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Exodus 13:17-15:26
New King James Version
Exodus 13:17-15:26
New King James Version
The Wilderness Way(A)
17 Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people (B)change their minds when they see war, and (C)return to Egypt.” 18 So God (D)led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.
19 And Moses took the (E)bones of (F)Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, (G)“God will surely [a]visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you.”
20 So (H)they took their journey from (I)Succoth and camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness. 21 And (J)the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. 22 He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.
The Red Sea Crossing
14 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, (K)that they turn and camp before (L)Pi Hahiroth, between (M)Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zephon; you shall camp before it by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, (N)‘They are bewildered by the land; the wilderness has closed them in.’ 4 Then (O)I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I (P)will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, (Q)that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.
5 Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled, and (R)the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people; and they said, “Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6 So he [b]made ready his chariot and took his people with him. 7 Also, he took (S)six hundred choice chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt with captains over every one of them. 8 And the Lord (T)hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; and (U)the children of Israel went out with boldness. 9 So the (V)Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and overtook them camping by the sea beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zephon.
10 And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel (W)cried out to the Lord. 11 (X)Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? 12 (Y)Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.”
13 And Moses said to the people, (Z)“Do not be afraid. (AA)Stand still, and see the (AB)salvation[c] of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall (AC)see again no more forever. 14 (AD)The Lord will fight for you, and you shall (AE)hold[d] your peace.”
15 And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. 16 But (AF)lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. 17 And I indeed will (AG)harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will (AH)gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18 Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”
19 And the Angel of God, (AI)who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. 20 So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night.
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and (AJ)made the sea into dry land, and the waters were (AK)divided. 22 So (AL)the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were (AM)a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 And the Egyptians pursued and went after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
24 Now it came to pass, in the morning (AN)watch, that (AO)the Lord looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He [e]troubled the army of the Egyptians. 25 And He [f]took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord (AP)fights for them against the Egyptians.”
26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.” 27 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the sea (AQ)returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it. So the Lord (AR)overthrew[g] the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 Then (AS)the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained. 29 But (AT)the children of Israel had walked on dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
30 So the Lord (AU)saved[h] Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel (AV)saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Thus Israel saw the great [i]work which the Lord had done in Egypt; so the people feared the Lord, and (AW)believed the Lord and His servant Moses.
The Song of Moses(AX)
15 Then (AY)Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying:
“I will (AZ)sing to the Lord,
For He has triumphed gloriously!
The horse and its rider
He has thrown into the sea!
2 The Lord is my strength and (BA)song,
And He has become my salvation;
He is my God, and (BB)I will praise Him;
My (BC)father’s God, and I (BD)will exalt Him.
3 The Lord is a man of (BE)war;
The Lord is His (BF)name.
4 (BG)Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea;
(BH)His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea.
5 The depths have covered them;
(BI)They sank to the bottom like a stone.
6 “Your (BJ)right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power;
Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces.
7 And in the greatness of Your (BK)excellence
You have overthrown those who rose against You;
You sent forth (BL)Your wrath;
It (BM)consumed them (BN)like stubble.
8 And (BO)with the blast of Your nostrils
The waters were gathered together;
(BP)The floods stood upright like a heap;
The depths [j]congealed in the heart of the sea.
9 (BQ)The enemy said, ‘I will pursue,
I will overtake,
I will (BR)divide the spoil;
My desire shall be satisfied on them.
I will draw my sword,
My hand shall destroy them.’
10 You blew with Your wind,
The sea covered them;
They sank like lead in the mighty waters.
11 “Who(BS) is like You, O Lord, among the [k]gods?
Who is like You, (BT)glorious in holiness,
Fearful in (BU)praises, (BV)doing wonders?
12 You stretched out Your right hand;
The earth swallowed them.
13 You in Your mercy have (BW)led forth
The people whom You have redeemed;
You have guided them in Your strength
To (BX)Your holy habitation.
14 “The (BY)people will hear and be afraid;
(BZ)Sorrow[l] will take hold of the inhabitants of Philistia.
15 (CA)Then (CB)the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed;
(CC)The mighty men of Moab,
Trembling will take hold of them;
(CD)All the inhabitants of Canaan will (CE)melt away.
16 (CF)Fear and dread will fall on them;
By the greatness of Your arm
They will be (CG)as still as a stone,
Till Your people pass over, O Lord,
Till the people pass over
(CH)Whom You have purchased.
17 You will bring them in and (CI)plant them
In the (CJ)mountain of Your inheritance,
In the place, O Lord, which You have made
For Your own dwelling,
The (CK)sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.
18 “The(CL) Lord shall reign forever and ever.”
19 For the (CM)horses of Pharaoh went with his chariots and his horsemen into the sea, and (CN)the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them. But the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.
The Song of Miriam(CO)
20 Then Miriam (CP)the prophetess, (CQ)the sister of Aaron, (CR)took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her (CS)with timbrels and with dances. 21 And Miriam (CT)answered them:
(CU)“Sing to the Lord,
For He has triumphed gloriously!
The horse and its rider
He has thrown into the sea!”
Bitter Waters Made Sweet
22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of (CV)Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no (CW)water. 23 Now when they came to (CX)Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called [m]Marah. 24 And the people (CY)complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” 25 So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. (CZ)When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet.
There He (DA)made a statute and an [n]ordinance for them, and there (DB)He tested them, 26 and said, (DC)“If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the (DD)diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord (DE)who heals you.”
