Exodus 15
Berean Study Bible

The Song at the Sea

Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD:

After the LORD delivered Israel through the Red Sea and destroyed Pharaoh’s pursuing army, Moses led the people in a public song of praise. The nation had witnessed God’s power firsthand, and their response was united worship.

Deu 31:30 Then Moses recited aloud to the whole assembly of Israel…
Rev 15:3 and they sang the song of God’s servant Moses…
Jdg 5:1 On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:

“I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted.

Moses speaks personally, yet the song belongs to all Israel. The LORD alone received the honor for their rescue, since Israel had not defeated Egypt by its own strength. His victory displayed His authority over Egypt, its king, and its military power.

Psa 13:6 I will sing to the LORD, for He has been good to me.
Psa 57:5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; may Your glory…
Psa 97:9 For You, O LORD, are Most High over all the earth;…

The horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.

Egypt’s chariots and horsemen represented the greatest military force Israel had faced. The LORD brought them into the sea after Israel had crossed safely, ending Pharaoh’s attempt to return the Israelites to slavery. The event became a lasting witness to God’s judgment on Egypt and His faithful deliverance of His people.

Psa 76:6 At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both horse and rider…
Psa 136:15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.…
Isa 43:16-17 Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea…

The LORD is my strength and my song,

Israel praised the LORD after He delivered them from Pharaoh’s army at the Red Sea. His power had broken Egypt’s oppression, and their worship rose from what He had done for them.

Psa 118:14 The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become…
Isa 12:2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.…
Psa 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts…

and He has become my salvation.

God saved His people from slavery and destruction, preserving them according to His covenant promises. Their rescue foreshadowed the greater salvation God would provide from sin and death.

Psa 118:21 I will give You thanks, for You have answered me…
Psa 27:1 Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation—…
Psa 62:2 He alone is my rock and my salvation. He is my fortress;…

He is my God, and I will praise Him,

Moses spoke not only for the nation but with personal faith and devotion. The LORD alone had defeated Egypt’s gods and armies, proving Himself worthy of Israel’s praise.

Psa 118:28 You are my God, and I will give You thanks.…
Psa 86:12 I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart;…
Psa 145:1 A Psalm of praise. Of David. I will exalt You,…

my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

The God who acted at the Red Sea was the same God who called Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Israel’s deliverance showed that He had remembered His covenant and would continue to fulfill His promises to their descendants.

Gen 31:42 If the God of my father, the God of Abraham…
Isa 25:1 O LORD, You are my God! I will praise Your name.…
Psa 89:26 He will call to Me, ‘You are my Father, my God,…

The LORD is a warrior,

In the Song of Moses, Israel praises Yahweh for overthrowing Pharaoh’s chariots and army in the Red Sea after delivering His people from Egypt. He acts in righteous judgment against those who oppose His purposes and oppress His covenant people.

Exo 14:14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Deu 20:4 For the LORD your God goes with you to fight for you…
Psa 24:8 Who is this King of Glory? The LORD strong and mighty…

the LORD is His name.

The God who defeated Egypt is Yahweh, the covenant God who revealed Himself to Moses and fulfilled His promise to bring Israel out of bondage. His name declares His sovereign authority, faithfulness, and distinction from Egypt’s false gods.

Isa 42:8 I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory…
Psa 83:18 May they know that You alone, whose name is the LORD,…
Isa 47:4 Our Redeemer—the LORD of Hosts is His name…

Pharaoh’s chariots and army He has cast into the sea;

God destroyed Egypt’s military power as it pursued Israel after the exodus. Pharaoh’s chariots represented the strength of the greatest empire of the region, yet they were powerless before the Lord. Israel’s passage through the Red Sea marked its complete deliverance from slavery, as God fulfilled His promise to bring His people out of Egypt. Their passage through the waters also foreshadows baptism, portraying a decisive break with bondage and the beginning of a new life under God’s redemption.

Exo 14:27-28 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea,…
Psa 136:15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.…
Neh 9:11 You divided the sea before them, and they crossed through it…

the finest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea.

Pharaoh’s chosen commanders and elite troops perished with the army, showing that Egypt’s defeat was total. The judgment answered Egypt’s long oppression of Israel and its defiance of God’s commands. The Red Sea became the place where God protected His people and brought down the force sent to destroy them, establishing Israel’s freedom and revealing His authority over kings, armies, and creation.

