The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 4 · Section 4
SECT. IV.
FRom Etham the Lord Commands them to turn back again, and to Encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the Sea over againſt Baal-Zephon. This was a narrow paſſage between two ledges of Mountains, with the Sea before them. It ſeems it was now told Pharaoh, that the people of Iſrael were fled from Etham, and it was ſo repreſented to Him as if they had run away from thence being terrified, whereas they marched back with an high Hand, and with diſplayed Banners. Pharaoh hearing this, and that they were pitched at ſo inconvenient a place as Pihahiroth, He and his Courtiers ſaid among themſelves, They are entangled in the Land, and the Wilderneſs hath ſhut them in; Let us therefore purſue after them. Pharaoh accordingly with his Horſes and Chariots (h)Of old they uſed Chariots with Sithes at their ſides to mow down men in their way. They had other Chariots out of which they fought as men do now out of Ships. But where had Pharooh horſes? ſeeing 'tis ſaid, Ch. 9.6. All the Cattel of Egypt died. Anſw. All here is taken for many. See the Notes on that place.of War (to the Number of 600, all that could be got together on the ſuddain,) with his Horſe-men and Army purſues after them, and found them Encamped in thoſe Streights near the Sea. When Pharaoh with his Army drew nigh, the Children of Iſrael were dreadfully affrighted. Fly they could not, having the Sea before them, the Egyptians behind them, and ſteep and unpaſſable Hills on either ſide of them; Yet God ſo order'd it, that the Egyptians overtook them not, their Camps being parted by the Pillar of Cloud, which from going before the Camp of Iſrael now removed and went behind them, and it caſt a great darkneſs on the Egyptians, but gave light to the Iſraelites; However the people being in great Conſternation, they Cry unto the Lord for help, and cry out in a high diſcontent againſt Moſes. What, ſay they, were there no Graves in Egypt, that thou haſt brought us forth to die in the Wilderneſs? Did we not deſire thee to let us alone with our Bondage in Egypt, rather then expoſe us to ſuch dangers as theſe? Moſes deſir'd them to be quiet; fear not (ſays he) but ſtand ſtill, and ſee the Salvation of the Lord, which he will ſhew you this day. For the Egyptians whom ye have ſeen to day, ye ſhall ſee them no more for ever. The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be quiet, and hold your peace, and to keep your ſelves from doubting or murmuring, and humbly to truſt in God, whoſe help is readieſt when the danger of his people is greateſt. However Moſes though he firmly relied on God, yet ſent up many ſtrong Cries and Ejaculations to the Lord, mixed with ſome perturbation of Mind, upon the peoples Clamour againſt him. The Lord hereupon calls to him, not to employ himſelf further in praying to him at that time, but to march on directly with the people to the Red-Sea, which he doth accordingly; and coming thither, the Lord bids him Stretch forth his Rod over the Sea, and upon that action of his, the Sea ſhould divide it ſelf Moſes does as he was commanded, and a ſtrong Eaſt-wind blew, and the Sea miraculouſly divided it ſelf, ſtanding on heaps on each ſide; Then the Iſraelites, by God's Command, Moſes leading the way, paſſed thorow it ſafe, as upon dry ground, and the Waters were a Wall unto them on the right hand and on the left,(i)The Apoſtle ſays, Heb. 11.29. That by Faith they paſſed thorow the Sea, and 1 Cor. 10.2. That they were all baptized to Moſes in the Cloud, and in the Sea. See Apoſtol. Hiſtory, pag. 169. the explication hereof. Pharaoh and his Hoſt coming to the Sea, and ſeeing it thus divided, they thought they might paſs thorow it as well as the Iſraelites, and accordingly entred the paſſage (k)Quos excidio deſtinat, occaecat Deus.to follow them; but they were much hindred in their march after them, by the falling off of their Chariot wheels. For the Lord in the Morning-Watch (l)Anciently the nights in ſtead of hours were divided into many Watches, 1 Sam. 11.11. the number of which is not certainly known, and the day into Morning, Mid-day, and Even.looking out of the Pillar of Fire and Cloud upon the Egyptians, teſtified his Diſpleaſure againſt them by Lightnings, and Thunder, and Rain, with which he much diſtreſſed and diſorder'd them, as David more largely relates, Pſal. 77.18, 19. Inſomuch that many of the Egyptians themſelves were now ſenſible that God appear'd againſt them, and for the Iſraelites, and therefore deſired to retreat, and not to purſue after them any further. The Iſraelites at laſt got all ſafe to the other ſide of the ſhore, viz. to the Deſert of Etham, and then God commanded Moſes to ſtretch forth his Hand again over the Sea, which being done, the Waters came together again, and ſo overwhelmed(m)This was a juſt Judgment of God upon the Egyptians, who had caſt the poor Infants of the Iſraelites into the water, and had drowned them without remorſe. the whole Hoſt of the Egyptians, not one of them eſcaped. The Iſraelites ſaw ſome of their Carcaſſes floating upon the Sea, and caſt upon the ſhore. Thus God with an out-ſtretched Arm ſaved the Iſraelites that day out of the hands of the Egyptians, and the people feared the Lord, and believed in him, and believed the word which Moſes ſpake unto them in the Name of the Lord.
Gen. 14. whole Chapter.