It cannot be denied, but that there was in Moses, and some others, a miracu∣•…•… saith; which may stand with a justifying Faith: as a sensitive soul is in a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 man.
1. Obj. It is said of them who passed thorow the red Sea, that they murmu∣•…•…, and wished they had not been brought out of Egypt. Exod. 14. 11, 12.
Answ.
- 1. That might be said of some of them; as it is said afterwards, the next 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that was among them. Numb. 11. 4.
- 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Though upon the sight of Pharaohs host they might distrust, yet upon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 exhortation, and upon sight of the path that was made in the Sea, they 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
〈◊〉〈◊〉. Obj. God sware to them that believed not, that they should not enter into his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Heb. 3. 18.
A•…•…s. By vertue of the true Faith of some, all might be made partakers of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and temporal blessing. God in this preservation would manifest a dif∣•…•… betwixt such as professed his name, and such as openly opposed against 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
〈◊〉〈◊〉 place of danger whereinto they went, and thorow which they passed, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were preserved from the fury of their enemies, is here stiled, the red 〈◊〉〈◊〉. In Hebrew it is stiled the Sea of r•…•…ed, or a Bulrush: by reason of Reeds or 〈◊〉〈◊〉, growing on the banks thereof: or of weeds, in the bottom of it. Those •…•…eeds which Ionah doth thus mention, [the weeds were wrapt about my 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Jonah 2. 5.] are expressed under this Hebrew word, which signifieth Reed, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Rush.
The Chaldee paraphrase, and the Greek LXX. translate it, red-Sea.
The Apostle followeth them; so doth Luke in relating Stephens speech. Act. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. •…•…6. In all Nations at and since the several translations of the Bible, called this 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the red-Sea; Hereupon that it might be the better known, what Sea was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 meant, they translated it red-Sea. Thus they translated the Asterismes and Co•…•…stellations which are mentioned, Iob 9. 9. and 38. 32. by the Common 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with which they were then called, as Arcturus, Orion, Pleiades. Which are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Hebrew names there used; but names taken from the Grecians.
This Sea is called the red Sea, on these grounds,
- 1. The Sand on the shoares thereof were red.
- 2. The mountaines bordering thereon were reddish.
- 3. By reason of the foresaid sands and mountains there appeared a reddish 〈◊〉〈◊〉 upon the waters.
This titlo, red-Sea, is here expressed for distinction sake: to shew that it was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as the Sea of Tyberias [John 6. 1.] a narrow, shallow Sea; but a broad deep 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as the red-Sea is.
The word which we translate, passed thorow, Implyeth that they passed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 one side to another.
Some of the Iewish Rabbins, whom many Christian Interpreters follow, say, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they did onely pass on one side of the Sea, from one place to another, in way 〈◊〉〈◊〉 an half-circle, to avoid the fury of Pharaohs Host, and to be a meanes of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them; as if one should go into the Thames at Westminster, and come 〈◊〉〈◊〉 at the Temple; not touching the other side of the Thames.
Their reasons for this assertion are these,
- 1. The Israelites had not time enough to pass from one side of the Sea to the other. They were on foot, and had many little Children with them, so as they could not in one night pass over so broad a Sea.
- 2. The place from whence they went before they passed over, is called Etham. Exod. 13. 20. And the place to which they came after they had ended their iourney, is also called Etham, Numb. 33. 8.
Answ. To the first,
- 1. The Sea in the place where they passed, might be so narrow, as in a night it might be passed over, especial∣ly by such as fled from their enemies.
- 2. It is no where said that they were but one night in passing it over. Indeed it is said [Exod. 14. 24.] that in