Deu 11:4 what He did to the Egyptian army and horses and chariots…
Psa 106:11 The waters covered their foes; not one of them remained.
Psa 78:53 He led them safely, so they did not fear,…

The depths have covered them;

After Israel crossed the Red Sea on dry ground, the waters returned and overwhelmed Pharaoh’s pursuing army. The deep waters completed God’s judgment on Egypt and ended its power to reclaim the people He had delivered from slavery.

Psa 106:11 The waters covered their foes; not one of them remained.
Exo 14:28 The waters flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen…
Psa 78:53 He led them safely, so they did not fear,…

they sank there like a stone.

The Egyptians disappeared beneath the sea with sudden finality, unable to escape the waters God had restrained for Israel. Their fate sharply contrasts with Israel’s safe passage and displays God’s protection of His people against their enemies.

Neh 9:11 You divided the sea before them, and they crossed through it…
1Sa 25:37 In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him…
Mrk 9:42 But if anyone causes one of these little ones…

Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power;

Israel’s song celebrates the LORD as the true deliverer at the Red Sea. His power was displayed openly when He overcame Pharaoh’s army and rescued His people from slavery. His strength is not merely greater than Egypt’s military might; it is glorious, sovereign, and beyond human resistance.

Psa 118:16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted!…
Psa 89:13 Mighty is Your arm; strong is Your hand.…
Psa 98:1 A Psalm. Sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done wonders…

Your right hand, O LORD, has shattered the enemy.

The Egyptians who pursued Israel into the sea were decisively destroyed when the waters returned over their chariots and horsemen. The LORD personally defended His covenant people and brought judgment upon those who sought to enslave and destroy them.

Psa 89:10 You crushed Rahab like a carcass; You scattered…
Psa 110:5 The Lord is at Your right hand; He will crush kings…
1Sa 2:10 Those who oppose the LORD will be shattered.…

You overthrew Your adversaries

God decisively defeated Egypt’s army after Pharaoh pursued Israel to the Red Sea. The destruction of the chariots and soldiers showed that no earthly power could prevent God from delivering His people.

Psa 78:66 He beat back His foes; He put them to everlasting shame.
Nam 1:2 The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging…
Psa 68:1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A song. God arises.…

by Your great majesty.

God’s supreme authority was displayed in the Exodus through the parting of the sea and the overthrow of Egypt. His glory was revealed not only in rescuing Israel but also in judging a nation that had hardened itself against His command.

Deu 33:26 There is none like the God of Jeshurun…
Psa 68:34 Ascribe the power to God, whose majesty is over Israel,…
Psa 104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God,…

You unleashed Your burning wrath;

God’s wrath fell upon Egypt because of its oppression of Israel and Pharaoh’s continued rebellion after repeated warnings. His judgment was holy, deliberate, and fully deserved.

Psa 78:49 He unleashed His fury against them, wrath, indignation…
Nam 1:6 Who can withstand His indignation? Who can endure…
Deu 29:20 The LORD will never be willing to forgive him.…

it consumed them like stubble.

Egypt’s mighty army proved powerless before God. Like dry stubble consumed by fire, those who opposed His purpose were swiftly and completely overthrown.

Isa 47:14 Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up.…
Mal 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace,”…
Isa 5:24 Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes the straw,…

At the blast of Your nostrils

God’s power is pictured as a mighty breath that commands creation. By His direct action, He intervened to rescue Israel from Pharaoh’s army.

Psa 18:15 The channels of the sea appeared, and the foundations…
2Sa 22:16 The channels of the sea appeared, and the foundations…
Psa 18:8 Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire…

the waters piled up;

At the Red Sea, God divided the waters and made a dry path for the Israelites, ending their escape from Egypt and preserving them from destruction.

Exo 14:21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea,…
Psa 78:13 He split the sea and brought them through;…
Jos 3:16 The flowing water stood still. It backed up as far upstream.…

like a wall the currents stood firm;

The sea remained restrained on both sides until Israel had crossed safely. What normally brought danger became the means of their deliverance.

Exo 14:22 and the Israelites went through the sea.…
Jos 3:13 When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD…
2Ki 2:8 And Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up,…

the depths congealed in the heart of the sea.

The deep waters were held in place by God’s command, demonstrating His complete authority over the sea and the forces threatening His people.

