02-22-2025, 02:44 AM
Exodus 14 is probably one of the most iconic chapters from the Hebrew bible. It features the famous story of the parting of the Red Sea. It reads pretty straight forwardly, without a lot of metaphors or cryptic words from God--just relaying the series of events that took place--and so this post will be short and sweet. Again, this is part of a series of posts I have been contributing to this forum for a while now--dissecting Exodus chapter by chapter, asking questions, giving commentary, offering interpretations--all from the point of view of a non-Jew curious about what Exodus has to say and how to unearth its hidden pearls of wisdom. My source is here, same as always.
This is a strange way to address Moses. Moses was speaking to the children of Israel, wasn't he?
I always found this to be an interesting phrase--you shall know that I am the Lord--as it's repeated many times in the Old Testament. What is this concern with knowing that He is the Lord? Like there is some doubt and God must rectify that doubt. Tell me what you think of this theory: in these times when Moses lived, polytheism and the belief in many spirits that could perform supernatural feats were commonplace. Therefore, it must have been commonplace to wonder, in light of a miracle or supernatural event that one observed or heard of, which god or spirit was responsible for it. And I know that a common theme throughout Exodus (and I believe elsewhere in the Torah) is that God wants to guide his people (the Israelites) towards the almighty God (Himself) and away from lesser spirits or demons. Therefore, He must have been concerned with convincing the people that the one who was speaking to them or who performed the supernatural act was indeed the Lord Himself. Apparently, then, God understood that such an act as parting the Red Sea, letting the Israelites to cross, and collapsing the sea upon the Egyptians would be more than sufficient to convince Pharaoh and the remaining Egyptians (and for what it's worth, the Israelites themselves) that this was indeed the work of the almighty God, a God more powerful than any of the Egyptian Gods. <-- Is this a fair interpretation of the phrase "[you] shall know that I am the Lord"?
This pillar of cloud was described in Exodus 13:21 as...
In other words, Exodus 13 describes the pillar of cloud as God Himself, but Exodus 14 implies it was the angel of God. However, one way to interpret Exodus 14:19 is to say that there is an angel of God, always was, who, like the cloud, walked ahead of the Israelites, but was not one with the cloud, and that everywhere the angel went, the cloud followed. The angel wasn't mentioned in Exodus 13 probably because he (she?) wasn't visible to the Israelites. <-- Is there any credence to this interpretation?
So the pillar of fire isn't blocking them anymore?
So the pillar of fire is back?
This answers a question I've long since asked: how is it that the Israelites crossed the Red Sea in just one night. It would take several days if not weeks, I would think. Exodus 14:29 seems to suggest they didn't. It seems to suggest that God brought the sea crashing down on the Egyptians only in that region of the sea where the Egyptians were. But the Israelites were still surrounded by the sea walls on their left and their right. So they hadn't crossed the sea yet even though the sea collapsed upon the Egyptians in a retrograde region. (I guess the 1956 adaptation of this story--The Ten Commandments--is a little unfaithful to scripture--it has the Israelites clambering to the other edge of the sea trying to escape not only the Egyptians but the inevitable collapse of the entire sea.)
Exodus 14:15 Wrote:The Lord said to Moses, Why do you cry out to Me? Speak to the children of Israel and let them travel.
This is a strange way to address Moses. Moses was speaking to the children of Israel, wasn't he?
Exodus 14:18 Wrote:And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I will be glorified through Pharaoh, through his chariots, and through his horsemen
I always found this to be an interesting phrase--you shall know that I am the Lord--as it's repeated many times in the Old Testament. What is this concern with knowing that He is the Lord? Like there is some doubt and God must rectify that doubt. Tell me what you think of this theory: in these times when Moses lived, polytheism and the belief in many spirits that could perform supernatural feats were commonplace. Therefore, it must have been commonplace to wonder, in light of a miracle or supernatural event that one observed or heard of, which god or spirit was responsible for it. And I know that a common theme throughout Exodus (and I believe elsewhere in the Torah) is that God wants to guide his people (the Israelites) towards the almighty God (Himself) and away from lesser spirits or demons. Therefore, He must have been concerned with convincing the people that the one who was speaking to them or who performed the supernatural act was indeed the Lord Himself. Apparently, then, God understood that such an act as parting the Red Sea, letting the Israelites to cross, and collapsing the sea upon the Egyptians would be more than sufficient to convince Pharaoh and the remaining Egyptians (and for what it's worth, the Israelites themselves) that this was indeed the work of the almighty God, a God more powerful than any of the Egyptian Gods. <-- Is this a fair interpretation of the phrase "[you] shall know that I am the Lord"?
Exodus 14:19 Wrote:Then the angel of God, who had been going in front of the Israelite camp, moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved away from in front of them and stood behind them.
This pillar of cloud was described in Exodus 13:21 as...
Exodus 13:21 Wrote:And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to cause it to lead them on the way and at night in a pillar of fire to give them light, [they thus could] travel day and night.
In other words, Exodus 13 describes the pillar of cloud as God Himself, but Exodus 14 implies it was the angel of God. However, one way to interpret Exodus 14:19 is to say that there is an angel of God, always was, who, like the cloud, walked ahead of the Israelites, but was not one with the cloud, and that everywhere the angel went, the cloud followed. The angel wasn't mentioned in Exodus 13 probably because he (she?) wasn't visible to the Israelites. <-- Is there any credence to this interpretation?
Exodus 14:23 Wrote:The Egyptians pursued and came after them all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen, into the midst of the sea.
So the pillar of fire isn't blocking them anymore?
Exodus 14:24 Wrote:It came about in the morning watch that the Lord looked down over the Egyptian camp through a pillar of fire and cloud, and He threw the Egyptian camp into confusion.
So the pillar of fire is back?
Exodus 14:29 Wrote:But the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea, and the water was to them like a wall from their right and from their left.
This answers a question I've long since asked: how is it that the Israelites crossed the Red Sea in just one night. It would take several days if not weeks, I would think. Exodus 14:29 seems to suggest they didn't. It seems to suggest that God brought the sea crashing down on the Egyptians only in that region of the sea where the Egyptians were. But the Israelites were still surrounded by the sea walls on their left and their right. So they hadn't crossed the sea yet even though the sea collapsed upon the Egyptians in a retrograde region. (I guess the 1956 adaptation of this story--The Ten Commandments--is a little unfaithful to scripture--it has the Israelites clambering to the other edge of the sea trying to escape not only the Egyptians but the inevitable collapse of the entire sea.)