Under the Sea

Exodus 14

Moses has led the people out of Egypt - a clean getaway.  The Angel of the Lord is accompanying them as guardian, protector, and companion.  The Israelites seem to be in the right place, at the right time, and heading the right direction.  They are probably in a high emotional state - excited about freedom and the presence of the Lord.

Next stop: The Promised Land.

Except.....



Yahweh said to Moses, “Tell the people of Isra’el to turn around and set up camp in front of Pi-Hachirot [the end of the river], between Migdol and the sea, in front of Ba‘al-Tz’fon [the God of the North]; camp opposite it, by the sea.  Then Pharaoh will say that the people of Isra’el are wandering aimlessly in the countryside, the desert has closed in on them. 

Pi-Hachirot means "Place where the reeds grow"

Baal-Tzfon means "God of the North" and is an Egyptian god with power over the sea.

The Israelites have made a clean getaway and are on the move.  But God has them turn around and head to a spot that makes no sense - tactically speaking.  [Map of the non-escape route]  If Pharaoh is still holding onto any hope that the gods of Egypt can overcome Yahweh - this would fan that hope.

I will make Pharaoh so stooopid hardhearted that he will pursue them; thus I will win glory for myself at the expense of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will realize at last that I am Yahweh.” 

The people did as ordered.

One more Atta-Boy!

When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people. They said, “What have we done, letting Isra’el stop being our slaves?” 

So he prepared his chariots and took his people with him — he took 600 first-quality chariots, as well as all the other chariots in Egypt, along with their commanders. 

Where did the animals come from you pull these chariots?  The Israelites took all their livestock with them, and the biblical account says the Egyptian animals died in the various plagues.

It seems many Egyptians believed Moses when he described the plagues (in Chapter 9) -- "Those among Pharaoh’s officials who feared the word of the Lord made their servants and livestock flee to shelters,  but those who didn't take the Lord’s word seriously left their servants and livestock in the field."

So there are more believers in Egypt than in Sodom and Gomorrah, but tough luck anyway. Because this is WAR, between God and Egypt.  

Yahweh made Pharaoh stoopid hardhearted, and he pursued the people of Isra’el, as they left boldly. The Egyptians went after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, with his cavalry and army, and overtook them as they were encamped by the sea, by Pi-Hachirot, in front of Ba‘al-Tz’fon. 

As Pharaoh approached, the people of Isra’el looked up and saw the Egyptians right there, coming after them. 

In great fear the people of Isra’el cried out to Yahweh and said to Moses, “Was it because there weren't enough graves in Egypt that you brought us out to die in the desert? 

This kvetching really needs to be read with a Jewish accent.

Why have you done this to us, bringing us out of Egypt? 

Keep kvetching.

Didn't we tell you in Egypt to let us alone, we’ll just go on being slaves for the Egyptians? 

Kvetching.

It would be better for us to be the Egyptians’ slaves than to die in the desert!” 

Kveeeeeetching.

And, there goes those Atta-Boys.

Moses answered the people, “Stop being so fearful! Remain steady, and you will see how Yahweh is going to save you. He will do it today — today you have seen the Egyptians, but you will never see them again! Yahweh will do battle for you. But just shut up!”

It's true that Moses has a 'captive' audience - but he's got to be some kind of amazing speaker to calm that fearful crowd.

Yahweh asked Moses, “Why are y'all crying to me? 

I would guess it's because they think they're gonna die - in a brutal slaughter.

Tell the people of Isra’el to go forward! 

Okay. How long should we hold our breath?

Lift your staff, reach out with your hand over the sea, and divide it in two. The people of Isra’el will advance into the sea on dry ground.  

That's the plan -- but you do need to wait for a bit before charging forward.

As for me, I will make the Egyptians stoopid hardhearted; and they will march in after them; thus I will win glory for myself at the expense of Pharaoh and all his army, chariots and cavalry.  

The phrase "at the expense of" is a puzzle to me.  God doesn't require anything from Pharaoh.  One translation says that God is "honored on Pharoah"

Then the Egyptians will realize that I am Yahweh, when I have won myself glory at the expense of Pharaoh, his chariots and his cavalry.”

The ancient records don't preserve that the Egyptians recognized Yahweh as God.  In the grand scheme - maybe it's not that important.

Next, the angel of God, who was going ahead of the camp of Isra’el, moved away and went behind them; and the column of cloud moved away from in front of them and stood behind them. 

It stationed itself between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Isra’el — there was cloud and darkness here, but light by night there; so that the one did not come near the other all night long.

God has set a barrier between the Israelites and the Egyptians.  Maybe Pharaoh thinks it's a stand-off between Yahweh and the power of the God of the North.  But then, God reaches into our reality and changes things.

Moses reached his hand out over the sea, and Yahweh caused the sea to go back before a strong east wind all night. 

That's got to be humiliating for Pharaoh.  His god of the sea is literally being pushed around.  Pahraoh may think he's getting off easily - since there are no plagues unleashed - but death is not far away.

He made the sea become dry land, and its water was divided in two.  Then the people of Isra’el went into the sea on the dry ground, with the water walled up for them on their right and on their left.

God can make a way - even when there is no way.

The Egyptians continued their pursuit, going after them into the sea — all Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and cavalry. 

Stoopid.  

Just before dawn, Yahweh looked out on the Egyptian army through the column of fire and cloud and threw them into a panic. 

He probably reminded the Egyptians to look around and realize just where they were.  Yep - they had the Israelites exactly where God wanted them.

 He caused the wheels of their chariots to break off, so that they could move only with difficulty. The Egyptians said, “Yahweh is fighting for Isra’el against the Egyptians! Let’s get away from them!”

Excuse me, waiter?  Please cancel my extra order of stoopid.

Yahweh said to Moses, “Reach your hand out over the sea, and the water will return and cover the Egyptians with their chariots and cavalry.” Moses reached his hand out over the sea, and by dawn the sea had returned to its former depth. 

If I was an Egyptian, I would try to flee.

The Egyptians tried to flee, but Yahweh swept them into the sea.

The water came back and covered all the chariots and cavalry of Pharaoh’s army who had followed them into the sea — not even one of them was left.  But the people of Isra’el walked on dry ground in the sea, with the water walled up for them on their right and on their left.

On that day, Yahweh saved Isra’el from the Egyptians; Isra’el saw the Egyptians dead on the shore.  When Isra’el saw the mighty deed that Yahweh had performed against the Egyptians, the people feared Yahweh, and they believed in Yahweh and in his servant Moses.

Starting over: One Atta-Boy.


Notes:  This is a series of articles and DVDs that follow an archaeologist's discovery of evidence about the Red Sea crossing and the loss of Pharaoh's army.