Job 38:30 when the waters become hard as stone and the surface…
Isa 51:10 Was it not You who dried up the sea, the waters…
Psa 106:9 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up;…

The enemy declared,

Pharaoh’s army spoke with the confidence of a force certain that Israel could not escape. Having pursued the former slaves to the sea, the Egyptians expected their military strength to decide the outcome.

2Ki 18:28-29 Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out loudly in Hebrew:…
1Sa 17:10 Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel…
Psa 83:4 Come, let us erase them as a nation; may the name of Israel…

‘I will pursue,

The Egyptians pressed after Israel to bring them back under Pharaoh’s control.

Exo 14:8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt…
Psa 18:37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them;…
Exo 14:23 And the Egyptians chased after them—all Pharaoh’s horses…

I will overtake.

Their chariots and trained soldiers gave them reason to expect an easy victory, yet they had not reckoned with the Lord’s presence among His people.

Exo 14:9 The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots…
1Sa 30:8 David inquired of the LORD: “Should I pursue these raiders?”…
Deu 28:45 All these curses will come upon you. They will pursue you…

I will divide the spoils;

They anticipated recovering what Israel had taken from Egypt and claiming the people and their possessions as the reward of conquest.

Isa 53:12 Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great,…
Jdg 5:30 Are they not finding and dividing the spoil…
Isa 33:23 Your ropes are slack; they cannot secure the mast…

I will gorge myself on them.

Their words reveal greed and cruelty, viewing Israel as prey to be consumed rather than a people delivered by God.

Mic 3:3 You eat the flesh of my people after stripping off…
Psa 27:2 When the wicked came upon me to devour my flesh,…
Jer 50:7 All who found them devoured them, and their enemies said,…

I will draw my sword;

Pharaoh’s forces prepared to use deadly force against the nation they had once enslaved.

Deu 32:41-42 When I sharpen My flashing sword, and My hand grasps it…
Ezk 21:3-5 This is what the LORD says: ‘I am against you,…
Psa 17:13 Arise, O LORD, confront them! Bring them to their knees;…

my hand will destroy them.’

Egypt claimed the power to wipe out Israel, but the Lord overturned its purpose at the sea, preserving His people and destroying the army that pursued them.

Exo 7:4 Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will…
Exo 3:20 So I will stretch out My hand and strike the Egyptians…
1Sa 5:11 Then the Ekronites called together all the rulers…

But You blew with Your breath,

God intervened directly, using the wind He had sent to divide the sea to bring the waters back upon Egypt’s army. His command over the wind and sea displayed His sovereign power to save Israel and judge Pharaoh’s forces.

Psa 18:15 The channels of the sea appeared, and the foundations…
Exo 14:21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea,…
Job 4:9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast…

and the sea covered them.

After Israel crossed safely on dry ground, the waters returned and overwhelmed the pursuing chariots, horses, and soldiers. Egypt’s attempt to reclaim Israel ended in complete defeat, confirming the Lord’s deliverance from slavery.

Psa 106:11 The waters covered their foes; not one of them remained.
Psa 78:53 He led them safely, so they did not fear,…
Psa 136:15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.…

They sank like lead

The Egyptian army fell swiftly and helplessly beneath the waters. Their military strength, chariots, and numbers could not withstand God’s judgment.

Exo 14:28 The waters flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen…
Neh 9:11 You divided the sea before them, and they crossed through it…
Jon 2:5-6 The waters engulfed me to take my life; the watery depths…

in the mighty waters.

The Red Sea, which had become a path of escape for Israel, became the means of destruction for their enemies. The same act revealed God’s protection of His people and His authority over all creation.

Isa 43:16 Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea…
Psa 77:19 Your path led through the sea, Your way…
Psa 93:4 Above the roar of many waters—the mighty breakers…

Who among the gods is like You, O LORD?

Israel’s deliverance revealed the LORD’s absolute supremacy over the false gods of Egypt. The plagues struck at the heart of Egypt’s religious confidence, and the crossing of the Red Sea showed that no ruler, army, or deity could resist Him.

Psa 86:8 O Lord, there is none like You among the gods,…
Mic 7:18 Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity…
Isa 40:25 “To whom will you liken Me, or who is My equal?”…

Who is like You—majestic in holiness,

The LORD is wholly set apart from creation and from every imagined god. His holiness is seen in His righteous character, His authority over all nations, and His power to judge evil while preserving His people.

