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)

³⁰ Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession^(A) of the land.

The Song of Moses and Miriam

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

²⁷ “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites.^(A)

²⁷ You grumbled^(A) in your tents and said, “The Lord hates us; so he brought us out of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us.

²⁰ But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?^(A) “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,^(B) ‘Why did you make me like this?’”^[a](C)

⁴ Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven^(A) for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test^(B) them and see whether they will follow my instructions.

¹² “I have heard the grumbling^(A) of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”^(B)