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(A: iii) 15 Adonai asked Moshe, “Why are you crying to me? Tell the people of Isra’el to go forward! 16 Lift your staff, reach out with your hand over the sea, and divide it in two. The people of Isra’el will advance into the sea on dry ground. 17 As for me, I will make the Egyptians hardhearted; and they will march in after them; thus I will win glory for myself at the expense of Pharaoh and all his army, chariots and cavalry. 18 Then the Egyptians will realize that I am Adonai, when I have won myself glory at the expense of Pharaoh, his chariots and his cavalry.”

19 Next, the angel of God, who was going ahead of the camp of Isra’el, moved away and went behind them; and the column of cloud moved away from in front of them and stood behind them. 20 It stationed itself between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Isra’el — there was cloud and darkness here, but light by night there; so that the one did not come near the other all night long.

21 Moshe reached his hand out over the sea, and Adonai caused the sea to go back before a strong east wind all night. He made the sea become dry land, and its water was divided in two. 22 Then the people of Isra’el went into the sea on the dry ground, with the water walled up for them on their right and on their left.

23 The Egyptians continued their pursuit, going after them into the sea — all Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and cavalry. 24 Just before dawn, Adonai looked out on the Egyptian army through the column of fire and cloud and threw them into a panic. 25 He caused the wheels of their chariots to break off, so that they could move only with difficulty. The Egyptians said, “Adonai is fighting for Isra’el against the Egyptians! Let’s get away from them!”

(A: iv, S: iii) 26 Adonai said to Moshe, “Reach your hand out over the sea, and the water will return and cover the Egyptians with their chariots and cavalry.” 27 Moshe reached his hand out over the sea, and by dawn the sea had returned to its former depth. The Egyptians tried to flee, but Adonai swept them into the sea. 28 The water came back and covered all the chariots and cavalry of Pharaoh’s army who had followed them into the sea — not even one of them was left. 29 But the people of Isra’el walked on dry ground in the sea, with the water walled up for them on their right and on their left.

30 On that day, Adonai saved Isra’el from the Egyptians; Isra’el saw the Egyptians dead on the shore. 31 When Isra’el saw the mighty deed that Adonai had performed against the Egyptians, the people feared Adonai, and they believed in Adonai and in his servant Moshe.

15 Then Moshe and the people of Isra’el sang this song to Adonai:

“I will sing to Adonai, for he is highly exalted:
the horse and its rider he threw in the sea.

Yah is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.
This is my God: I will glorify him;
my father’s God: I will exalt him.
Adonai is a warrior;
Adonai is his name.

Pharaoh’s chariots and his army
he hurled into the sea.
His elite commanders
were drowned in the Sea of Suf.
The deep waters covered them;
they sank to the depths like a stone.

Your right hand, Adonai, is sublimely powerful;
your right hand, Adonai, shatters the foe.
By your great majesty you bring down your enemies;
you send out your wrath to consume them like stubble.

With a blast from your nostrils the waters piled up —
the waters stood up like a wall,
the depths of the sea became firm ground.
The enemy said, ‘I will pursue and overtake,
divide the spoil and gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.’
10 You blew with your wind, the sea covered them,
they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

11 Who is like you, Adonai, among the mighty?
Who is like you, sublime in holiness,
awesome in praises, working wonders?

12 You reached out with your right hand:
the earth swallowed them.
13 In your love, you led the people you redeemed;
in your strength, you guided them to your holy abode.

14 The peoples have heard, and they tremble;
anguish takes hold of those living in P’leshet;
15 then the chiefs of Edom are dismayed;
trepidation seizes the heads of Mo’av;
all those living in Kena‘an are melted away.
16 Terror and dread fall on them;
by the might of your arm they are still as stone
until your people pass over, Adonai,
till the people you purchased pass over.

17 You will bring them in and plant them
on the mountain which is your heritage,
the place, Adonai, that you made your abode,
the sanctuary, Adonai, which your hands established.

18 Adonai will reign forever and ever.

19 For the horses of Pharaoh went with his chariots
and with his cavalry into the sea,
but Adonai brought the sea waters back upon them,
while the people of Isra’el walked on dry land
in the midst of the sea!”

