Westminster Annotations, Exodus · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIIII.
Vers. 1. ANd the Lord spake] That which he had spake before is here brought in, and it is brought in here, to shew that Moses mistook not his way, when he brought them into these straits, and danger, but that therein he followed Gods direction, as they did his: the reason whereof, see in the notes following.
V. 2. turne] This turning was a returning: for they were before at Etham, whence now bending their course, (as here they are appointed) they coasted toward Memphis, (the chiefe Citie of Egypt Southward) whereas the land of Canaan (whither they were to goe) was Northward.
Migdol] This was a garrison Tower or Castle of the Philistines: so that turning this way, they might be thought to have lost their way and to be intangled in the wildernesse, and that with such disadvantage (having that on one side, mountains on the other, the sea before them) Pharaoh, and the Egyptians might be drawn out, to pursue them, with hope to prevaile against them: that so the faith of the Israelites might be tryed, Gods power and providence the more declared, and the enemies more confounded, in their own destruction, and Gods strange deliverance of his people.
V. 4. be honoured] Chap. 4. 17, 18. By punishing his obstinate rebellion. See the Annot. on Exod. 9. 16.
V. 5. fled] Whereas they pretended to goe but three dayes journey into the wildernesse, to sacrifice to the Lord their God, Chap. 3. v. 18. Chap. 5. v. 3. it was told to Pharaoh that they were runaway, and purposed now to return no more. But they went not out like runawayes, but with a confident boldnesse, a… Vin an orderly march. See note on v. ….
…. 5. why have we] The wicked are apt to repent of their well-doing, as the godly of their ill. See the Annot. on Chap. 12. v. 33.
V. 7. charets] Of old they used charets with sithes at their sides, to mow down men in their way; there were other charets, out of which they fought, as now out of ships men use to do: but where had he horses? all the cattell of Egypt being killed, Chap. 9. v. 6. Answ. That is to be understood, (as the plague of haile) only of those that were in the field. See Chap. 9. v. 19. 25.
Captains] called in Hebrew Salasim, or Schalaschim, which signifieth thirds, either because they were the third sort of men, next to the King, or set up over the third part of the armie, or that one of them was strong enough for three men.
V. 8. The Lord hardened] See Annot. on Exod. 4. v. 21.
an high hand] So also Numb. 33. 3.] The hand of God (overmatching the might of Pharaoh) so that in the power and protection thereof, the people did not fearfully flie, but confidently marcht in a Military posture: and if the high hand be referred to them, it importeth a stoutnesse of stomach, as when men are audacious in sinne, they are said to act it with an high hand. So Numb. 15. 30. according to the Hebrew.
V. 9. * but the Egyptians] This sheweth the condition both of the wicked, and the godly: for the wicked though their malice be intermitted, it is not suppressed; and the godly, who (though they have their pawses from persecution) have not their quietus est from all pursuit, while they are on this side Canaan. * Josh. 24. 6.
V. 10. cryed out] Josh. 27. 7.
V. 12. Is not this the word] They would seeme Prophets, in …oretelling the evill; that Moses might beare the blame, if they miscarried in their way, as if he (with ignorance and confidence) had drawn them into danger against their premonition. It is very incident to querulous natures, to thinke themselves wiser then their governours, and it is very necessary that such be as low in humilitie, as they are high in authoritie, that they may patiently beare the impatient and passionate reproaches of inferiours.
V. 13. for the Egyptians] Or, whereas you have seene the Egyptians to day, &c.
no more] That is, no more alive: for (when they were dead) the water wrought up their dead bodies, and they were seene by the Israelites on the shore. Vers. 30.
V. 14. * hold your peace] By that phrase in Scripture may be meant, not only a cessation from words, but from actions, a… Psal. 83. 1. Esa. 42. 14. and here they are bidden, not so to keep silence, as not to call upon God for safetie from destruction, but quietly to compose themselves, in expectation of Gods execution of his wrath upon their enemies, as if he should say, only put your trust in God, without doubting, or murmuring: for God deferreth his chiefest ayd, untill mans greatest need; when the danger is greatest, the helpe of God is readiest, as at this time: for the Israelites had on either side them huge rocks and mountains, before them the sea, behind them most cruell enemies, so that there was no way left to escape in mans judgement. See 2 Chron. 20. 17. and now they were bidden patiently to expect the salvation of the Lord.
* Psal. 50. 3. & Psal. 83. 1. & Isaiah 42. 14.
