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14 Then the Lord gave these instructions to Moses: “Order the Israelites to turn back and camp by Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, across from Baal-zephon. Then Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are confused. They are trapped in the wilderness!’ And once again I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after you.[a] I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord!” So the Israelites camped there as they were told.

The Egyptians Pursue Israel

When word reached the king of Egypt that the Israelites had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. “What have we done, letting all those Israelite slaves get away?” they asked. So Pharaoh harnessed his chariot and called up his troops. He took with him 600 of Egypt’s best chariots, along with the rest of the chariots of Egypt, each with its commander. The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, so he chased after the people of Israel, who had left with fists raised in defiance. The Egyptians chased after them with all the forces in Pharaoh’s army—all his horses and chariots, his charioteers, and his troops. The Egyptians caught up with the people of Israel as they were camped beside the shore near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon.

10 As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, 11 and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? 12 Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”

13 But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. 14 The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

Escape through the Red Sea

15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! 16 Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground. 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will charge in after the Israelites. My great glory will be displayed through Pharaoh and his troops, his chariots, and his charioteers. 18 When my glory is displayed through them, all Egypt will see my glory and know that I am the Lord!”

19 Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them. 20 The cloud settled between the Egyptian and Israelite camps. As darkness fell, the cloud turned to fire, lighting up the night. But the Egyptians and Israelites did not approach each other all night.

21 Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. 22 So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!

23 Then the Egyptians—all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and charioteers—chased them into the middle of the sea. 24 But just before dawn the Lord looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw their forces into total confusion. 25 He twisted[b] their chariot wheels, making their chariots difficult to drive. “Let’s get out of here—away from these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted. “The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!”

26 When all the Israelites had reached the other side, the Lord said to Moses, “Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back and cover the Egyptians and their chariots and charioteers.” 27 So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the water rushed back into its usual place. The Egyptians tried to escape, but the Lord swept them into the sea. 28 Then the waters returned and covered all the chariots and charioteers—the entire army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived.

29 But the people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides. 30 That is how the Lord rescued Israel from the hand of the Egyptians that day. And the Israelites saw the bodies of the Egyptians washed up on the seashore. 31 When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

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Footnotes

  1. 14:4 Hebrew after them.
  2. 14:25 As in Greek version, Samaritan Pentateuch, and Syriac version; Hebrew reads He removed.

Israel Crosses the Red Sea

14 Now Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel so that they turn back and camp before (A)Pi-hahiroth, between (B)Migdol and the sea; you shall camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it, by the sea. And Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, ‘They are wandering in confusion in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ Thus (C)I will [a]harden Pharaoh’s heart with strength, and (D)he will pursue them; and I will be glorified through Pharaoh and all his army, so that (E)the Egyptians will know that I am Yahweh.” And they did so.

Then the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” So he made his chariot ready and took his people with him; and he took six hundred choice chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. (F)And Yahweh [b]hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, with strength, and he pursued the sons of Israel as the sons of Israel were going out with an [c](G)exalted hand. Then (H)the Egyptians pursued 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 Now Pharaoh drew near, and the sons of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they became very afraid; (J)so the sons of Israel cried out to Yahweh. 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? What is this you have done against us in [d]bringing us out of Egypt? 12 (L)Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘[e]Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than for us to die in the wilderness.” 13 But Moses said to the people, “(M)Do not fear! [f]Stand by and see (N)the salvation of Yahweh which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. 14 (O)Yahweh will fight for you, and (P)you will keep silent.”

15 Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Speak to the sons of Israel so that they go forward. 16 As for you, raise up (Q)your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and split it, and the sons of Israel shall [g]go through the midst of the sea on dry land. 17 As for Me, behold, (R)I will [h]harden the hearts of the Egyptians with strength so that they will go in after them; and I will be glorified through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 (S)Then the Egyptians will know that I am Yahweh, when I am glorified through Pharaoh, through his chariots and his horsemen.”

19 (T)Then 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 [i]along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. Thus the one did not come near the other all night.

21 (U)Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and Yahweh [j]swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea into (V)dry ground, so (W)the waters were split. 22 (X)So the sons of Israel [k]went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and (Y)the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 Then (Z)the Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots and his horsemen went in after them into the midst of the sea. 24 Then at the morning watch, (AA)Yahweh looked down on the camp of the Egyptians [l]through the pillar of fire and cloud and brought the camp of the Egyptians into confusion. 25 And He [m]caused their chariot wheels to swerve, and He made them drive with difficulty; so the Egyptians said, “Let [n]us flee from Israel, (AB)for Yahweh is fighting for them against the Egyptians.”

26 Then Yahweh said to Moses, “(AC)Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots and their horsemen.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and (AD)the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak while the Egyptians were fleeing [o]right into it; then Yahweh [p](AE)overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 And the waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, [q]even 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 a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

30 (AH)Thus Yahweh saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel (AI)saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Then Israel saw the great hand which Yahweh had [r]used against the Egyptians; and the people [s]feared Yahweh, and (AJ)they believed in Yahweh and in His servant Moses.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 14:4 Lit strengthen
  2. Exodus 14:8 Lit strengthened
  3. Exodus 14:8 Lit high hand
  4. Exodus 14:11 Lit so as to bring
  5. Exodus 14:12 Lit Cease from us
  6. Exodus 14:13 Or Take your stand
  7. Exodus 14:16 Lit enter the
  8. Exodus 14:17 Lit strengthen
  9. Exodus 14:20 Lit and the darkness
  10. Exodus 14:21 Lit caused to go
  11. Exodus 14:22 Lit entered the
  12. Exodus 14:24 Or in
  13. Exodus 14:25 Or removed
  14. Exodus 14:25 Lit me
  15. Exodus 14:27 Lit to meet it
  16. Exodus 14:27 Lit shook off
  17. Exodus 14:28 Lit in respect to
  18. Exodus 14:31 Lit done
  19. Exodus 14:31 Or reverenced