Exodus 14

14:11 And the Lord spoke to Moses: 14:2 “Tell the Israelites that they may turn and camp2 before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; opposite3 Baal Zephon you are to camp by the sea.4 14:3 And Pharaoh will think5 that the Israelites are wandering around confused6 in the land—the desert has closed in on them.7 14:4 And I will harden8 the heart of Pharaoh and he will chase after them, and I will be honored9 because of Pharaoh and because of his army; and the Egyptians will know10 that I am the Lord.” So this is what they did.11

14:5 It was reported12 to the king of Egypt that the people had fled;13 and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people. So he said,14 “What in the world have we done?15 For we have released the people of Israel16 from serving17 us!” 14:6 Then he prepared18 his chariots and took his army19 with him. 14:7 And he took six hundred of the best20 chariots, and all21 the chariots of Egypt, and officers22 on all of them.

14:8 But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt; and he chased after the Israelites. Now the Israelites were going out defiantly.23 14:9 And the Egyptians chased after them, and all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, overtook them camping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, opposite Baal-Zephon. 14:10 When24 Pharaoh got closer,25 the Israelites looked up26 and saw that27 the Egyptians were marching after them. They were terrified.28 Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord.29 14:11 And they said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you took us away to die in the desert?30 What in the world31 have you done to us by bringing32 us out of Egypt? 14:12 Was this not what we told you33 in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians?’34 For it would have been35 better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”

14:13 And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear!36 Stand firm37 and see38 the salvation39 of the Lord that he will provide40 for you today; for the Egyptians that you see today you will never, ever see again.41 14:14 The Lord42 will fight for you, and you can be still.”43

14:15 And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to go forward.44 14:16 But as for you,45 lift up your rod and extend your hand toward the sea and divide it, so that46 the Israelites may go in the midst of the sea on dry ground. 14:17 But I am going to harden47 the hearts of the Egyptians so that48 they will pursue them, that I may be honored49 because50 of Pharaoh and because of his army and because of his chariots and because of his horsemen. 14:18 And the Egyptians will know51 that I am the Lord when I have gained my honor52 because of Pharaoh, because of his chariots, and because of his horsemen.”

14:19 The angel of God, who was going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them, and the pillar53 of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. 14:20 It came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; it was a dark cloud54 and it lit up the night so that one camp did not come near the other55 the whole night.56 14:21 And Moses stretched out his hand toward the sea, and the Lord caused the sea to go apart57 by a strong east wind all that night, and he made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. 14:22 So the Israelites went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall58 for them on their right and on their left.

14:23 And the Egyptians chased after them;59 they went into the midst of the sea after them—all the horses of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen. 14:24 And in the morning watch60 the Lord looked down61 on the host62 of Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw the Egyptians into a panic.63 14:25 He jammed64 the wheels of their chariots so they had difficulty driving,65 and the Egyptians said, “Let’s flee66 from the presence of Israel, for the Lord fights67 for them against Egypt.”

14:26 And the Lord said to Moses, “Extend your hand toward the sea, so that the waters may flow68 back on the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen!” 14:27 So Moses extended his hand toward the sea, and the sea returned to its normal state69 when morning appeared.70 Now the Egyptians were fleeing71 before it, but the Lord overthrew72 the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 14:28 The waters returned73 and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that was pursuing the Israelites into the sea74—not so much as one of them survived.75 14:29 But the Israelites walked on dry ground in the midst of the sea—the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left hand. 14:30 So the Lord saved76 Israel on that day from the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead77 on the shore of the sea. 14:31 When Israel saw78 the great power79 that the Lord had exercised80 over the Egyptians, they81 feared the Lord, and they believed in82 the Lord and in his servant Moses.83

The Song of Triumph

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