Êxodo 15

Êxodo 15

Trapp - They made account all was their own, but were soon confuted, as were likewise Sisera and Sennacherib. Where the beginning of a business is confidence, the end is confusion. Bush - The destruction of the Egyptians was more remarkable by reason of the pride and insolence which they displayed, and their strong assurance of success. The contrast between the confidence and elation of the pursuit, and the shame and ignominy of their overthrow, is made very impressive. They will not only pursue, but they will overtake, and if they overtake they have no question but they shall overcome, and obtain such a decisive victory as to divide the spoil. Thus it is that men are often never more confident and presumptuous than when they stand upon the very brink of ruin. The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall be gratified against them - W. C. Kaiser observes the staccato phrases that almost imitate the heavy, breathless heaving of the Egyptians as, with what reserve of strength they have left, they vow, "I will…, I will…, I will…" NET Note on My desire - The form is נַפְשִׁי (nafshi, “my soul” 05315). But this word refers to the whole person, the body and the soul, or better, a bundle of appetites in a body. It therefore can figuratively refer to the desires or appetites (Dt 12:15; 14:26; 23:24). Here, with the verb “to be full” means “to be satisfied”; the whole expression might indicate “I will be sated with them” or “I will gorge myself.” The greedy appetite was to destroy. Bush - The sentence expresses not only an intense desire, but a ruthless determination, of vengeance. The mere infliction of summary punishment upon a fugitive people who had quitted his dominions in opposition to his will, is not sufficient to satisfy the rage and vindictiveness of his spirit. He would give them up to slaughter and glut his implacable malice upon them. He is goaded on by a savage thirst of blood, and by the ordinary retributions of Providence has in the issue blood given him to the full. (AKA - PAYBACK IN FULL!) I will draw out my sword, my hand will destroy them -The Septuagint renders by "my hand shall have dominion" (κυριευσει ἡ χειρ μου,) or lord it. Bruckner on I will draw (riq) my sword, literally means, “I will clear the field of battle with my sword” by killing everyone." NET Note on destroy - The verb is יָרַשׁ (yarash), which in the Hiphil means “to dispossess” or “root out.” The meaning “destroy” is a general interpretation. Exodus 15:10 "You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them; They sank like lead in the mighty waters. You blew - Ex 14:21 Ge 8:1 Ps 74:13,14 135:7 147:18 Isa 11:15 Jer 10:13 Am 4:13 Mt 8:27 the sea covered them - Ex 14:28 De 11:4 They sank like lead - Ex 15:5 You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them; They sank like lead in the mighty waters - See comments on Exodus 15:8. "It was a wind raised by special divine intervention, not by the ordinary operation of nature. It was God’s wind distinctly and preeminently; such a wind as caused the waters to accumulate and remain for a time stationary, or as the sacred text expresses it, ‘to be congealed in the heart of the sea.’" (Bush) NET Note on sank - The verb may have the idea of sinking with a gurgling sound, like water going into a whirlpool. Exodus 15:11 "Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders? Who is like You among the gods - Dt 3:24 33:26 1Sa 2:2 2Sa 7:22 1Ki 8:23 Ps 35:10 77:19 86:8 Ps 89:6-8 Isa 40:18,25 Jer 10:6,16 49:19 majestic in holiness - Lev 19:2 Ps 89:18 145:17 Isa 6:3 30:11 57:15 1Pe 1:15,16 Rev 4:8 Awesome in praises - Ps 66:5 77:14 89:5,7 90:11 119:120 Isa 64:2,3 Jer 10:7 Lu 12:5 Heb 12:28,29 Rev 15:4 19:1-6 Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? - Heb. באלים ba-ëlim, among the mighties, among the potentates. Who is like You - Bush writes "In these words the superiority is affirmed of the true God over all earthly princes and potentates, and over all the false and factitious gods of Egypt. A contrast is presented between the omnipotence of the former and the impotence of the latter. What were the mightiest of men whose breath was in their nostrils; what were all the animal and reptile divinities to which that besotted people offered adoration, that they should be so much as named in comparison with the great and glorious God of the Hebrews, the Being of be-beings, the infinite, the almighty, the eternal!" Majestic in holiness - Bush explains "Heb. נאדר בקדש nedar bakkodesh. Gr. δεδοξασμενος εν ἁγιοις, glorified in the holy ones, i. e. among the saints and angels; or, in the holy things; i. e. in holiness. God is glorious in that holiness and immaculate purity which constitute his perfection. It is an attribute which especially elicits the praises of the angelic hosts in heaven, Is. 6:3, and which shone conspicuous on the present occasion. His holiness, his hatred of sin, his wrath against obstinate transgressors, never appeared more resplendently glorious than in the destruction of Pharaoh in the Red Sea. The unsanctified heart may not respond to this character of the divine holiness, but to the soul which has been enlightened from above and gifted with a spiritual perception of the things of God, nothing appears so truly, so transcendently glorious, as this perfection of the immaculate Jehovah. It is, in fact, the crowning glory of the Godhead, and if it do not so appear to us, we have reason to be concerned at its relations to our character and destiny." Awesome in praises - Bush - "Fearful in praises. Heb. נורא תחלת nora tehilloth, terrible, awful, reverend, as to praises, i. e. in his praise worthy manifestations of himself. Thus the Apostle, Philip. 