1Sa 2:2 There is no one holy like the LORD. Indeed, there is no one…
1Ch 16:29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name;…
Isa 6:3 “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts;…”…

revered with praises,

Moses and the Israelites answered God’s saving work with worship. Their praise recognized that the victory belonged to the LORD, who had remembered His covenant and acted faithfully on behalf of His people.

Psa 96:4 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;…
Psa 145:3 Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised;…
Psa 22:3 Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

performing wonders?

The Exodus miracles were real acts of God in history: the plagues, the Passover, the pillar of cloud and fire, and the division of the sea. They established the LORD as Israel’s Redeemer and displayed His power before Egypt and the surrounding nations.

Psa 77:14 You are the God who works wonders; You display Your strength…
Job 9:10 He does great things beyond searching out, and wonders…
Psa 72:18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, …

You stretched out Your right hand,

God displayed His sovereign power in overthrowing Egypt’s army and delivering Israel from bondage. His intervention was direct, decisive, and beyond Israel’s ability to accomplish for themselves.

Psa 138:7 If I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve me…
Exo 14:16 And as for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand…
Psa 89:13 Mighty is Your arm; strong is Your hand.…

and the earth swallowed them up.

As the waters of the Red Sea returned, Pharaoh’s pursuing forces were overwhelmed and destroyed. Their defeat ended Egypt’s attempt to reclaim Israel and confirmed that the Lord had secured His people’s freedom.

Num 16:32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them…
Psa 106:17 The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan;…
Deu 11:6 and what He did in the midst of all the Israelites…

With loving devotion

God’s covenant love for Israel moved Him to act on their behalf. He had remembered His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and delivered their descendants from Egyptian bondage.

Psa 136:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good.…
Psa 89:1 A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the LORD…
Isa 63:7 I will make known the LORD’s loving devotion…

You will lead the people

Having brought Israel safely through the sea, the Lord would continue to direct their journey through the wilderness and into the land He had promised them.

Neh 9:12 You led them with a pillar of cloud by day……
Psa 77:20 You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses…
Psa 78:52 He led out His people like sheep and guided them…

You have redeemed;

Israel belonged to God because He had purchased their freedom through His mighty acts against Egypt. Their deliverance established them as His covenant people.

Isa 43:1 But now, this is what the LORD says—He who created you……
Psa 77:15 With power You redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob…
Psa 74:2 Remember Your congregation, which You purchased long ago…

with Your strength

The plagues, the Passover, and the parting of the Red Sea displayed God’s power over Pharaoh, Egypt’s gods, and every threat against His people.

Psa 21:1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David…
Psa 18:32 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way clear.
Psa 68:35 O God, You are awesome in Your sanctuary;…

You will guide them

God would provide both direction and instruction, leading Israel by His presence and giving them His law at Sinai so they could live as His holy nation.

Isa 49:10 They will not hunger or thirst, nor will scorching heat…
Psa 48:14 For this God is our God forever and ever;…
Psa 25:9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them…

to Your holy dwelling.

The destination was the land God had set apart for Israel, where He would establish His dwelling among them through the tabernacle and, later, the temple.

Deu 26:15 Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven…
2Ch 30:27 Then the priests and the Levites stood to bless the people,…
Psa 68:5 A father of the fatherless and a defender of widows…

The nations will hear and tremble;

Israel’s deliverance from Egypt would become known throughout the region. The plagues, the crossing of the Red Sea, and the destruction of Pharaoh’s army demonstrated that the God of Israel ruled over Egypt’s gods, armies, and natural forces. Neighboring peoples understood that Israel’s advance toward Canaan was backed by divine power, and their fear would weaken resistance before Israel arrived.

Deu 2:25 This very day I will begin to put the dread and fear…
Jos 2:9-11 and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given……
Jos 5:1 Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan…

anguish will grip the dwellers of Philistia.

The Philistines lived along the coastal plain southwest of Canaan, near Israel’s future territory. Though they would later become persistent enemies of Israel, they too would be shaken by reports of Egypt’s defeat. Their distress reflects the alarm spreading among the peoples of Canaan as they learned that the Lord had delivered Israel and was bringing them into the land.

1Sa 4:7-8 The Philistines were afraid. “The gods have entered…
Isa 14:29-31 Do not rejoice, all you Philistines…
Jer 47:4-5 For the day has come to destroy all the Philistines,…

Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed;

Edom descended from Esau, Jacob’s brother, and occupied the rugged territory southeast of Israel. Though related to Israel, Edom repeatedly acted as an enemy. Its chiefs would hear of the Lord’s deliverance at the Red Sea and recognize that Israel’s God was leading His people toward the land promised to Abraham’s descendants.

