The Crossing of the Red Sea
Pharaoh changes his mind once more and pursues with chariots, trapping the Israelites against the water. The people turn on Moses with the bitter question that recurs throughout the wilderness years — were there no graves in Egypt, that you brought us out here to die?
Moses stretches out his hand, a strong east wind drives the sea back through the night, and the people cross on dry ground. The Egyptian force follows into the seabed; the wheels come off the chariots, the water returns at dawn, and the army is destroyed.
The prose account is immediately followed by a poem, the Song of the Sea, which is among the oldest passages in the Hebrew Bible. Miriam takes up a tambourine and leads the women in dancing and in the song's refrain — the first thing Israel does as a free people is sing about it.
Where in scripture
[1] Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, [2] “Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn back and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal Zephon. You shall encamp opposite it by the sea. [3] Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, ‘They are entangled in the land. The wilderness has shut them in.’ [4] I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will follow after them; and I will get honor over Pharaoh, and over all his armies; and the Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh.” They did so. [5] The king of Egypt was told that the people had fled; and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed towards the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” [6] He prepared his chariot, and took his army with him; …
Exodus 14:1–31 — opening verses
[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. [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. [3] Yahweh is a man of war. Yahweh is his name. [4] He has cast Pharaoh’s chariots and his army into the sea. His chosen captains are sunk in the Red Sea. [5] The deeps cover them. They went down into the depths like a stone. [6] Your right hand, Yahweh, is glorious in power. Your right hand, Yahweh, dashes the enemy in pieces. [7] In the greatness of your excellency, you overthrow those who rise up against you. You send out your wrath. It consumes them as stubble. …
Exodus 15:1–21 — opening verses
By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.
Hebrews 11:29
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
