions.
- Exodus 15:23 The Hebrew word mar means “bitter,” “bitterness” (see Ru 1:20).
Exodus 14-15
New International Version
Exodus 14-15
New International Version
14 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol(A) and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon.(B) 3 Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart,(C) and he will pursue them.(D) But I will gain glory(E) for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.”(F) So the Israelites did this.
5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled,(G) Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds(H) about them and said, “What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!” 6 So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him. 7 He took six hundred of the best chariots,(I) along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. 8 The Lord hardened the heart(J) of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.(K) 9 The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses(L) and chariots, horsemen[a] and troops(M)—pursued the Israelites and overtook(N) them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon.(O)
10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried(P) out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?(Q) What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”(R)
13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid.(S) Stand firm and you will see(T) the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see(U) again. 14 The Lord will fight(V) for you; you need only to be still.”(W)
15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me?(X) Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff(Y) and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water(Z) so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts(AA) of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them.(AB) And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord(AC) when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”
19 Then the angel of God,(AD) who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud(AE) also moved from in front and stood behind(AF) them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness(AG) to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand(AH) over the sea,(AI) and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind(AJ) and turned it into dry land.(AK) The waters were divided,(AL) 22 and the Israelites went through the sea(AM) on dry ground,(AN) with a wall(AO) of water on their right and on their left.
23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen(AP) followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud(AQ) at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion.(AR) 25 He jammed[b] the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting(AS) for them against Egypt.”(AT)
26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place.(AU) The Egyptians were fleeing toward[c] it, and the Lord swept them into the sea.(AV) 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea.(AW) Not one of them survived.(AX)
29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground,(AY) with a wall(AZ) of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the Lord saved(BA) Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand(BB) of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared(BC) the Lord and put their trust(BD) in him and in Moses his servant.
The Song of Moses and Miriam
15 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song(BE) to the Lord:
“I will sing(BF) to the Lord,
for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver(BG)
he has hurled into the sea.(BH)
2 “The Lord is my strength(BI) and my defense[d];
he has become my salvation.(BJ)
He is my God,(BK) and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt(BL) him.
3 The Lord is a warrior;(BM)
the Lord is his name.(BN)
4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army(BO)
he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh’s officers
are drowned in the Red Sea.[e]
5 The deep waters(BP) have covered them;
they sank to the depths like a stone.(BQ)
6 Your right hand,(BR) Lord,
was majestic in power.
Your right hand,(BS) Lord,
shattered(BT) the enemy.
7 “In the greatness of your majesty(BU)
you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger;(BV)
it consumed(BW) them like stubble.
8 By the blast of your nostrils(BX)
the waters piled up.(BY)
The surging waters stood up like a wall;(BZ)
the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.(CA)
9 The enemy boasted,
‘I will pursue,(CB) I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;(CC)
I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
and my hand will destroy them.’
10 But you blew with your breath,(CD)
and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
in the mighty waters.(CE)
11 Who among the gods
is like you,(CF) Lord?
Who is like you—
majestic in holiness,(CG)
awesome in glory,(CH)
working wonders?(CI)
12 “You stretch out(CJ) your right hand,
and the earth swallows your enemies.(CK)
13 In your unfailing love you will lead(CL)
the people you have redeemed.(CM)
In your strength you will guide them
to your holy dwelling.(CN)
14 The nations will hear and tremble;(CO)
anguish(CP) will grip the people of Philistia.(CQ)
15 The chiefs(CR) of Edom(CS) will be terrified,
the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,(CT)
the people[f] of Canaan will melt(CU) away;
16 terror(CV) and dread will fall on them.
By the power of your arm
they will be as still as a stone(CW)—
until your people pass by, Lord,
until the people you bought[g](CX) pass by.(CY)
17 You will bring(CZ) them in and plant(DA) them
on the mountain(DB) of your inheritance—
the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling,(DC)
the sanctuary,(DD) Lord, your hands established.
18 “The Lord reigns
for ever and ever.”(DE)
19 When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen[h] went into the sea,(DF) the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.(DG) 20 Then Miriam(DH) the prophet,(DI) Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels(DJ) and dancing.(DK) 21 Miriam sang(DL) to them:
“Sing to the Lord,
for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver(DM)
he has hurled into the sea.”(DN)
The Waters of Marah and Elim
22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert(DO) of Shur.(DP) For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.(DQ) 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.[i](DR)) 24 So the people grumbled(DS) against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”(DT)
25 Then Moses cried out(DU) to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw(DV) it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.
There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test.(DW) 26 He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep(DX) all his decrees,(DY) I will not bring on you any of the diseases(DZ) I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals(EA) you.”
27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped(EB) there near the water.
Footnotes
- Exodus 14:9 Or charioteers; also in verses 17, 18, 23, 26 and 28
- Exodus 14:25 See Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint and Syriac; Masoretic Text removed
- Exodus 14:27 Or from
- Exodus 15:2 Or song
- Exodus 15:4 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 22
- Exodus 15:15 Or rulers
- Exodus 15:16 Or created
- Exodus 15:19 Or charioteers
- Exodus 15:23 Marah means bitter.
New International Version (NIV) 
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