Oba 1:9 Then your mighty men, O Teman, will be terrified…
Jer 49:7 Concerning Edom, this is what the LORD of Hosts says:…
Jer 49:22 Look! An eagle will soar and swoop down…

trembling will seize the leaders of Moab;

Moab descended from Lot and lived east of the Dead Sea. Israel’s numbers, combined with the reports of Egypt’s defeat, would alarm Moab’s rulers. Their fear later appears when Balak seeks Balaam’s help against Israel as the nation approaches Moab’s border.

Isa 15:4 Heshbon and Elealeh cry out; their voices…
Jer 48:41 Kirioth has been taken, and the strongholds seized.…
Num 22:3 and Moab was terrified of the people…

those who dwell in Canaan will melt away,

The inhabitants of Canaan would lose courage as news spread of the Lord’s power and Israel’s advance. Their fear was fulfilled when Israel entered the land under Joshua, as the Lord gave the territory He had promised to Israel.

Jos 2:9 and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given……
Jos 2:24 “The LORD has surely delivered the entire land”…
Jos 5:1 Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan…

and terror and dread will fall on them.

Israel’s deliverance from Egypt would reveal the LORD’s power to the surrounding nations, causing fear among those who opposed His people.

Deu 2:25 This very day I will begin to put the dread and fear…
Deu 11:25 No man will be able to stand against you;…
Jos 2:9 and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given……

By the power of Your arm

His strength had overthrown Egypt and would continue to protect Israel on its journey.

Deu 26:8 Then the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand…
Psa 89:13 Mighty is Your arm; strong is Your hand.…
Isa 51:9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD.…

they will be as still as a stone

The enemies of Israel would be unable to resist as the LORD brought His people safely through their land.

Exo 14:22 and the Israelites went through the sea.…
Job 38:30 when the waters become hard as stone and the surface…
1Sa 25:37 In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him…

until Your people pass by, O LORD,

He had set Israel apart as His covenant people and would lead them to the land He promised.

Jos 3:17 The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD…
Exo 14:29 But the Israelites had walked through the sea…
Psa 66:6 He turned the sea into dry land; they passed…

until the people You have bought pass by.

The LORD had redeemed Israel from slavery in Egypt, making them His own possession through His mighty deliverance.

Deu 32:6 Is this how you repay the LORD, O foolish and senseless…
Psa 74:2 Remember Your congregation, which You purchased long ago…
2Sa 7:23 And who is like Your people Israel—the one nation…

You will bring them in

God would lead Israel from Egypt into Canaan, fulfilling His covenant promise to the patriarchs.

Deu 6:23 But He brought us out from there to lead us in…
Jos 24:8 Later, I brought you to the land of the Amorites…
Num 14:8 If the LORD delights in us, He will bring us…

and plant them on the mountain of Your inheritance—

Israel would be established securely in the land belonging to the LORD, with Zion becoming the central place of His rule and worship.

2Sa 7:10 And I will provide a place for My people Israel…
Psa 44:2 With Your hand You drove out the nations…
Psa 80:8-9 You uprooted a vine from Egypt; You drove out the nations…

the place, O LORD, You have prepared for Your dwelling,

God had chosen a place where He would dwell among His people, first in the tabernacle and later in the temple at Jerusalem.

Psa 132:13-14 For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it…
1Ki 8:13 I have indeed built You an exalted house,…
Deu 12:5 Instead, you must seek the place the LORD your God…

the sanctuary, O Lord, Your hands have established.

Though Israel would build the sanctuary according to God’s command, its purpose, location, and enduring significance came from Him.

Psa 78:69 He built His sanctuary like the heights, like the earth…
Exo 25:8 And they are to make a sanctuary for Me,…
Heb 8:2 and who ministers in the sanctuary and true tabernacle…

The LORD

Yahweh, Israel’s covenant God, had revealed His power by delivering His people from Pharaoh and the Egyptian army.

Psa 93:1 The LORD reigns! He is robed in majesty;…
Psa 97:1 The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;…
Psa 99:1 The LORD reigns; let the nations tremble!…

will reign

His rule extends over nations, rulers, and all creation, unlike the passing authority of earthly kings.

