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Exodus 14:1-15:21
New American Standard Bible

Pharaoh in Pursuit

14 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Tell the sons of Israel to turn back and camp in front of (A)Pi-hahiroth, between (B)Migdol and the sea; you shall camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it, by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, ‘They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ 4 And (C)I will [a]harden Pharaoh’s heart, and (D)he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and (E)the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.

5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, [b]Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people, and they said, “What is this that we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6 So he had horses harnessed to his chariot and took his people with him; 7 and he took six hundred select chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. 8 So (F)the Lord [c]hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he chased after the sons of Israel as the sons of Israel were going out [d](G)boldly. 9 Then (H)the Egyptians chased after them with all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and they overtook them camping by the sea, (I)beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.

10 As Pharaoh approached, the sons of Israel [e]looked, and behold, the Egyptians were coming after them, and they became very frightened; (J)so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 Then (K)they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, [f]bringing us out of Egypt? 12 (L)Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘[g]Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness!”

The Sea Is Divided

13 But Moses said to the people, “(M)Do not fear! [h]Stand by and see (N)the salvation of the Lord, which He will perform for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again, ever. 14 (O)The Lord will fight for you, while (P)you keep silent.”

15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. 16 As for you, lift up (Q)your staff and reach out with your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall [i]go through the midst of the sea on dry land. 17 And as for Me, behold, (R)I will [j]harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 (S)Then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord, when I am honored through Pharaoh, through his chariots, and through his horsemen.”

19 Then (T)the angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. 20 So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud [k]along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. Therefore the one did not approach the other all night.

21 (U)Then Moses reached out with his hand over the sea; and the Lord [l]swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into (V)dry land, and (W)the waters were divided. 22 So (X)the sons of Israel [m]went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and (Y)the waters were like a wall to them on their right and on their left. 23 Then (Z)the Egyptians took up the pursuit, and all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen went in after them into the midst of the sea. 24 But at the morning watch, (AA)the Lord looked down on the [n]army of the Egyptians [o]through the pillar of fire and cloud, and brought the [p]army of the Egyptians into confusion. 25 He [q]caused their chariot wheels to swerve, and He made them drive with difficulty; so the Egyptians each said, “Let me flee from Israel, (AB)for the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians.”

26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “(AC)Reach out with your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots and their horsemen.” 27 So Moses reached out with his hand over the sea, and (AD)the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak, while the Egyptians were fleeing [r]right into it; then the Lord [s](AE)overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them; (AF)not even one of them remained. 29 But the sons of Israel walked on (AG)dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right and on their left.

30 (AH)So the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel (AI)saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 When Israel saw the great [t]power which the Lord had [u]used against the Egyptians, the people [v]feared the Lord, and (AJ)they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.

The Song of Moses and Israel

15 (AK)Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the Lord, [w]saying:

“[x](AL)I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted;
(AM)The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.
2 [y](AN)The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation;
(AO)This is my God, and I will praise Him;
(AP)My father’s God, and I will (AQ)exalt Him.
3 (AR)The Lord is a warrior;
[z](AS)The Lord is His name.
4 (AT)Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has thrown into the sea;
And the choicest of his officers are [aa]drowned in the [ab]Red Sea.
5 The waters cover them;
(AU)They went down into the depths like a stone.
6 (AV)Your right hand, Lord, is majestic in power;
(AW)Your right hand, Lord, destroys the enemy.
7 And in the greatness of Your [ac]excellence You (AX)overthrow those who rise up against You;
(AY)You send out Your burning anger, and it (AZ)consumes them like chaff.
8 (BA)At the blast of Your nostrils the waters were piled up,
(BB)The flowing waters stood up like a heap;
The depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
9 (BC)The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will (BD)divide the spoils;
[ad]I shall [ae]be satisfied against them;
I will draw my sword, my hand will [af]destroy them.’
10 (BE)You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them;
(BF)They sank like lead in the mighty waters.
11 (BG)Who is like You among the gods, Lord?
Who is like You, (BH)majestic in holiness,
(BI)Awesome in praises, (BJ)working wonders?
12 (BK)You reached out with Your right hand,
The earth swallowed them.
13 In Your [ag]faithfulness You have (BL)led the people whom You have (BM)redeemed;
In Your strength You have guided them (BN)to Your holy habitation.
14 (BO)The peoples have heard, they tremble;
Anguish has gripped the inhabitants of Philistia.
15 Then the (BP)chiefs of Edom were terrified;
(BQ)The leaders of Moab, trembling grips them;
(BR)All the inhabitants of Canaan have despaired.
16 (BS)Terror and dread fall upon them;
(BT)By the greatness of Your arm they are motionless as stone,
Until Your people pass over, Lord,
Until the people pass over whom You (BU)have purchased.
17 (BV)You will bring them and (BW)plant them in (BX)the mountain of Your inheritance,
(BY)The place, Lord, which You have made as Your dwelling,
(BZ)The sanctuary, Lord, which Your hands have established.
18 (CA)The Lord shall reign forever and ever.”

19 (CB)For the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, and the Lord brought back the waters of the sea on them, but the sons of Israel walked on (CC)dry land through the midst of the sea.

20 (CD)Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took the (CE)tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with [ah](CF)dancing. 21 And Miriam answered them,

“(CG)Sing to the Lord, for He [ai]is highly exalted;
The horse and his rider He has hurled into the sea.”

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 14:4 Lit make strong
  2. Exodus 14:5 Lit the heart of Pharaoh...was changed
  3. Exodus 14:8 Lit made strong
  4. Exodus 14:8 Lit with a high hand
  5. Exodus 14:10 Lit lifted up their eyes
  6. Exodus 14:11 Lit so as to bring
  7. Exodus 14:12 Lit Cease from us
  8. Exodus 14:13 Or Take your stand
  9. Exodus 14:16 Lit enter the
  10. Exodus 14:17 Lit make strong
  11. Exodus 14:20 Lit and the darkness
  12. Exodus 14:21 Lit caused to go
  13. Exodus 14:22 Lit entered the
  14. Exodus 14:24 Lit camp
  15. Exodus 14:24 Or in
  16. Exodus 14:24 Lit camp
  17. Exodus 14:25 Or removed
  18. Exodus 14:27 Lit to meet it
  19. Exodus 14:27 Lit shook off
  20. Exodus 14:31 Lit hand
  21. Exodus 14:31 Lit done
  22. Exodus 14:31 Or revered
  23. Exodus 15:1 Lit and said, saying
  24. Exodus 15:1 Or Let me sing
  25. Exodus 15:2 Heb Yah
  26. Exodus 15:3 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  27. Exodus 15:4 Lit sunk
  28. Exodus 15:4 Lit Sea of Reeds
  29. Exodus 15:7 Or exaltation
  30. Exodus 15:9 Lit My soul
  31. Exodus 15:9 Lit be filled with them
  32. Exodus 15:9 Or dispossess; or drive them out
  33. Exodus 15:13 Or mercy
  34. Exodus 15:20 Lit dances
  35. Exodus 15:21 Or has triumphed gloriously
Close ASV

Exodus 14:1-15:21
American Standard Version

14 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn back and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal-zephon: over against it shall ye encamp by the sea. 3 And Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. 4 And I will [a]harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he shall follow after them; and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; and the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah. And they did so. 5 And it was told the king of Egypt that the people were fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed towards the people, and they said, What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us? 6 And he made ready his [b]chariot, and took his people with him: 7 and he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over all of them. 8 And Jehovah [c]hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: for the children of Israel went out with a high hand. 9 And the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon.

