Chapter Note Matthew Henry Commentary (Complete)
E X O D U S
CHAP. XIV.
The departure of the children of Israel out of Egypt (which was indeed the birth of the Jewish church) is made yet more memorable by further works of wonder, which were wrought immediately upon it. Witness the records of this chapter, the contents whereof, together with a key to it, we have, Hebrews 11:29 . "They passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned;" and this they did by faith, which intimates that there was something typical and spiritual in it. Here is, I. The extreme distress and danger that Israel was in at the Red Sea. 1. Notice was given of it to Moses before, Exodus 14:1 - 4 . 2. The cause of it was Pharaoh's violent pursuit of them, Exodus 14:5 - 9 . 3. Israel was in a great consternation upon it, Exodus 14:10 - 12 . 4. Moses endeavours to encourage them, Exodus 14:13 . II. The wonderful deliverance that God wrought for them out of this distress. 1. Moses is instructed concerning it, Exodus 14:15 - 18 . 2. Lines that could not be forced are set between the camp of Israel and Pharaoh's camp, Exodus 14:19 ; Exodus 14:20 . 3. By the divine power the Red Sea is divided Exodus 14:31 ), and is made, (1.) A lane to the Israelites, who marched safely through it, Exodus 14:22 ; Exodus 14:29 . But, (2.) To the Egyptians it was made, [1.] An ambush into which they were drawn, Exodus 14:23 - 25 . And, [2.] A grave in which they were all buried, Exodus 14:26 - 28 . III. The impressions this made upon the Israelites, Exodus 14:30 ; Exodus 14:31 .
Book Note Matthew Henry Commentary (Complete)
AN
EXPOSITION,
W I T H P R A C T I C A L O B S E R V A T I O N S,
OF THE SECOND BOOK OF MOSES, CALLED
E X O D U S.
M OSES (the servant of the Lord in writing for him as well as in acting for him--with the pen of God as well as with the rod of God in his hand) having, in the first book of his history, preserved and transmitted the records of the church, while it existed in private families, comes, in this second book, to give us an account of its growth into a great nation; and, as the former furnishes us with the best economics, so this with the best politics. The beginning of the former book shows us how God formed the world for himself; the beginning of this shows us how he formed Israel for himself, and both to show forth his praise, Isaiah 43:21 . There we have the creation of the world in history, here the redemption of the world in type. The Greek translators called this book Exodus (which signifies a departure or going out ) because it begins with the story of the going out of the children of Israel from Egypt. Some allude to the names of this and the foregoing book, and observe that immediately after Genesis, which signifies the beginning or original, follows Exodus, which signifies a departure; for a time to be born is immediately succeeded by a time to die. No sooner have we made our entrance into the world than we must think of making our exit, and going out of the world. When we begin to live we begin to die. The forming of Israel into a people was a new creation. As the earth was, in the beginning, first fetched from under water, and then beautified and replenished, so Israel was first by an almighty power made to emerge out of Egyptian slavery, and then enriched with God's law and tabernacle. This book gives us, I. The accomplishment of the promises made before to Abraham Exodus 1:1 - 19Exodus 1:1 - 19 ), and then, II. The establishment of the ordinances which were afterwards observed by Israel, Exodus 20:1 - 40Exodus 20:1 - 40 Moses, in this book, begins, like Cæsar, to write his own Commentaries; nay, a greater, a far greater, than Cæsar is here. But henceforward the penman is himself the hero, and gives us the history of those things of which he was himself an eye and ear-witness, et quorum pars magna fuit--and in which he bore a conspicuous part. There are more types of Christ in this book than perhaps in any other book of the Old Testament; for Moses wrote of him, John 5:46 . The way of man's reconciliation to God, and coming into covenant and communion with him by a Mediator, is here variously represented; and it is of great use to us for the illustration of the New Testament, now that we have that to assist us in the explication of the Old.
