1Then the Lord spoke to Moses:
2“Tell the Israelites to turn back and camp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; you must camp in front of Baal-zephon, facing it by the sea.14:2 Ex 13:18; Nm 33:7; Jr 44:1
3Pharaoh will say of the Israelites: They are wandering around the land in confusion; the wilderness has boxed them in.
The Egyptian Pursuit
5When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about the people and said, “What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.”
6So he got his chariot ready and took his troops14:6 Lit people with him;
7he took six hundred of the best chariots and all the rest of the chariots of Egypt, with officers in each one.
10As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and there were the Egyptians coming after them! The Israelites were terrified and cried out14:10 Jos 24:7; Neh 9:9; Ps 34:17 to the Lord for help.
11They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?
12Isn’t this what we told you in Egypt: Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”14:12 Ex 5:21; Ps 106:7–8
Escape through the Red Sea
15The Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to break camp.
16As for you, lift up your staff, stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.14:16 Ex 4:17; Nm 20:8–9; Is 10:26
17As for me, I am going to harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them, and I will receive glory by means of Pharaoh, all his army, and his chariots and horsemen.
18The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I receive glory through Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”
19Then the angel of God,14:19 Ex 23:20,23; 32:34; 33:2 who was going in front of the Israelite forces, moved and went behind them. The pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and stood behind them.14:19 Ex 13:21; Is 63:9
20It came between the Egyptian and Israelite forces. There was cloud and darkness, it lit up the night, and neither group came near the other all night long.
23The Egyptians set out in pursuit — all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen — and went into the sea after them.
24During the morning watch, the Lord looked down at the Egyptian forces from the pillar of fire14:24 Ex 13:21; Nm 14:14; Neh 9:12 and cloud, and threw the Egyptian forces into confusion.
25He caused their chariot wheels to swerve14:25 Sam, LXX, Syr read He bound their chariot wheels14:25 Or fall off and made them drive14:25 Or and they drove them with difficulty. “Let’s get away from Israel,” the Egyptians said, “because the Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!”
26Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the water may come back on the Egyptians, on their chariots and horsemen.”
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