God did let them see the abominations and idols of the nations; whereof hee warned them to be∣ware, Deut. 29. 16. 17. 18.
Vers. 3. intangled] or, perplexed, not knowing what to doe, as the Greeke translateth, they wander [unspec 3] (or stray) and the word is used in Ioel 1. 18. of cat∣tell perplexed for want of pasture. So Pharaoh see∣ing the Israelites to take this indirect way, thought they were afraid of the wildernesse, and in per∣plexity of mind: whereupon he hardned himselfe to follow after, and bring them againe into his bondage.
Vers. 4. make strong] that is, as the Greeke saith, [unspec 4] harden: so after, verse 8 17. See Exodus 4. 21. honoured] or, as the Greeke translateth, gloried: will get me honour, by their destruction, vers. 17. 18. For God hath glory by wrath upon the wicked, as by mercy upon the elect, Roman. 9. 22. 23. So Eze∣kiel 28. 22.
Vers. 6. bound] in Greeke, joyned, to wit, the hor∣ses to his chariot: made ready. So Gen. 46. 29. [unspec 6]
Vers 7. captaines] or Princes, the third sort of governours in the kingdome: having the name of [unspec 7] three, or third: the Chaldee calleth them Mighties.
Vers. 8. a high hand] that is, powerfully, openly, and boldly, like armed men, as in Exod. 13. 18. and [unspec 8] in the sight of the Egyptians, Num. 33. 3. not like f••gitives. So to sinne with a high hand, Num. 15. 30. is to doe it boldly and openly. The Chaldee chan∣geth the phrase, saving, they went out with uncove∣red (or open) head: which meaneth, openly, bold∣ly, cheerfully: as, the covering of the head, signi∣fieth sorrow and shame, 2 Sam. 15. 30. Ier. 14. 4.
Vers. 9. army] Hebr. power: used for an army or [unspec 9] host, as the Greeke here translateth it; so in verse 17. 28. And here againe is to be understood, they followed and overtooke them.
Vers. 10. were fore afraid] or, feared vehemently. This was for want of faith and love towards God, [unspec 10] Matth. 8. 26. 1 Iohn 4. 18. But was occasioned by the straits they now were in: the congregation of Is∣rael was shut in, from the foure parts of the world: be∣fore them was the sea, behind them followed the enemy: and on each side of them were wildernesses full of fiery Serpents, which did bite and kill men with their venome: saith the Chaldee paraphrase upon Song. 2. 14.
Vers. 11. at all] or, none: a double deniall shew∣ing [unspec] the earnest passion and distemperature of their unfaithfull and unthankfull minds. Of this David said, they remembred not the multitude of thy mercies, but rebelled at the sea, at thered sea: yet he saved them for his names sake, Psal. 106. 7 8.
Vers. 12. Let us alone] or, Cease from us. They re∣turne to their former rebellious cariage in Egypt, [unspec 12] mentioned in Exod. 6. 9.
Vers. 13. feare not] the Greeke saith, be bold, (or, of good comfort.) whom ye have seene] or, as the [unspec 13] Greeke translateth, so as ye sec: meaning, they should see them no more alive, but dead, as verse 30. not againe see] Hebr. not adde to see. By these pro∣mises, God would stay their murmurings, streng∣then their faith, and shew his grace to an undeser∣ving people: for which hee is after celebrated, in Neh. 9. 9. thou heardest their cry by the red sea.
Vers. 14. shall hold your peace] or, shall bee silent, [unspec 14] shall cease from speaking or doing any thing in this battell. The originall word is often used for cea∣sing to heare or speake, as they that are deafe; but applied also to actions, signifieth silence or ceasing from deeds, as they that neglect and sit still, 2 Sam. 19. 11. Psal. 83. 2. and 50. 3. Esay 42. 14. 15. It may also be meant, hold ye your peace, that is, cease from murmuring against God and me.
Verse 15. wherefore] Hebr. what, that is, For what [unspec 15] criest thou? God encourageth Moses to goe on with the worke in hand, which the peoples mur∣muring began to hinder. So after (in Exod. 17. 4) hee cried unto the Lord, upon the like occasion. Though here no words of prayer bee mentioned, yet Moses might cry unto God by the Spirit, which maketh intercession for the Saints, with groanings which cannot be uttered, Rom. 8. 26. The Chaldee para∣phrast turneth it, I have accepted thy prayer: speake to the sonnes of Israel; &c. as if he had cried our for feare of wrath to come upon them for their sinne, as they deserved. So elsewhere another Chaldee paraphrast (on Song 1. 9.) more plainly saith, When Pharaoh and his host were drowned, Israel also had like∣wise perished, if Moses the Prophet had not stretched out his hands in prayer before the Lord, and turned a∣way the Lords wrath from them. A like preservation of them by Moses prayer, is after recorded in Deut. 9. 13. 14.—19. 20.
Verse 16 thy rod] where with miracles were done [unspec 16] in Egypt, Exod. 4. 2. and 7. 9. &c. the rod of God, Exod. 17. 9 it signified the Word of God, which is the rod of his mouth, wherewith hee smiteth the earth, Esay 11. 4. but feedeth his people, Mic. 7. 14 cleave it] that is, forcibly divide, and (as the Greeke translateth) rent it. It is a commandement implying a promise.
Vers. 17. honoured upon] or, as the Greeke tur∣neth [unspec 17] it, glorified in Pharaoh: get me glory and ho∣nour upon him. The Lord knew that they dealt proudly against his people, so hee made himselfe a name, as it is this day, Nehem. 9. 10.
Vers. 19. the Angell,] that is, Christ, called Ieho∣vah, [unspec 19] Exod. 13 21. So the Hebrew Doctors have acknowledged this Angell to be Michael the great Prince, who was made a wall of fire, betweene the Isra∣elites and the Egyptians; Pirkei R. Eliezer, chap. 42. And others of them say this Angell was (Shechinah) the presence (or Majestie) of God, and called an An∣gell and Prince of the world, because the government of the world to by his hand: R. Menachem upon this place. This 19. verse, and 20. and the 21. fol∣lowing; have every of them in the Hebrew, 72. letters; from which the Hebrew Rabbines have their curious speculations, of so many Angels, con∣curring in this glorious worke of dividing the sea, and leading Israel through it.
Vers. 20. a cloud and darknesse,] that is, the cloud [unspec 20] was thicke and darke to the Egyptians, and made light (or illumined) the night to the Israelites. And so the Chaldee paraphrase, and Thargum Ieru∣salemy explaineth it, the cloud was halfe light, and halfe darknesse, the light, gave light unto Israel; and the darknesse, gave darknesse unto the Egyptians.