Exodus Chapter 15

From The Open Bible Project

15:1 Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to Yahweh, and said, "I will sing to Yahweh, for he has triumphed gloriously. The horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.

• (a) Praising God for the overthrow of his enemies, and their deliverance.

15:2 Yah is my strength and song. He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him; my father's God, and I will exalt him.

• (b) To worship him in it.

15:3 Yahweh is a man of war. Yahweh is his name.

• (c) In battle he always overcomes.
• (d) Always constant in his promises.

15:4 He has cast Pharaoh's chariots and his army into the sea. His chosen captains are sunk in the [8] Red Sea [See Exodus Footnotes 8].

15:5 The deeps cover them. They went down into the depths like a stone.

15:6 Your right hand, Yahweh, is glorious in power. Your right hand, Yahweh, dashes the enemy in pieces.

15:7 In the greatness of your excellency, you overthrow those who rise up against you. You send forth your wrath. It consumes them as stubble.

• (e) Those who are enemies to God's people are his enemies.

15:8 With the blast of your nostrils, the waters were piled up. The floods stood upright as a heap. The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea.

15:9 The enemy said, 'I will pursue. I will overtake. I will divide the spoil. My desire shall be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.'

15:10 You blew with your wind. The sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

15:11 Who is like you, Yahweh, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

• (f) The scripture often so calls the mighty men of the world.
• (g) Who ought to be praised with all fear and reverence.

15:12 You stretched out your right hand. The earth swallowed them.

15:13 "You, in your loving kindness, have led the people that you have redeemed. You have guided them in your strength to your holy habitation.

• (h) That is, into the land of Canaan, or into mount Zion.

15:14 The peoples have heard. They tremble. Pangs have taken hold on the inhabitants of Philistia.

15:15 Then the chiefs of Edom were dismayed. Trembling takes hold of the mighty men of Moab. All the inhabitants of Canaan are melted away.

15:16 Terror and dread falls on them. By the greatness of your arm they are as still as a stone-- until your people pass over, Yahweh, until the people pass over who you have purchased.

15:17 You shall bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of your inheritance, the place, Yahweh, which you have made for yourself to dwell in; the sanctuary, Lord, which your hands have established.

• (i) Which was mount Zion, where later the temple was built.

15:18 Yahweh shall reign forever and ever."

15:19 For the horses of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and Yahweh brought back the waters of the sea on them; but the children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea.

15:20 Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dances.

• (k) Signifying their great joy: a custom the Jews observed in certain situations, Jud 11:34 but it should not be used as a means to justify our wanton dances.

15:21 Miriam answered them, "Sing to Yahweh, for he has triumphed gloriously. The horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea."

• (l) By singing the same song of thanksgiving.

15:22 Moses led Israel onward from the [9] Red Sea [See Exodus Footnotes 9], and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

• (m) Which was called Etham, Nu 33:8.

15:23 When they came to Marah, they couldn't drink from the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore its name was called [10] Marah. [See Exodus Footnotes 10]

15:24 The people murmured against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?"

15:25 Then he cried to Yahweh. Yahweh showed him a tree, and he threw it into the waters, and the waters were made sweet. There he made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there he tested them;

• (n) That is, God, or Moses in God's name.

15:26 and he said, "If you will diligently listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, and will do that which is right in his eyes, and will pay attention to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you, which I have put on the Egyptians; for I am Yahweh who heals you."

• (o) Which is, to do only what God commanded.

15:27 They came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water, and seventy palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.