Psa 146:10 The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion…
Rev 11:15 The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord…
Zec 14:9 On that day the LORD will become King over all the earth—…

forever and ever!”

His kingdom has no end, and His eternal reign is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the promised Son of David.

Psa 10:16 The LORD is King forever and ever; the nations perish…
Psa 45:6 Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever,…
Dan 7:18 But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom…

For when Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and horsemen went into the sea,

Pharaoh’s army represented Egypt’s greatest military power, pursuing Israel after the Lord had led them out of bondage. Their chariots and cavalry, formidable instruments of war, could not overcome the God who fought for His people.

Exo 14:23-25 And the Egyptians chased after them—all Pharaoh’s horses…
Jos 24:6-7 When I brought your fathers out of Egypt…
Psa 136:15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.…

the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them.

The waters returned at God’s command and destroyed the Egyptian force that had entered the sea after Israel. The judgment fulfilled the Lord’s purpose of showing His authority over Pharaoh and ending Egypt’s power to reclaim the Israelites.

Jos 24:7 So your fathers cried out to the LORD…
Psa 106:11 The waters covered their foes; not one of them remained.
Neh 9:11 You divided the sea before them, and they crossed through it…

But the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.

Israel crossed safely by the path God had opened, passing from slavery into freedom while their pursuers were defeated. The dry ground revealed the completeness of the Lord’s deliverance and established the crossing as a defining event in Israel’s history.

Exo 14:22 and the Israelites went through the sea.…
Psa 66:6 He turned the sea into dry land; they passed…
Heb 11:29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea…

Then Miriam the prophetess,

Miriam held a recognized role among Israel as a woman through whom God spoke and who helped lead the people in their response to His deliverance. Along with Moses and Aaron, she belonged to the family God used prominently during the Exodus.

Num 12:1-2 Then Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because of the…
Mic 6:4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt…
Jdg 4:4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth,…

Aaron’s sister,

Identifying Miriam with Aaron also places her within the household of Moses. She had already played a vital part in Moses’ preservation as an infant, watching over him by the Nile and helping arrange for their mother to care for him.

Num 26:59 And Amram’s wife was named Jochebed, a daughter of Levi.…
1Ch 6:3 The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam.…
Exo 2:4-8 And his sister stood at a distance to see…

took a tambourine in her hand,

The instrument marked the occasion as one of public celebration. Israel had just witnessed the destruction of Pharaoh’s army and the Lord’s deliverance at the sea, and Miriam led a fitting response of praise.

Psa 81:2 Lift up a song, strike the tambourine, play the…
Jer 31:4 Again I will build you, and you will be rebuilt.…

and all the women followed her

The women joined Miriam as a united company, sharing in the worship of the God who had brought them safely out of Egypt. Her leadership gave expression to the gratitude of the people.

1Sa 18:7 And as the women danced, they sang out: “Saul has slain…
Luk 8:1-3 Soon afterward, Jesus traveled from one town and village…

with tambourines and dancing.

Music and dancing accompanied celebrations of victory in Israel. Their joyful worship acknowledged that the triumph belonged to the Lord, who had defeated Egypt’s power and kept His promise to bring His people out.

1Sa 18:6 As the troops were returning home after David had killed…
Jdg 11:34 And when Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, his daughter…
Psa 149:3 Let them praise His name with dancing, and make music to Him…

And Miriam sang back to them:

Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, was a prophetess who led the women of Israel in celebrating the Lord’s deliverance at the Red Sea. Her song answered the praise already raised by Moses and the men of Israel, joining the whole nation in worship after Pharaoh’s army was destroyed.

Jdg 5:1 On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:
1Sa 18:6-7 As the troops were returning home after David had killed…
Num 21:17 Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, O well,…

“Sing to the LORD,

Israel’s praise was directed to the LORD alone, the God who had redeemed them from Egypt and kept His covenant promises.

Psa 96:1 Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD…
Psa 98:1 A Psalm. Sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done wonders…
Psa 149:1 Hallelujah! Sing to the LORD a new song—…

for He is highly exalted;

The Lord had revealed His supreme power over Egypt, Pharaoh, the sea, and the armies that pursued His people.

Psa 97:9 For You, O LORD, are Most High over all the earth;…
Isa 33:5 The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high;…
Isa 2:11 The proud look of man will be humbled…

the horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.”