4:8, ‘If there be any praise;’ i. e. any thing praise worthy. Even in those displays of his perfections, which are matter of joyful praise to his people, he is dreadful and terrible to his enemies; and the consideration of this fact should chasten and solemnize the tone of all our laudatory ascriptions. Though, we honor him with praises on our tongues, we should do it with an humble awe upon our spirits." Working wonders - "The stanza concludes addressing praise directly to the Lord in the form of a question (v. 11). It uses a triad of praise to express the unbelievable deliverance the worshiper ha s experienced." (Bruckner) Bush on Working wonders - Doing wonders. Heb. עשה פלא oseh pelë, doing that which is wonderful. Gr. ποιων τερατα, doing signs or prodigies. On the import of the original term פלא pelë, see Note on Jdg. 13:18, from which it will appear that it denotes that which is preeminently marvellous or miraculously wonderful. How justly the poet ascribes this character to Jehovah, the whole scope of the inspired history is a continued proof. Indeed the entire series of providential dispensations in the world is a tissue of works of wonder. But the children of Israel in their present circumstances would naturally have their eye more especially upon that succession of miraculous judgments which had visited and desolated the land of Egypt, and so prepared the way for their deliverance. We find a striking echo to the sentiment of this passage in the parallel language of Job 5:9 Who does great and unsearchable things, Wonders without number. WHO IS LIKE YOU? GOD ANSWERS.... You may know that there is no one like (kemo) Me in all the earth. - Exodus 9:14+ The Hebrew word for "like" is kemo and is used in multiple descriptions of Jehovah. Take a moment to meditate on the greatness of Jehovah, for indeed, WHO IS LIKE HIM?... Exodus 15:11+ “Who is like (kemo) You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like (kemo) You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders? 2 Samuel 7:22 “For this reason You are great, O Lord GOD; for there is none like (kemo) You, and there is no God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 1 Kings 8:23 He said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like (kemo) You in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart, 1 Chronicles 17:20 “O LORD, there is none like (kemo) You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 2 Chronicles 6:14 He said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, there is no god like (kemo) You in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart; Psalm 35:10 All my bones will say, “LORD, who is like (kemo) You, Who delivers the afflicted from him who is too strong for him, And the afflicted and the needy from him who robs him?” Psalm 71:19 For Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens, You who have done great things; O God, who is like (kemo) You? Psalm 86:8 There is no one like (kemo) You among the gods, O Lord, Nor are there any works like Yours. Psalm 89:8 O LORD God of hosts, who is like (kemo) You, O mighty LORD? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. Isaiah 44:7 ‘Who is like (kemo) Me? Let him proclaim and declare it; Yes, let him recount it to Me in order, From the time that I established the ancient nation. And let them declare to them the things that are coming And the events that are going to take place. Isaiah 46:9 “Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like (kemo) Me, Jeremiah 10:6-7 There is none like (kemo) You, O LORD; You are great, and great is Your Name in might. 7 Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? Indeed it is Your due! For among all the wise men of the nations And in all their kingdoms, There is none like (kemo) You. Micah 7:18+ Who is a God like (kemo) You, who pardons iniquity And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love. SUGGESTION - After meditating on the preceding passages, now take a moment to Praise our great God, for Who is like Him? Play the song (link below) "Who is Like You" to help you praise... Our God majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders. In Jesus' mighty Name. Amen Play and praise our Great and Mighty God as you sing along to the words of Who is Like You The Perfect Sentence Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? —Exodus 15:11 Today's Scripture: Exodus 3:13-18 As a young girl writing in my diary, my secret ambition was to compose the perfect sentence. I wondered what it would look and sound like. Perhaps it would include a strong verb and colorful adjectives. My pursuit of the perfect sentence will never be satisfied, but I have found a statement of perfection in Exodus 3:14. When the Lord God called Moses from the burning bush, He told him that he had been chosen to bring His people out of bondage in Egypt (v.10). Moses, who was anxious about this responsibility, wondered what to say if the Israelites doubted him and asked who he was representing. The Lord replied, “I AM WHO I AM” (v.14). By using His unique name, He offered Moses a glimpse of the nature of His eternal existence in one sentence. You might say it’s a statement of perfection! Bible commentator G. Bush writes this about God’s description of Himself: “He, in distinction from all others, is the one only true God, the God who really is . . . . The eternal, self-existent, and immutable Being; the only being who can say that He always will be what He always has been.” For Further Study At the name of Jesus, every knee will one day bow. To learn about His name read The Amazing Prophecy Of Names Looking for perfection? Look to Jesus. Exodus 15:12 "You stretched out Your right hand, The earth swallowed them. You stretched out - Ex 15:6 You stretched out Your right hand, The earth swallowed them - "The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen." "This is nothing more than a poetical hyperbole, varying or rather strengthening the prior description of the Egyptians being overwhelmed in the mighty waters. They were so completely submerged and sunk to the bottom of the sea, that they might be said to be swallowed up by its deep abysses." (Bush) Guzik on Your right hand - Obviously, this is the use of anthropomorphism, understanding something about God by using a human figure of speech, even though it does not literally apply. This idea of the right hand is used in the Scriptures more than fifty times, including these passages: Psalm 45:4: God’s right hand teaches us Psalm 48:10: God’s right hand is full of righteousness Psalm 77:10: Remembrance of the years of the right hand of the Most High Psalm 110:1: The Father invites the Son to sit at His right hand Habakkuk 2:16: The cup of God’s judgment is held in His right hand Ephesians 1:20: Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father Exodus 15:13 "In Your lovingkindness You have led the people whom You have redeemed; In Your strength You have guided them to Your holy habitation. Thou - Ge 19:16 Eph 2:4 led - Ps 77:14,15,20 78:52,53 80:1 106:9 Isa 63:12,13 Jer 2:6 guided - 1Pe 1:5 holy - Ps 78:54 DESCRIPTION OF JOURNEY TO THE PROMISED LAND Now the song begins to look into the near future and fulfillment of the land grant of the Abrahamic Covenant. We move from the destruction of the Egyptians, to the deliverance of the Israelites. In Your lovingkindness You have led the people whom You have redeemed - As Bush says "The poet here passes, by a sudden but natural transition, from the destruction of the Egyptians to the deliverance of the Israelites. This is very appropriate, as it places the two grand aspects of the event in strong and immediate contrast, the one that of justice, the other of mercy. How impressively are both presented before the mind in this transcendent song. While on the one hand thousands of wretched beings who knew not God, but had mocked him with their idolatries and provoked him with their rebellion, had been suddenly hurled into the embraces of death, they on the other had been graciously exempted from harm, rescued from bondage, restored to freedom! Great and manifold indeed were the mercies of God to his chosen, and richly were they worthy of the highest celebration. In Your strength You have guided them to Your holy habitation - Bush - Heb. נחלת nehalta. The original in its legitimate sense signifies to guide gently, softly, and with care, as a good shepherd does his flock. It is the word used by the prophet, Is. 40:11, ‘He shall gather the lambs with his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.’ Very pertinent to this are the words of the Psalmist, Ps. 77:20, ‘Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.’ The phrase in the present instance is indeed rendered in the past, ‘thou hast guided,’ as if their destination had been actually reached, yet the meaning obviously is, that they were now being guided, that they were on the way which led toward the land of promise where they were to dwell, and where God was to dwell with them. Whether any thing more definite and precise than a peculiar residence or indwelling in the land of Canaan in general be intended, it is not perhaps possible to determine. This is called God’s habitation simply because it was Israel’s habitation, among whom he had engaged to tabernacle or dwell. Exodus 15:14 "The peoples have heard, they tremble; Anguish has gripped the inhabitants of Philistia. The peoples have heard - Nu 14:14 Nu 22:5 De 2:4,5 Jos 2:9,10 Josh 9:24 Ps 48:6 inhabitants of Philistia - Isa 14:29,31 Exodus 15:14-16 deal with the reaction of the Gentile nations to Jehovah's deliverance of the nation of Israel at the Red Sea. The peoples have heard, they tremble - In a sense this is a prophecy because Moses did not send a youtube video of Israel crossing the Red Sea and the Egyptians being drowned in the Red Sea. The Gentile nations had not yet heard but they would hear in the future. What is interesting is that some 40 years would pass before the nation of Israel would enter the Promised Land, but even after some 4 decades, the news of Israel's victory over the powerful Egyptians was still widely and well known! Joshua alludes to the Gentiles trembling... Joshua 2:9; 10 and said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. 