Commentary on Genesis and Exodus, Book 2 · Chapter 15 · Analysis – Diverse readings
1. The Argument and method.
THis Chapter conteineth, first the solemne thankesgiving of the Israelites for their deliverance, to vers. 22. Secondly the historie of certaine journeyes of the Israelites, to vers. 27.
The thankesgiving is performed, first by Moses and his company, to vers. 20. Then by Miriam with the women, vers. 20.21.
In Moses song there is first the argument and summe of the song propounded, why they will prayse the Lord, because they had overthrowne their enemies, the horse and the rider in the sea, vers. 1.
2. The narration or exposition, consisting of benefits past and to come.
The benefit already past is their deliverance, and the destruction of their enemies, to vers. 13. where the effects with the causes are set forth, which are three: First, who were drowned in the sea, where the cause is set before, the power of God, vers. 23. The effect followeth, Pharaohs hoast and chariots, and his captaines were drowned in the sea, vers. 4. Secondly by what meanes, the cause is first expressed, the power of God, vers. 6. Then the effect, they were destroyed by the winds, called the blast of his nostrils, and the raging waters, vers. 7.8. Thirdly, when, and upon what occasion they were destroyed, evenwhen they were in the height of their pride, vers. 9. The enemie said, I will pursue, then the cause thereof, the power of God, set forth comparatively, vers. 11.
The benefits to come. 1. Their preservation still, vers. 13. 2. The feare of the enemies, both whom this feare shall take, the people of Palestina, Edom and Canaan, vers. 14.15. and the cause of this feare is shewed, Because of the greatnes of their armie, vers. 16. and the fruits and effects of this feare, Till the people passe by, vers. 16. 3. The bringing of them in, and planting them in the land of Canaan, vers. 17. 4. Their continuall protection for ever, vers. 18.
3. The conclusion of this song, containing a rehearsall of the destruction of the Egyptians, and the deliverance of the Lords people, vers. 18.
In the thankesgiving of Miriam: three things are declared. 1 Who they were, Miriam with the women and matrons of Israel, vers. 20. 2. With timbrels and daunces. 3. The matter and argument of their song, answerable unto Moses song, vers. 20.21.
In the second part of this Chapter, there are described the journeyes of the Israelites, which were of two sorts, either hard & unpleasant journeyes, in difficult and dangerous places, or comfortable and pleasant.
Of the first sort were their two journeyes, one in the wildernesse of Shur for three dayes, where they found no water at all: the second journey was to come to Marah, where is described: first the distresse wherein they were, the waters were bitter, with the event, the naming of the place upon that accident, and the effect, the mourning of the people▪ then is shewed how they were delivered from this distresse, where, 1. The causes are expressed, the principall, God at the prayer of Moses; the instrumentall or ministeriall, a tree which the Lord shewed. 2. The effect, the waters became sweete. 3. The event, that by this occasion, the Lord maketh a promise and covenant with them: consisting of the condition, their obedience, the promise of the benefit, their health and safetie from all the plagues of Egypt, the foundation thereof, the providence and protection of God: I am the Lord that healeth thee, vers. 26.
Their journey of the second sort, was in Elim, wherein were twelve fountaines of water, and seventie palme trees: both delectable for their pleasure, and profitable for their present use and necessitie, vers. 27.
2. The divers readings.
Vers. 2. The Lord is my song. I.V.C. praise. B.G.A.P.I. the first rather▪ Zi…arah commeth of Zamar to sing.I.V. I.G.C.A.P.
Vers. 2. And I will build him a tabernacle. I.G.C.A.P. rather than, I will praise him. B.L.S.V. navah signifieth to dwell, as Habak. 2.5. he shall not dwell or continue: and in hiphil to cause to dwell.
Vers. 4. In the reedie sea. I.V. the sea suph. A.P. rather than the red sea. I.V.B.G. cum cater. suph signifieth a reed or bulrush.
Vers. 6. Thy right hand is glorious to me in power. I better than, thy right hand is glorious in power. I.B.G. cum cater. the word is nedari with an affix pronoune.
Vers. 6. Thy right hand hath bruised them. A.B. cum caeter. better than,A.P.B.G. with thy right hand thou hast brused them. I. for a preposition should be supplied here, which is wanting in the Hebrew: and the word jeminca is used before in the beginning of the verse, in the nominative case.
Vers. 9. Mine hand shall take them for an inheritance. I. shall rule over them. S. b…tter than,I. shall destroy them. A.P.V.C.L. cum cater. the word torish of jarash to inherite, signifieth properly to cause to inherite: sometime it signifieth to expell, but that sense is not fit here: and beside it was their intendment to bring them againe into their subjection and service: cap. 14.5.
Vers. 11. Who is like unto thee among the mightie? I.L. rather than, among the gods. A.P.V.B.G.C. for beside that, …elim is so taken for the strong and mightie, 2. King. 24.15. this sense is more generall,I.L. and exalteth God above all that are called mightie, Angels or men.
Vers. 17. Plant them in the mountaine of thine inheritance. B.G.C.A.P. cum cater. of thy possession ▪ B.G.I. but nachalah rather signifie than inheritance, as the Septuagint translate, foreign.
Vers. 19. Pharaohs horses went with his chariots. I.C.P.G. not Pharaohs horsemen. I.C.P.G.L. V. for that is expressed afterward: nor Pharaohs h…rse. S. or Pharaoh on horseback went. B. for though it be sus. in the singular in the originall, yet it is taken for the plurall▪ as cap. 14.23. it includeth a signification also of Pharaohs personall going into the sea.
Vers. 20. With timbrels and daunces B. G. C. cum cater. rather than timbrels and flutes. I. the word mecholoth is taken for dauncers, Iud. 21.20. and so wa… the use for the women to come forth with daunces, to meete those that returned with victorie, as Iud. 11.34. 1. Sam. 18.5. and heere, as Miriam is said to take a timbrell only, so it is like the other women did, neither had it been so fit for them to play upon flutes, because of their singing and answering Moses.
Vers. 22. And they went forth toward the desert of Shur ▪ or that they might go forth to the wildernesse of Shur. I. better, then they went out into the desert of Shur. I.B.G. cum cater. for they did not immediately enter into the desert of Shur, after they left the red sea, but they travelled first three dayes thorow the wildernesse of Ethan, Num. 33.8. Iun.
Vers. 23. He, or, everie one, called the name of the place Mara… I.V.A.P.C. not, the name of the place was called. B.G.S.L. for the word …ara is in the ….I.V.A.P.