1And the LORD said to Moses, 2“Tell the children of Israel to turn and camp by the sea near Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal-zephon. 3For Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are entangled in the land, the wilderness has hemmed them in.’ 4And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, so that he shall pursue them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh, and all his army; so that the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” And they camped there. 5And Pharaoh was told that the people fled. And then he and his officials had a change of heart, and said, “Why have we done this, to set Israel free from serving us?” 6And so he prepared his chariot, and took his army with him: 7And he took six hundred of his best chariots, along with all the other chariots in Egypt, and officers over them. 8The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he pursued the Israelites who had marched out boldly. 9And since the Egyptians pursued them with Pharaoh’s horsemen, chariots, and his army, and he caught up with them as they were camping by the sea, near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon. 10And as Pharaoh approached, and the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians coming after them; the Israelites were in great fear; and they cried out to the LORD. 11And they said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt, that you have brought us out here to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us this way, to bring us out of Egypt? 12Is this not what we told you in Egypt, ‘Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians?’ It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than to die out here in the wilderness!” 13And Moses answered the people, “Fear not, stand still, and watch the salvation of the LORD, that He is about to show you today. The Egyptians you see today, you shall never see again. 14The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall just remain calm.” 15And the LORD said to Moses, “Why cry to Me? Tell the Israelites to go forward: 16Raise your rod, and stretch it out over the sea, and divide it; and the Israelites shall go through the middle of the sea on dry ground. 17And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will follow them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh, all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gained honor and victory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.” 19And the Angel of God, Who went before the camp of Israel, moved to the rear of them; and the pillar of the cloud also moved behind them; 20And it came between the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it became a cloud and darkness to the Egyptians, but it gave light by night to the Israelites, so that neither group came near the other all that night. 21And Moses stretched his hand out over the Red Sea; and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all that night, leaving the seabed dry land, and the waters were divided. 22And the Israelites went through the middle of the sea on dry ground; and the water was like a wall to them on their right and on their left. 23And the Egyptians chased after them into the middle of the sea - all of Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and horsemen. 24And in the morning watch, the LORD looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and He threw the Egyptian army into confusion, 25And He clogged their chariot wheels, making them hard to drive. Then the Egyptians said, “Get us away from these Israelites; for the LORD is fighting for them and against us Egyptians.” 26And the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch your hand out over the sea again, so that the water may return back upon the Egyptians, their chariots, and their horsemen.” 27And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and as the sun rose, the sea returned to its usual place; and as the Egyptians tried to escape; the LORD swept the Egyptians into the middle of the sea. 28And the waters flowed back, covering the chariots, horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that had come into the sea in pursuit of Israel. There was not so much as one of them that survived. 29But the Israelites continued through the middle of the sea on dry land; with the water like a wall to their right and their left. 30Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead along the sea shore. 31And Israel witnessed that great deed which the LORD displayed against the Egyptians: and the people put their trust in the LORD, and His servant Moses. Reader-Friendly Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2024 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |