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Exodus 14

Exodus book home•Chapter 14 of 40•31 verses

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Exodus 14 Overview

Exodus 14 records Israel’s deliverance through the Red Sea. God directs the people to camp in a location that causes Pharaoh to think they are trapped, and Pharaoh pursues with chariots and army. Israel fears and complains, but Moses tells them to stand still and see the salvation of the LORD. God places the cloud between Israel and Egypt, commands Moses to stretch out his hand, and divides the sea so Israel walks through on dry ground. Egypt follows, the waters return, and Pharaoh’s army is destroyed. Israel sees the great work, fears the LORD, and believes the LORD and his servant Moses.

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Before you read Exodus 14

Coming from

Exodus 13 ends with God guiding Israel by the pillar of cloud and fire on a deliberately chosen route.

In this chapter

What looks like entrapment becomes the setting for God to display his glory over Pharaoh and complete Israel’s separation from Egyptian military power.

Leads into

Exodus 15 responds with the song of Moses and Israel, then immediately tests the delivered people at bitter waters in the wilderness.

Key understanding

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

God deliberately leads Israel into a situation where human escape appears impossible so that his power will be displayed.

Truth 2

Moses calls Israel to see the salvation of the LORD rather than trust its own military ability.

Truth 3

The same divine presence that guides Israel becomes protection between Israel and the Egyptians.

Truth 4

Israel crosses on dry ground while the pursuing army is overwhelmed by the returning waters.

Truth 5

The chapter ends with fear of the LORD and belief after Israel sees the great work he has done.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

Psalm 77, Psalm 78, Psalm 106, and Psalm 136 repeatedly celebrate the sea crossing as a defining act of God.

Connection 2

Isaiah uses Exodus and sea-crossing imagery when describing later acts of salvation and return.

Connection 3

1 Corinthians 10:1–2 refers to Israel being under the cloud and passing through the sea in Paul’s warning to the church.

Connection 4

Hebrews 11:29 contrasts Israel crossing by faith with the Egyptians attempting the same passage and being drowned.

Connection 5

Revelation 15 echoes the song-of-Moses pattern after divine victory.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

The chapter presents an actual miraculous sea crossing on dry ground; attempts to reduce it to a shallow natural event conflict with the narrative’s description.

Keep this clear 2

“Stand still” in verse 13 is not a universal command against action; immediately afterward Israel is told to go forward.

Keep this clear 3

The destruction of Pharaoh’s army is divine judgment in a unique redemptive-historical event, not permission for private vengeance.

Keep this clear 4

Israel’s belief here does not mean the people will never struggle again; later chapters honestly record repeated fear and unbelief.

Read Exodus 14 watching for…

God’s purpose in the seemingly trapped campsite.

Israel’s fear contrasted with Moses’ command to see the LORD’s salvation.

The movement and protective role of the cloud.

Dry ground for Israel and judgment for Egypt in the same sea.

The closing response of fear and belief.

Chapter outline5 sections

1-9Pharaoh pursues Israel to the sea 10-14Israel fears and Moses tells them to stand still 15-22God opens the sea for Israel 23-28The Egyptians pursue and are overwhelmed 29-31Israel is saved and believes the LORD and Moses

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.

For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.

And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so.

And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?

And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:

And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.

And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.

But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.

And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.

And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?

Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:

But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.

And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.

And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:

And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,

And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.

And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.

And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.

But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.

And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.

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Exodus 14:25

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