10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto Jehovah. 11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to bring us forth out of Egypt? 12 Is not this the word that we spake unto thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it were better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. 13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of Jehovah, which he will work for you to-day: [d]for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to-day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14 Jehovah will fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

15 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward. 16 And lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thy hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go into the midst of the sea on dry ground. 17 And I, behold, I will [e]harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall go in after them: and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah, when I have gotten me honor upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. 19 And the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud removed from before them, and stood behind them: 20 and it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud and the darkness, yet gave it light by night: and the one came not near the other all the night.

21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and Jehovah caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And it came to pass in the morning watch, that Jehovah looked forth upon the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and discomfited the host of the Egyptians. 25 And he [f]took off their chariot wheels, [g]and they drove them heavily; so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for Jehovah fighteth for them against the Egyptians.

26 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Stretch out thy hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. 27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its [h]strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and Jehovah [i]overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, even all the host of Pharaoh that went in after them into the sea; there remained not so much as one of them. 29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 30 Thus Jehovah saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea-shore. 31 And Israel saw the great [j]work which Jehovah did upon the Egyptians, and the people feared Jehovah: and they believed in Jehovah, and in his servant Moses.

15 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto Jehovah, and spake, saying,

I will sing unto Jehovah, for he [k]hath triumphed gloriously:
The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
2 [l]Jehovah is my strength and song,
And he is become my salvation:
This is my God, and I will praise him;
My father’s God, and I will exalt him.
3 Jehovah is a man of war:
Jehovah is his name.
4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea;
And his chosen captains are sunk in the Red Sea.
5 The deeps cover them:
They went down into the depths like a stone.
6 Thy right hand, O Jehovah, is glorious in power,
Thy right hand, O Jehovah, dasheth in pieces the enemy.
7 And in the greatness of thine excellency thou overthrowest them that rise up against thee: Thou sendest forth thy wrath, it consumeth them as stubble.
8 And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were piled up,
The floods stood upright as a heap;
The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea.
9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil;
My desire shall be satisfied upon them;
I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
10 Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them:
They sank as lead in the mighty waters.
11 Who is like unto thee, O Jehovah, among the gods?
Who is like thee, glorious in holiness,
Fearful in praises, doing wonders?
12 Thou stretchedst out thy right hand,
The earth swallowed them.
13 Thou in thy lovingkindness hast led the people that thou hast redeemed:
Thou hast guided them in thy strength to thy holy habitation.
14 The peoples have heard, they tremble:
Pangs have taken hold on the inhabitants of Philistia.
15 Then were the chiefs of Edom dismayed;
The [m]mighty men of Moab, trembling taketh hold upon them:
All the inhabitants of Canaan are melted away.
16 Terror and dread falleth upon them;
By the greatness of thine arm they are as still as a stone;
Till thy people pass over, O Jehovah,
Till the people pass over that thou hast [n]purchased.
17 Thou wilt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance,
The place, O Jehovah, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in,
The sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.
18 Jehovah shall reign for ever and ever.

19 For the horses of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and Jehovah brought back the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea. 20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 21 And Miriam answered them,

Sing ye to Jehovah, for he [o]hath triumphed gloriously;
The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 14:4 Hebrew make strong.
  2. Exodus 14:6 Or, chariots
  3. Exodus 14:8 Hebrew made strong.
  4. Exodus 14:13 Or, for whereas ye have seen the Egyptians to-day
  5. Exodus 14:17 Hebrew make strong.
  6. Exodus 14:25 According to Septuagint and Syriac, bound.
  7. Exodus 14:25 Or, and made them to drive
  8. Exodus 14:27 Or, wonted flow
  9. Exodus 14:27 Hebrew shook off.
  10. Exodus 14:31 Hebrew hand.
  11. Exodus 15:1 Or, is highly exalted
  12. Exodus 15:2 Hebrew Jah.
  13. Exodus 15:15 Hebrew rams.
  14. Exodus 15:16 Hebrew gotten.
  15. Exodus 15:21 Or, is highly exalted
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