¹⁰ Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.^(A)

The Waters of Marah and Elim

²² Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert^(A) of Shur.^(B) For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.^(C)

¹⁷ I will harden the hearts^(A) of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them.^(B) 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^(C) when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”

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

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)