Commentary on the Pentateuch, Commentary 2 · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV. Ver. 1. And the Lord ſpake]
IT was of God then, Neceſſe eſt adeſſe divinum ubi bumonum ceſſat auxilium. Philo Jud.then that the people fell into ſuch ſtraits: that where humane help failed, divine might com in.
Ver. 2. That they turn] i.e. return. In paſſing the red Sea, the Iſraëlites made a ſemicircle. Confer Exod. 13.20. with Num. 33.6. God muſt bee followed, though hee lead us through a maze or Labyrinth.
Ver. 3. They are intangled] Perplexed, intricated, they know not what to do, or which waie to turn. Enemies watch opportunities, but oft miſs of their meaning.
Ver. 4. And I will bee honored] By ſubduing this ſturdie Rebel, and bringing his violent dealing upon his own pate. Pſal. 7.16. 1 King. 13.When the Prophet cried to Jeroboam's altar, it clave preſently aſunder. Jer. 23.29.But the mightie hammer of God's word, with ten miracles, gave ten mightie ſtrokes at Pharaoh's heart, and yet could finde no entrance. God will therefore now take another courſ with him.
Ver. 5. That the people fled] i. e. Ran quite awaie, without anie reſolution ever to return. This troubled the tyrant: Crowns have their cares. Little David like's his hook the better ever ſince hee ſaw the Court.
Ver. 6. Made readie his charet] To meet his deſtruction.
Ver. 7. Veget. lib. 1. …ap. 24.600 choſen charets] They fought of old out of charrets arm'd with ſithes and hooks; which at firſt were a terror, and after a ſcorn.
Ver. 8. With an high hand] Bravely, boldly, in battle-raie, (not as run-awaies) in all comly equipage.
Ver. 9. But the Egyptians purſued]. And God made fair waie before them, till they came into the red ſea.
Ver. 10. For they were ſore affraid] Becauſ ſorely diſtreſſed: they ſaw no waie to eſcape, unleſs they could have gone up to heaven: which becauſ they could not, heaven came down to them (though unworthie) that God might get him a name. Iſa. 63.12, 14. The Iſraëlites herein were far more happie then thoſe antient Britains, who beeing greatly diſtreſſed by their Northern Enemies in the time of Valentinian the third, implo…ed the aid of Aetius the Roman Prefect of Gaul, uſing theſe words: To Aetius thrice conſul the ſigh's of the Britains: Daniels Chronicle.and after thus they complain. The barbarous enemie beat's us to the ſea; the ſea beats us back to the enemie: between theſe two kindes of deaths, wee are either murthered or drowned. But their implorations prevailed not: Neither found they anie other remedie then what the Prince of Orange ſhewed to his ſouldiers at the battle of Newport; Hiſt. of Netherl.when they had the ſea on one ſide, and the Spaniards on the other: If, ſaith Hee, you will live, you muſt either eat up theſe Spaniards, or drink up this Sea.
Ver. 11. Becauſ there were no graves] Thus they rebelled at the ſea, at the red-ſea, yet hee ſaved them for his names ſake. Pſal 106.7.8.
Ver. 12. Is not this the word] Invalidum omne naturâ querulum. Weak ſpirits are ever quarrelling and contending.Seneca.
Ver. 13. Stand ſtill and ſee the ſalvation] Thus God heard their crie at the red-ſea] Neh. 9.9. Though it were not the crie of faith, but of fright and perturbation. So hee heard the voice of the lad. Gen. 21.17.
Ver. 14. Yee ſhall hold your peace] i. e. Yee ſhall neither ſaie, nor do.
Ver. 15. Wherefore crieſt thou unto mee?] ſc. with inward groanings, without anie audible voice Moſes egit vocis ſilentium, ut corde clamaret. And God was readier to anſwer, then hee to ask. [Speak unto the children of Iſraël] q. d. Auguſt.Ther's ſomthing more to bee don then to praie. Ora & labora. Wee muſt not onelyonly crave God's help, but bee forward in the courſ, whereby to make waie for God's help. [That they gforward] Though upon a manifeſt danger. This is an act of ſtrong faith, pure obedience.
Ver. 16. But lift thou up thy rod] This rod God make's uſe of, for the greater manifeſtation of his own power, and the gracing of his ſervant Moſes.
Ver. 18. When I have gotten mee honor] Made mee a name as at this daie. Neh. 9.10. For this hee was famous in far countries. Jethro (the firſt proſelyte to the Jewiſh Church) was hereby converted, ſaie the Rabbines. 1 Sam. 4.8.And the Philiſtimes crie Woe unto us, theſe are the Gods that ſmote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the Wilderneſs.
Ver. 19. And the Angel of God] Chriſt the Angel of God's preſence. See chap. 13.21. and 23.22. [Went behinde them] So the glorie of the Lord was their rereward. Iſai. 58.8. Hee will bee to his both Van and Rere▪ Iſai. 52.12.
Ver. 20. A cloud and darkneſs to them] See the Note on Heb. 12.2.
Ver. 21. Func; Chron.And Moſes ſtretched out his hand] Of that Pſeudo-Moſes that coze…ed manie credulous Jews of Creet into the mid…ſt of the ſea, Anno. 434. See Funccius at that year. [And the waters were divided] So was that torrent of fire (if Ariſtotle may bee beleived) that ran from Aetna, De mundo. cap. 6.conſuming the countrie, and yet parted it ſelf; making a kinde of a lane for thoſe that ventured to reſcue their aged parents.
Ver. 22. Were a wall unto them] Everie main affliction is our red-ſea (ſaith One) which, while it threat's to ſwallow, preſerv's us.
Ver. 24. In the morning watch] God watcheth upon the evil to bring it upon his enemies, then when hee may do them a greateſt miſcheif. Dan. 9.14. Hee picketh his times for vengeance Iſai. 33.10. [The Lord looked upon the hoſt] Hoe ſet his eies upon them (as Paul did upon Elymas the ſorcerer) with higheſt offence, and utmoſt indignation. After which lightening follow's that terrible thunderclap, wherewith hee troubled them and took off their wheeles. See Pſal. 77.18, 19. and 18.15.
Ver. 25. For the Lord fighteth for them] Our late great ſucceſſes have extorted the like acknowledgments from ſom of Satan's ſworn ſwordmen: as at the diſſolution of the ſeige at Plimmouth.
Ver. 26. That the waters may com again.] By winde that God ſent. Exod. 15.10, The windes blow, the waters flow. Pſal. 147.18.
Ver. 27. Returned to his ſtrength] For by beeing divided, it had been weakened. ſi collidimur, frangimur. The daughter of diſſenſion is diſſolution.
Ver. 28. There remained not one of them] No more doth there of our ſubdued iniquities. Mic. 7.19. Peccata non redeunt. Wee ſhall ſee them no more, anie otherwiſe then theſe Iſraëlites did their enemies, dead upon the ſhore.