Exodus 15:20

"For the horses of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought back the waters of the sea on them; but the children of Israel walked on dry land in the middle of the sea."

Key Reflection

Exodus 15:20 describes a pivotal moment during the Exodus, where the forces of Pharaoh and his army pursue the fleeing Israelites into the Red Sea. This verse highlights the miraculous intervention of God, who not only drowns the pursuing Egyptians in the sea but also preserves the safety of the Israelites by parting the waters for them to walk through on dry ground. The dramatic reversal of fortunes serves as a powerful demonstration of divine protection and judgment, illustrating the complete sovereignty of Yahweh over both nature and history.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

And Miriam the prophetess -The part here assigned to Miriam and the women of Israel is in accordance both with Egyptian and Hebrew customs. The men are represented as singing the hymn in chorus, under the guidance of Moses; at each interval Miriam and the women sang the refrain, marking the time with the timbrel, and with the measured rhythmical movements always associated with solemn festivities. CompareJudges 11:34;2 Samuel 6:5, and marginal references. The word used in this passage for the timbrel is Egyptian, and judging from its etymology and the figures which are joined with it in the inscriptions, it was probably the round instrument.

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