Pharaoh’s chariots and horsemen were overwhelmed when the waters returned over them. Israel’s escape was not won by military strength but by the direct intervention of God, who delivered His people from bondage and judgment.

Exo 14:28 The waters flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen…
Neh 9:11 You divided the sea before them, and they crossed through it…
Psa 106:11 The waters covered their foes; not one of them remained.

The Waters of Marah

Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea,

Moses directed the people onward after God had delivered them from Egypt through the sea. Their escape marked the end of Pharaoh’s pursuit, but not the end of their dependence on God.

Num 33:8 They set out from Pi-hahiroth and crossed through the sea,…
Psa 77:20 You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses…

and they went out into the Desert of Shur.

Shur lay east of Egypt along the northwestern Sinai region, a dry and difficult land with few natural resources. Israel’s journey now moved from the dramatic deliverance at the sea into the hardships of wilderness travel.

Gen 16:7 Now the angel of the LORD found Hagar by a spring of water…
Gen 20:1 Now Abraham journeyed to the region of the Negev…

For three days they walked in the desert without finding water.

The lack of water quickly exposed the severity of the wilderness and tested the people’s trust in the God who had just saved them. Their need was immediate, and only the Lord could provide what the desert could not.

Num 20:5 Why have you led us up out of Egypt to bring us…
Exo 17:1 Then the whole congregation of Israel left the Desert…
Deu 8:15 He led you through the vast and terrifying wilderness…

And when they came to Marah,

After three days in the wilderness of Shur without finding water, Israel reached Marah (“bitter”), a site in the Sinai region whose precise location is unknown. Their first major need after crossing the Red Sea became a test of whether they would trust the God who had delivered them.

Num 33:8 They set out from Pi-hahiroth and crossed through the sea,…
Jer 2:19 Your own evil will discipline you; your own apostasies…
Deu 29:18 Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you…

they could not drink the water there because it was bitter.

The water was unusable for the people and their livestock, creating an immediate crisis. Their deliverance from Egypt had not removed hardship, but God would again show His power to provide for them.

2Ki 2:19-22 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please note,…
Rev 8:10-11 Then the third angel sounded his trumpet,…
Jas 3:11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow…

(That is why it was named Marah.)

The name Marah (“bitterness”) preserved the memory of Israel’s bitter experience and of God’s remedy. Moses would cast wood into the water at God’s command, and the water would become fit to drink.

Rut 1:20-21 “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has dealt quite bitterly…
Lam 3:15 He has filled me with bitterness; He has intoxicated me…
Heb 12:15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God,…

So the people grumbled against Moses,

Soon after God delivered Israel from Egypt and brought them safely through the Red Sea, the people complained against the leader He had appointed. Their response revealed how quickly fear and hardship could eclipse trust in God’s provision. Moses repeatedly carried the burden of their complaints throughout the wilderness journey.

Exo 16:2 And there in the desert the whole congregation of Israel…
Num 14:2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron,…
Exo 17:3 But the people thirsted for water there, and they grumbled…

saying, “What are we to drink?”

At Marah, the available water was bitter and undrinkable. Israel faced a genuine need, but directed its distress toward Moses rather than looking to the Lord who had already shown His power to save them. The incident marked an early test in the wilderness and exposed the deeper unbelief that would later lead to further rebellion. Their physical thirst also points to humanity’s need for the living water Christ alone provides.

Exo 17:2 So the people contended with Moses, “Give us water…”…
Num 20:2-5 Now there was no water for the congregation,…
Psa 78:15-16 He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink…

And Moses cried out to the LORD,

Moses responded to the people’s need by seeking God’s help rather than relying on human solutions. As Israel’s leader, he stood before the LORD on behalf of the nation during a moment of fear and scarcity.

Jon 2:2 “In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me.”…
Psa 18:6 In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried…

and the LORD showed him a log.

God directed Moses to a specific piece of wood, providing the means by which He would meet Israel’s need. The provision came through God’s instruction, not through any natural remedy discovered by Moses.

Exo 4:2-4 And the LORD asked him, “What is that in your hand?”…
Num 17:8-10 The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony…
Jer 1:11-12 And the word of the LORD came to me, asking,…

And when he cast it into the waters, they were sweetened.

Moses obeyed, and the bitter water at Marah became drinkable. The miracle showed that the LORD governed the circumstances confronting Israel and was able to provide for them in the wilderness.