Footnotes
- Exodus 13:19 give attention to
- Exodus 14:6 harnessed
- Exodus 14:13 deliverance
- Exodus 14:14 Lit. be quiet
- Exodus 14:24 confused
- Exodus 14:25 Sam., LXX, Syr. bound
- Exodus 14:27 Lit. shook off
- Exodus 14:30 delivered
- Exodus 14:31 Lit. hand with which the Lord worked
- Exodus 15:8 became firm
- Exodus 15:11 mighty ones
- Exodus 15:14 Anguish
- Exodus 15:23 Lit. Bitter
- Exodus 15:25 regulation
Exodus 13:17-15:26
New International Version
Exodus 13:17-15:26
New International Version
Crossing the Sea
17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”(A) 18 So God led(B) the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.[a] The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.(C)
19 Moses took the bones of Joseph(D) with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.”[b](E)
20 After leaving Sukkoth(F) they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert.(G) 21 By day the Lord went ahead(H) of them in a pillar of cloud(I) to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left(J) its place in front of the people.
14 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol(K) and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon.(L) 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,(M) and he will pursue them.(N) But I will gain glory(O) for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.”(P) So the Israelites did this.
5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled,(Q) Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds(R) 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,(S) along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. 8 The Lord hardened the heart(T) of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.(U) 9 The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses(V) and chariots, horsemen[c] and troops(W)—pursued the Israelites and overtook(X) them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon.(Y)
10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried(Z) 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?(AA) 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!”(AB)
13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid.(AC) Stand firm and you will see(AD) the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see(AE) again. 14 The Lord will fight(AF) for you; you need only to be still.”(AG)
15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me?(AH) Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff(AI) and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water(AJ) so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts(AK) of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them.(AL) 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(AM) when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”
19 Then the angel of God,(AN) who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud(AO) also moved from in front and stood behind(AP) them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness(AQ) 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(AR) over the sea,(AS) and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind(AT) and turned it into dry land.(AU) The waters were divided,(AV) 22 and the Israelites went through the sea(AW) on dry ground,(AX) with a wall(AY) of water on their right and on their left.
23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen(AZ) followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud(BA) at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion.(BB) 25 He jammed[d] 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(BC) for them against Egypt.”(BD)
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.(BE) The Egyptians were fleeing toward[e] it, and the Lord swept them into the sea.(BF) 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea.(BG) Not one of them survived.(BH)
29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground,(BI) with a wall(BJ) of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the Lord saved(BK) 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(BL) of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared(BM) the Lord and put their trust(BN) in him and in Moses his servant.
The Song of Moses and Miriam
15 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song(BO) to the Lord:
“I will sing(BP) to the Lord,
for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver(BQ)
he has hurled into the sea.(BR)
2 “The Lord is my strength(BS) and my defense[f];
he has become my salvation.(BT)
He is my God,(BU) and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt(BV) him.
3 The Lord is a warrior;(BW)
the Lord is his name.(BX)
4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army(BY)
he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh’s officers
are drowned in the Red Sea.[g]
5 The deep waters(BZ) have covered them;
they sank to the depths like a stone.(CA)
6 Your right hand,(CB) Lord,
was majestic in power.
Your right hand,(CC) Lord,
shattered(CD) the enemy.
7 “In the greatness of your majesty(CE)
you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger;(CF)
it consumed(CG) them like stubble.
8 By the blast of your nostrils(CH)
the waters piled up.(CI)
The surging waters stood up like a wall;(CJ)
the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.(CK)
9 The enemy boasted,
‘I will pursue,(CL) I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;(CM)
I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
and my hand will destroy them.’
10 But you blew with your breath,(CN)
and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
in the mighty waters.(CO)
11 Who among the gods
is like you,(CP) Lord?
Who is like you—
majestic in holiness,(CQ)
awesome in glory,(CR)
working wonders?(CS)
12 “You stretch out(CT) your right hand,
and the earth swallows your enemies.(CU)
13 In your unfailing love you will lead(CV)
the people you have redeemed.(CW)
In your strength you will guide them
to your holy dwelling.(CX)
14 The nations will hear and tremble;(CY)
anguish(CZ) will grip the people of Philistia.(DA)
15 The chiefs(DB) of Edom(DC) will be terrified,
the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,(DD)
the people[h] of Canaan will melt(DE) away;
16 terror(DF) and dread will fall on them.
By the power of your arm
they will be as still as a stone(DG)—
until your people pass by, Lord,
until the people you bought[i](DH) pass by.(DI)
17 You will bring(DJ) them in and plant(DK) them
on the mountain(DL) of your inheritance—
the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling,(DM)
the sanctuary,(DN) Lord, your hands established.
18 “The Lord reigns
for ever and ever.”(DO)
19 When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen[j] went into the sea,(DP) the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.(DQ) 20 Then Miriam(DR) the prophet,(DS) Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels(DT) and dancing.(DU) 21 Miriam sang(DV) to them:
“Sing to the Lord,
for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver(DW)
he has hurled into the sea.”(DX)
The Waters of Marah and Elim
22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert(DY) of Shur.(DZ) For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.(EA) 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.[k](EB)) 24 So the people grumbled(EC) against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”(ED)
25 Then Moses cried out(EE) to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw(EF) 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.(EG) 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(EH) all his decrees,(EI) I will not bring on you any of the diseases(EJ) I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals(EK) you.”
Footnotes
- Exodus 13:18 Or the Sea of Reeds
- Exodus 13:19 See Gen. 50:25.
- 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 King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.