V. 15. wherefore cryest thou] Esa. 64. 24. We read of no words that he said: his crying was therefore, like to be strong ejaculations and groanings of his spirit, Rom. 8. 26. which he uttered with some perturbation of minde, (mixt with anger and feare) upon the peoples clamour against him. Yet his passion at them, did not overcome his confidence in God, nor that make him withdraw his devotion from him, or withhold his supplications for their safetie. By this question, God doth not finde fault with his devotion, but rather hasten him to the action; wherewith he meant to joyne his own miraculous power, for their preservation, and their enemies destruction, that is the stretching of the rod, as in the next verse.
V. 16. over the sea] That is, towards the sea, as before, over the river and over the land.
midst of the sea] Not precisely in the midst, as the center is in the circumference, but so that the sea should be on each side them.
V. 17. I will harden] See Annot. on Exod. 4. 21.
get me honour] See Annot. on Chap. 9. v. 16.
V. 19. The Angel of God] That is, the Lord himselfe, Chap. 13. 21. to wit, the second Person in Trinitie, the Angel of the covenant, Exod. 23. 20. 22.
removed] That is, removed the pillar, which was a signe of his especiall presence, which till now, went before them, but now was behind them, that it might be between them, and their enemies.
V. 20. darknesse to them but] The cloud sheweth light to the Israelites, but to the Egyptians it was darknesse, so that their two hosts could not joyne together: it usually went before the campe, now it came behind, and betwixt the A…es of the Hebrews and Egyptians, shewing light to the one, …d being black and darke to the other.
divided] So farre asunder, that there was way enough for so many hundred thousand to passe through in one night, which required a great breadth: some thinke every tribe had his proper pa…h. So Epiphan. haeres. 46.
V. 22. * upon dry ground] From so great feare, as before made them cry out unto the Lord, v. 10. they are come now to so much faith, as made them boldly to passe through high walls of water, Heb. 11. 29. This passage is applyed (by the Apostle) as a representation of Baptisme, 1 Cor. 10. 2. to which it may be likened in divers respects: as first, that Baptisme by water is a meanes of safetie to Christians, so was this unto the Israelites. Secondly, that their going in the chanell, (the waters on each hand) was as a being in the grave, and we are said to be buried with Christ by Baptisme. Rom. 6. 4. Thirdly, their coming safe to the shore, was as a resurrection after buriall: so for such as are baptized, by immersion, or dipping in the water by Baptisme, the arising out of it, hath the same resemblance, though that manner of Baptizing be not necessary, as some would inforce, from the signification of the word: for the contrary appeareth, Mark. 7. 4. Fourthly, some Expositers upon 1 Cor. 10. 2. say (though but by conjecture) that as they passed through the sea, some drops of the raised waters, were sprinkled upon them, and some also from the cloud, that was above them: but if that were not so, the cloud preserving them from the scorching heat, signified security from the burning indignation of Almightie God: from which Baptisme if inward, as well as outward, is an especiall protection, Mark. 16. 16. and it is to be noted, then when Christ was Baptized, the Proclamation of his well-pleasing acceptance was made from heaven. Matth. 3. last, wherein is the safetie of all the faithfull, who put their affiance in him. Lastly, the universalitie of Baptisme to both sexes, all ages and sorts of persons, is represented by this passage through the Sea, in that (as the Apostle saith) they were all baptized in the cloud and in the sea, for both sexes, women as well as men, children as well as those that were of ripe yeares, Gentile Proselytes (a mixed multitude, Exod. 12. 38.) as well as Jews, were under the cloud, and passed through the sea.
* Psal. 78. 13.
V. 24. in the morning watch] The night was kept with divers watches: sometimes more; sometimes fewer, but usually, one watch was from evening to midnight, another from thence to cockcrowing, and the third from that to the dawning of the day: this is thought to be about the three last houres of the night.
God looked] This looking was not a bare beholding, but such a one as troubled the Egyptians: and it was some evidence of divine power, and indignation, whereby he might be known, as a man by his looks, and whereby he appeared terrible unto them, as Psal. 77. 18.
V. 25. that they drave them] Or, made them to goe heavily.
V. 26. over the sea] Or, toward the sea.
V. 27. returned to his strength] For division is a weakening of any thing, and now the sea was bound, and had no strength to wave, and swell and flow, as before it had: but God let it loose againe, and it was vigorous and violent as before.
overthrew the Egyptians] The Lord (by the water) saved his people, and by the water drowned his enemies. The same thing shall worke contrary effects, thereafter as God shall please to imploy it; and be the operation never so naturall, God can suspend it, or move it, which way he thinks good, either for good or for hurt. See Dan. 3. 27.
V. 30. saw the Egyptians] See Vers. 13.
V. 31. great worke] Heb. hand.
and his servant Moses] That is, the doctrine, which he taught them, and the message which he told them, (in the name of the Lord) they beleeved, as if the Lord himselfe had spoken to them. See Chap. 19. 9.