2Ki 2:21-22 Elisha went out to the spring and cast the salt…
Ezk 47:8-9 This water flows out to the eastern region…

There the LORD made for them a statute and an ordinance,

At Marah, God began to establish expectations for Israel’s life as His covenant people. Their deliverance from Egypt was to be followed by obedience to His commands.

Exo 24:3-8 When Moses came and told the people all the words…
Deu 4:1-2 Hear now, O Israel, the statutes and ordinances…
Neh 9:13-14 You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them…

and there He tested them,

The lack of water exposed Israel’s fear and complaints, while God’s provision called them to trust Him. Their wilderness experiences would reveal whether they would listen to the LORD and walk in obedience.

Exo 16:4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain down bread…
Deu 8:2-3 Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you…

saying, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God,

Israel had just seen the LORD’s power in Egypt and His provision at the Red Sea and Marah. Their safety in the wilderness depended on trusting and obeying the God who had redeemed them.

Deu 28:1 Now if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God…
Deu 13:4 You are to follow the LORD your God and fear Him.…
Jer 26:13 So now, correct your ways and deeds, and obey the voice…

and do what is right in His eyes,

They were to measure their conduct by God’s revealed standard rather than by the practices of Egypt or their own desires.

1Ki 11:38 If you listen to all that I command you, walk in My ways…
Deu 6:18 Do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD,…
Deu 12:28 Be careful to obey all these things I command you,…

and pay attention to His commands,

The LORD would give Israel His commands as the covenant people He had chosen and delivered.

Deu 8:1 You must carefully follow every commandment…
Deu 5:32 So be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you;…
Deu 11:1 You shall therefore love the LORD your God…

and keep all His statutes,

Faithful obedience marked Israel as belonging to the LORD and distinguished the nation from the peoples around them.

Deu 4:40 Keep His statutes and commandments, which I am giving you…
1Ki 8:58 May He incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in His ways…
Psa 119:8 I will keep Your statutes; do not utterly forsake me.

then I will not bring on you any of the diseases I inflicted on the Egyptians.

The plagues upon Egypt were acts of divine judgment against Pharaoh, Egypt’s gods, and Egypt’s refusal to release Israel. The LORD promised protection from such judgments as Israel walked in covenant obedience.

Deu 7:15 And the LORD will remove from you all sickness.…
Deu 28:60 He will afflict you again with all the diseases……
Deu 28:27 The LORD will afflict you with the boils of Egypt,…

For I am the LORD who heals you.”

The God who made the bitter waters sweet at Marah, Jehovah-Rapha, “The Lord who heals,” was able to preserve, restore, and heal His people.

Psa 103:3 He who forgives all your iniquities and heals…
Jer 30:17 But I will restore your health and heal your wounds,…
Exo 23:25 So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless…

Then they came to Elim,

Elim, meaning “terebinths” or “trees,” was an oasis on Israel’s route through the wilderness after crossing the Red Sea. Having left the bitter waters of Marah, the people arrived at a place of abundant water and shelter, demonstrating God’s continued care for them in a harsh land.

Num 33:9-10 They set out from Marah and came to Elim…
Exo 16:1 On the fifteenth day of the second month…
Gen 21:19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water.…

where there were twelve springs of water

The twelve springs supplied the needs of the Israelite community and their livestock. Their number fittingly recalls the twelve tribes, though the account emphasizes the actual abundance God provided after their recent lack of water.

Isa 41:18 I will open rivers on the barren heights,…
Psa 107:35 He turns a desert into pools of water…
Isa 35:6-7 Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the mute tongue…

and seventy palm trees,

The palm trees offered shade and marked Elim as a fertile resting place in the wilderness. The seventy trees further underscore the unusual provision and refreshment available there.

Psa 92:12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree…
Sng 7:7-8 Your stature is like a palm tree; your breasts…
Jdg 4:5 And she would sit under the Palm of Deborah…

and they camped there by the waters.

Israel remained at Elim long enough to rest and replenish before continuing toward Sinai. The camp by the waters stands in contrast to Marah and shows that the Lord led His people through both testing and provision.

Psa 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;…
Isa 49:10 They will not hunger or thirst, nor will scorching heat…
Neh 9:15 In their hunger You gave them bread from heaven;…

This is a draft of the Berean Study Bible. Please send all comments and recommendations to bereanstudybible@aol.com.



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