20 Also Miryam the prophet, sister of Aharon, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines, dancing, 21 as Miryam sang to them:

“Sing to Adonai, for he is highly exalted!
The horse and its rider he threw in the sea!”

15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me?(A) Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff(B) and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water(C) so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts(D) of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them.(E) 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(F) when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”

19 Then the angel of God,(G) who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud(H) also moved from in front and stood behind(I) them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness(J) 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(K) over the sea,(L) and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind(M) and turned it into dry land.(N) The waters were divided,(O) 22 and the Israelites went through the sea(P) on dry ground,(Q) with a wall(R) of water on their right and on their left.

23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen(S) followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud(T) at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion.(U) 25 He jammed[a] 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(V) for them against Egypt.”(W)

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.(X) The Egyptians were fleeing toward[b] it, and the Lord swept them into the sea.(Y) 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea.(Z) Not one of them survived.(AA)

29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground,(AB) with a wall(AC) of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the Lord saved(AD) 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(AE) of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared(AF) the Lord and put their trust(AG) in him and in Moses his servant.

The Song of Moses and Miriam

15 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song(AH) to the Lord:

“I will sing(AI) to the Lord,
    for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver(AJ)
    he has hurled into the sea.(AK)

“The Lord is my strength(AL) and my defense[c];
    he has become my salvation.(AM)
He is my God,(AN) and I will praise him,
    my father’s God, and I will exalt(AO) him.
The Lord is a warrior;(AP)
    the Lord is his name.(AQ)
Pharaoh’s chariots and his army(AR)
    he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh’s officers
    are drowned in the Red Sea.[d]
The deep waters(AS) have covered them;
    they sank to the depths like a stone.(AT)
Your right hand,(AU) Lord,
    was majestic in power.
Your right hand,(AV) Lord,
    shattered(AW) the enemy.

“In the greatness of your majesty(AX)
    you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger;(AY)
    it consumed(AZ) them like stubble.
By the blast of your nostrils(BA)
    the waters piled up.(BB)
The surging waters stood up like a wall;(BC)
    the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.(BD)
The enemy boasted,
    ‘I will pursue,(BE) I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;(BF)
    I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
    and my hand will destroy them.’
10 But you blew with your breath,(BG)
    and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
    in the mighty waters.(BH)
11 Who among the gods
    is like you,(BI) Lord?
Who is like you—
    majestic in holiness,(BJ)
awesome in glory,(BK)
    working wonders?(BL)

12 “You stretch out(BM) your right hand,
    and the earth swallows your enemies.(BN)
13 In your unfailing love you will lead(BO)
    the people you have redeemed.(BP)
In your strength you will guide them
    to your holy dwelling.(BQ)
14 The nations will hear and tremble;(BR)
    anguish(BS) will grip the people of Philistia.(BT)
15 The chiefs(BU) of Edom(BV) will be terrified,
    the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,(BW)
the people[e] of Canaan will melt(BX) away;
16     terror(BY) and dread will fall on them.
By the power of your arm
    they will be as still as a stone(BZ)
until your people pass by, Lord,
    until the people you bought[f](CA) pass by.(CB)
17 You will bring(CC) them in and plant(CD) them
    on the mountain(CE) of your inheritance—
the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling,(CF)
    the sanctuary,(CG) Lord, your hands established.

18 “The Lord reigns
    for ever and ever.”(CH)

19 When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen[g] went into the sea,(CI) the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.(CJ) 20 Then Miriam(CK) the prophet,(CL) Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels(CM) and dancing.(CN) 21 Miriam sang(CO) to them:

“Sing to the Lord,
    for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver(CP)
    he has hurled into the sea.”(CQ)

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 14:25 See Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint and Syriac; Masoretic Text removed
  2. Exodus 14:27 Or from
  3. Exodus 15:2 Or song
  4. Exodus 15:4 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 22
  5. Exodus 15:15 Or rulers
  6. Exodus 15:16 Or created
  7. Exodus 15:19 Or charioteers