Pharaoh Pursues the Israelites

1Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out), 2“Tell the Israelites (God prevails) to turn back and encamp before Pi-hahiroth (place where sedge grows), between Migdol (tower) and the sea. You⁺ are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal-zephon (lord of the north).

3For Pharaoh (great house) will say of the Israelites (God prevails), ‘They are wandering the land in confusion; the wilderness has boxed them in.’ 4And I will harden (stiffen)a Pharaoh’s (great house) heart so that he will pursue them. But I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians (double straits) will know that I am the LORD {YHWH}.”

So this is what the Israelites did.

5When the king of Egypt (land of bondage) was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh (great house) and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have released Israel (he wrestles with God) from serving us.”

6So Pharaoh prepared his chariot and took his army with him. 7He took 600 of the best chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt (land of bondage), with officers over all of them.

8And the LORD {YHWH} hardened the heart of Pharaoh (great house) king of Egypt (land of bondage) so that he pursued the Israelites (God prevails), who were marching out defiantly (marching out boldly).b 9The Egyptians (double straits)—all Pharaoh’s (great house) horses and chariots, horsemen and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi-hahiroth (place where sedge grows), opposite Baal-zephon (lord of the north).

10As Pharaoh (great house) approached, the Israelites (God prevails) looked up and saw the Egyptians (double straits) marching after them, and they were terrified and cried out to the LORD {YHWH}. 11They said to Moses (drawn out), “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt (land of bondage) that you brought us into the wilderness to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12Did we not say to you in Egypt (land of bondage), ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians (double straits)’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

13But Moses (drawn out) told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s {YHWH} salvation, which He will accomplish for you⁺ today; for the Egyptians you⁺ see today, you will never see again. 14The LORD {YHWH} will fight for you⁺; you⁺ need only to be still.”

Parting the Red Sea

15Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out), “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites (God prevails) to go forward. 16And as for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, so that the Israelites (God prevails) can go through the sea on dry ground. 17And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians (double straits) so that they will go in after them. Then I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh (great house) and all his army and chariots and horsemen. 18The Egyptians (double straits) will know that I am the LORD {YHWH} when I am honored through Pharaoh (great house), his chariots, and his horsemen.”

19And the angel (Angel)c of God {Elohim}, who had gone before the camp of Israel (he wrestles with God), withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from before them and stood behind them, 20so that it came between the camps of Egypt (land of bondage) and Israel (he wrestles with God). The cloud was there in the darkness, but it lit up the night [the night passed].d So all night long neither camp went near the other.

21Then Moses (drawn out) stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD {YHWH} drove back the sea with a strong east wind {ruach} that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided, 22and the Israelites (God prevails) went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left.

23And the Egyptians (double straits) chased after them—all Pharaoh’s (great house) horses, chariots, and horsemen—and followed them into the sea. 24At morning watch, however, the LORD {YHWH} looked down on the army of the Egyptians (double straits) from the pillar of fire and cloud, and He threw their camp into confusion. 25He caused their chariot wheels to wobble (to swerve),e so that they had difficulty driving. “Let us flee from the Israelites (God prevails),” said the Egyptians (land of bondage), “for the LORD {YHWH} is fighting for them against Egypt!”

26Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out), “Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians (land of bondage) and their chariots and horsemen.” 27So Moses (drawn out) stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea returned to its normal state. As the Egyptians (land of bondage) were retreating, the LORD {YHWH} swept them into the sea. 28The waters flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh (great house) that had chased the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.

29But the Israelites (God prevails) had walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left. 30That day the LORD {YHWH} saved Israel (he wrestles with God) from the hand of the Egyptians (land of bondage), and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the shore. 31When Israel (he wrestles with God) saw the great power that the LORD {YHWH} had exercised over the Egyptians (land of bondage), the people feared the LORD and believed in Him and in His servant Moses (drawn out).