Exodus 14

King James Version

Full text for Exodus Chapter 14

1¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.

3For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They [are] entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.

4And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I [am] the LORD. And they did so.

5And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?

6And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:

7And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.

8And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.

9But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses [and] chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.

10¶ And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.

11And they said unto Moses, Because [there were] no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?

12[Is] not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For [it had been] better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

13And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

14The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

15¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:

16But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry [ground] through the midst of the sea.

17And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.

18And the Egyptians shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.

19And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:

20And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness [to them], but it gave light by night [to these]: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

21¶ And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go [back] by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry [land], and the waters were divided.

22And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry [ground]: and the waters [were] a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

23And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, [even] all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

24And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,

25And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.

26And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.

27And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.

28And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, [and] all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.

29But the children of Israel walked upon dry [land] in the midst of the sea; and the waters [were] a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

30Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.

31And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The LORD instructed Israel to encamp by the Red Sea, intending to harden Pharaoh's heart so he would pursue them, allowing God to be glorified. As Pharaoh and his army approached, the terrified Israelites complained to Moses, who assured them that the LORD would fight for them. Moses then stretched out his rod, and the LORD divided the Red Sea, enabling Israel to cross on dry ground while the pursuing Egyptian army was drowned when the waters returned.

Medium Summary

The LORD commanded Moses to lead the children of Israel to encamp by the sea, declaring His intent to harden Pharaoh's heart so that he would pursue them, thereby allowing the LORD to gain honour over Pharaoh and his host. Upon hearing of Israel's flight, Pharaoh regretted his decision to release them and mobilized his chariots and army in pursuit. When the Egyptians overtook them by the sea, the Israelites became greatly afraid and cried out, complaining to Moses about their impending doom. Moses, however, reassured the people to stand still and witness the LORD's salvation, for He would fight for them. The LORD then instructed Moses to stretch his hand over the sea to divide it, promising to harden the Egyptians' hearts further so they would follow. The Angel of God and the pillar of cloud moved to stand between the two camps, providing light for Israel and darkness for Egypt. Moses parted the sea with his rod, and Israel passed through on dry land, but the pursuing Egyptian army was engulfed and destroyed when the waters returned, saving Israel and glorifying the LORD.

Long Summary

The LORD commanded Moses to instruct the children of Israel to turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baalzephon. This strategic positioning was designed to make Pharaoh believe Israel was entangled in the wilderness, prompting him to pursue them. The LORD explicitly stated His intention to harden Pharaoh's heart, ensuring his pursuit so that He might be honoured upon Pharaoh and all his host, demonstrating His sovereignty to the Egyptians. When Pharaoh was informed of Israel's flight, his heart and his servants' hearts turned against the people, regretting their release, and he prepared his chariots, including six hundred chosen ones, and his entire army for pursuit. The Egyptians overtook the Israelites encamped by the sea, causing the children of Israel to be sore afraid and cry out to the LORD, bitterly complaining to Moses that he had led them out to die in the wilderness. Moses calmed the people, urging them not to fear but to stand still and witness the salvation of the LORD, declaring that the Egyptians they saw that day would be seen no more, for the LORD would fight for them. The LORD then commanded Moses to cease his crying and instruct the Israelites to go forward, while he was to lift his rod and stretch his hand over the sea to divide it, allowing Israel to pass on dry ground. The LORD reiterated His plan to harden the hearts of the Egyptians so they would follow, ensuring He would gain honour upon Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen. The Angel of God and the pillar of cloud, which had gone before Israel, moved to their rear, positioning themselves between the Egyptian and Israelite camps, providing darkness to the Egyptians and light to Israel throughout the night, preventing any approach. Moses stretched his hand over the sea, and the LORD, by a strong east wind, caused the sea to recede, creating dry land, and the waters were divided, forming walls on either side. The children of Israel walked through the midst of the sea on dry ground, but the Egyptians pursued them into the sea. In the morning watch, the LORD looked upon the Egyptian host through the pillar of fire and cloud, troubling them and causing their chariot wheels to come off, making them drive heavily. Recognizing that the LORD was fighting for Israel, the Egyptians attempted to flee. The LORD then commanded Moses to stretch his hand over the sea again, and as Moses obeyed, the waters returned to their strength, drowning Pharaoh's entire army—chariots, horsemen, and all—so that not one remained. Israel, however, walked upon dry land through the sea, witnessing the great work of the LORD, which caused them to fear the LORD and believe in Him and His servant Moses.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Hardening of HeartThe LORD explicitly states His intention to harden Pharaoh's heart multiple times, ensuring Pharaoh's pursuit of Israel so that God might be glorified through his defeat.
  • Israel's Fear and ComplaintUpon seeing the approaching Egyptian army, the children of Israel are greatly afraid and complain bitterly to Moses, expressing regret at leaving Egypt and fearing death in the wilderness.
  • Moses' Prophetic AssuranceMoses calms the terrified Israelites, assuring them that they need not fear, for the LORD will fight for them and they will witness His salvation, seeing the Egyptians no more.
  • The Red Sea CrossingAt the LORD's command, Moses stretches his hand over the sea, and the LORD parts the waters with a strong east wind, creating dry ground for Israel to pass through with walls of water on either side.
  • Divine Protection and InterventionThe Angel of God and the pillar of cloud/fire move to stand between the two camps, providing light for Israel and darkness for Egypt, preventing the Egyptians from approaching during the night.
  • God's Ultimate Deliverance and JudgmentThe LORD completely destroys Pharaoh's entire army by causing the waters of the Red Sea to return, drowning every Egyptian soldier, chariot, and horseman, while Israel is safely delivered on dry land.