10 “For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. Joshua 5:1,Now it came about when all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the sons of Israel until they had crossed, that their hearts melted, and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the sons of Israel. Joshua 9:24 (Describing the ruse of the Gibeonites) So they answered Joshua and said, “Because it was certainly told your servants that the LORD your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you; therefore we feared greatly for our lives because of you, and have done this thing. Anguish has gripped the inhabitants of Philisti - Recall that Philisti would have been in the initial roadway had the LORD not turned Israel around = "God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” (Ex 13:17). Bush says Philisti was "not of the prophetically accursed seed of Canaan, nor are they enumerated among the nations devoted to extermination, whose territory God assigned to the Hebrews. But they maintained a hostile attitude towards the Israelites, with whom they had many battles, and after a long series of struggles they were finally effectually subdued by David." Bush - The very tidings of such a tremendous overthrow of the Egyptians would go so far towards terrifying and disheartening their other enemies, that it would render the conquest of them comparatively easy. Their spirits would sink at the idea of grappling with such a power as evidently fought for Israel, and this secret misgiving, though it might not entirely preclude resistance, would yet so far weaken it, as to make them very little formidable in their warfare. That this was a true prediction we see at once by referring to the subsequent history. Exodus 15:15 "Then the chiefs of Edom were dismayed; The leaders of Moab, trembling grips them; All the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away. chiefs of Edom- Ge 36:40 Nu 20:14-21 De 2:4 1Ch 1:51-54 Moab - Nu 22:3-5 Hab 3:7 all the - Jos 2:11 5:1 melted - De 20:8 Jos 2:9 *marg: Jos 14:8 1Sa 14:16 2Sa 17:10 Ps 68:2 Isa 13:7 19:1 Eze 21:7 Na 2:10 All of these national reactions are what would transpire in the future. Currid - All four nations were to become notorious enemies of Israel. Philistia was located in the coastal plain of Palestine, and the Philistines often fought with Israel during the early centuries of her existence (e.g., Jdg. 13–15; 1 Sam. 4–7). The Edomites were descended from Esau, and they populated the area of southern Transjordan. They struggled with Israel in order not to let her pass through their territory (Nu 20:1-29). Moab, in central Transjordan, was the home of the descendants of Lot. Balak was one of the kings of Moab during the conquest period, and he strongly resisted Israel (Nu 22:1-41). The Canaanites, of course, inhabited the land of promise, and many of them were destroyed by the Hebrew invasion of Palestine. Bush observes that "Throughout the whole context the gradations of distress are strikingly marked. First, there is to be fear among the people; then sorrow is to overtake the inhabitants of Palestine; next, the princes of Edom are to be amazed or painfully disturbed; then the Moabites shall tremble with terror; and, finally, the hearts of Canaan shall melt away with overwhelming dread of the coming disasters." Then the chiefs of Edom were dismayed - NET = "Then the chiefs of Edom will be terrified." The leaders of Moab, trembling grips them - NET = "trembling will seize the leaders of Moab." All the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away - NET = "the inhabitants of Canaan will shake." Bush on melted away - Heb. נמגו namogu; a term to be understood rather of the mental despondency, the sinking away of courage and hope, than of the physical wasting and consumption of the Canaanites before the victorious arms of Israel. How accurately this depicts the result that actually occurred is evident from the parallel language, Josh. 2:9–11 and said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. 10 “For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 “When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Exodus 15:16 "Terror and dread fall upon them; By the greatness of Your arm they are motionless as stone; Until Your people pass over, O LORD, Until the people pass over whom You have purchased. Terror and dread - De 2:25 11:25 Jos 2:9 still - Ex 11:7 1Sa 2:9 25:37 which thou - Ex 19:5,6 De 32:6,9 2Sa 7:23 Ps 74:2 Isa 43:1-3 51:10 Jer 31:11 Ac 20:28 Tit 2:14 1Pe 2:9 2Pe 2:1 Terror and dread fall upon them - "A dreadful fear." "This is but an expansion of the sentiment of the last clause of the preceding verse. They should be so utterly overcome with consternation that their energies should be paralyzed, and they should be unable to offer any effectual resistance. But let not Israel forget that ‘it was not their own arm which would get them the victory.’ It was to be by the greatness of God’s arm, by the direct intervention of his power, that the inhabitants were thus to be rendered impotent in their alarm." (Bush) By the greatness of Your arm they are motionless as stone - Arm again is an anthropomorphic expression for what God did by His great power. Bush - "Gr. απολιθωθητωσαν, let them be turned into stones, equivalent to the English phrase of being petrified with fear, grief, astonishment, &c." Until Your people pass over, O LORD - Bush - "That is, till the Israelites pass over the desert and the limits of the land of Canaan, and enter upon their inheritance. The Jordan, however, is probably more especially intended, as the spirit of prophecy pervades the poem. Thus the Chal. ‘Until the people, O Lord, shall have passed over Arnon and the Jordan.’ This was only a less miracle than the passage of the Red Sea, inasmuch as the channel is narrower, and the transit unattended by the destruction of enemies." Until the people pass over whom You have purchased - Currid notes that "The verb ‘to purchase’ sometimes bears the sense of originating/creating (see Gen. 4:1; 14:19, 22; Deut. 32:6). This meaning supports the idea that the crossing of the Red Sea is a re-creation event. Bruckner on purchased - The richest Hebrew word in this culminating praise is translated in the phrase, “the people you bought” (qanah). The Hebrew means “acquired by some effort.” It can mean “created” or “gave birth to,” both requiring strenuous effort by the Creator or begetter (see also Exod. 4:22; Num. 11:2). It can also mean “acquired through cost” (such as the loss of life in Egypt) or through labor (as in the Lord’s many interventions). All of the meanings are relevant in the Exodus story, which is the primary basis for our understanding of the word. In Exodus 20 the Lord uses a homonym (qannaʾ) when he says “I am a jealous God” (ʾel-qannaʾ see the discussion at 20:5). The Lord who had gone to so much trouble to redeem the people would not easily let them go. NET on purchased - The verb קָנָה (qanah) here is the verb “acquire, purchase,” and probably not the homonym “to create, make” (see Gen 4:1; Deut 32:6; and Prov 8:22). Bush on purchased - Heb. קנית qanah, hast gotten, acquired, become possessed of. The original signifies to obtain either by purchase, by generation, or by any other mode of acquisition, but more especially the former. Thus, Deut. 32:6, ‘Is not he thy father that hath bought thee?’ Ps. 74:2, ‘Remember thy congregation which thou hast purchased of old;’ and the Apostle, 2 Pet. 2:1, speaks of such as ‘deny the Lord that bought them.’ Chal. ‘Which thou hast redeemed.’ Gr. ὁν εκτησω, which thou hast possessed. Exodus 15:17 "You will bring them and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, The place, O LORD, which You have made for Your dwelling, The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established. plant - Ps 44:2 78:54,55 80:8 Isa 5:1-4 Jer 2:21 32:41 mountain - Ps 78:54,68,69 Jer 31:23 ISRAEL WAS BROUGHT OUT TO BE BROUGHT IN! Now the prophetic words of the song go even further into the future, going past the events of the book of Joshua and even Judges and moving to the time of the kings of Israel, for the sanctuary was not built until the time of Solomon. Bush - This glorious beginning of God’s favor to them was of such a nature, as to afford an earnest of the full accomplishment of all his purposed mercy. If notwithstanding their unworthiness and all the difficulties that lay in the way of their escape, he had thus with a high hand brought them out of Egypt, might they not be assured that he would bring them into Canaan? For having so begun would he not make an end? You will bring them and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance - This speaks of Mt Zion (a few commentators suggest this is Mt Sinai but I disagree because of the verb plant them -- they were at Mt Sinai for only a short time and were hardly "planted" there) where God's dwelling would eventually reside. Bush - The picture of plant means that Jehovah would "give them a settled and firmly fixed inheritance; a metaphor taken from trees which when their roots are struck deeply into the earth cannot without the greatest difficulty be plucked up. It predicts, therefore, a permanent and stable mode of life, in opposition to the roving and migratory habits of a people who are ever on the move. See the similitude beautifully expanded, Ps. 80:8–16," NET Note - The "mountain" and the "place" would be wherever Yahweh met with his people. It here refers to Canaan, the land promised to the patriarchs. The place, O LORD, which You have made for Your dwelling, The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established - Notice the verb is past tense -- which Your hands have established -- in reference to the future Temple, so certain was the erection of His sanctuary. Exodus 15:18 "The LORD shall reign forever and ever." Ps 10:16 29:10 146:10 Isa 57:15 Da 2:44 4:3 7:14,27 Mt 6:13 Rev 11:15-17