15:1-21. The Bondage of Israel Ended. The Songs of Moses and Miriam.

A  b  e  1-. Singers: Moses and the men.
       f  -1. The Theme.
         c  2,3. Praise.
          d  g  4-12. Overthrow of Pharaoh.
              h  13. Israel's guidance.
          d  g  14-16. Overthrow of Egyptians.
              h  17. Israel's settlement.
         c  18,19. Praise.
   b  e  20. Singers. Miriam and the women.
       f  21. The Theme.

1491 B.C.

Exodus 15)

1 Then sang (there was no singing in Egypt, only sighing and groaning-2:23,24) Moses and the sons of Israel this song (note the ten Songs of Praise: Ex. 15:1-19. Num. 21:17,18. Deut. 32:1-43. Judg. 5:1-31. 1 Sam. 2:1-10. 2 Sam. 22:1-51. Luke 1:46-55. Luke 1:68-79. Luke 2:29-32. Rev. 14:3) to the Lord (Yahaveh is the sole theme: and should be the theme of our praise. Note the "You", and contrast the "we" of Num. 13:33, and the result, weeping in 14:1. It begins with Redemption, and ends with glory. No "praise" short of this), and spoke, saying,

"I will sing to the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously:
The horse and his rider has He thrown into the sea.
2 THE LORD (Yah, The Eternal, inhabiting eternity. The first occ. of this Title: connects it with Redemption) is my strength and He of Whom I sing,
And He is become my salvation:
he is my GOD (El), and I will prepare Him an habitation;
My father's God (Elohim = Creator), and I will exalt him.

3 The Lord is a man of war (This is what He is out of Christ; and to those who are not the subjects of His redeeming power):
the Lord is His name.

4-12. Overthrow of Pharaoh.

g  a  4,5. The Enemy overthrown.
    b  c  6. Your right hand.
        d  7,8. You, You, Your.
   a  9. The Enemy's words.
    b   d  10,11. You, Your, You.
       c  12. Your right hand.

4 Pharaoh's chariots and his host has He cast into the sea:
His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.
5 The depths have covered them:
They sank into the bottom as a stone.

6 Your right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power:
Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed in pieces the enemy.

7 And in the greatness of Your excellency You have overthrown them that rose up against You:
You sent forth Your wrath, which consumed them as stubble.
8 And with the blast (= ruach, spirit) of Your nostrils the waters were gathered together,
The floods stood upright as an heap,
And the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.

9 The enemy said,
'I will pursue (Fig Asyndeton in vv.9,10. No "ands": to hasten on to the grand climax "they sank as lead"), I will overtake, I will divide the spoil;
My lust (= soul) shall be satisfied upon them;
I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.

10 You did blow with Your wind (ruach, spirit), the sea covered them:
They sank as lead (first occ.) in the mighty waters.
11 Who is like to You (This is ever the saints' noblest praise. Cp. Deut. 33:26,27. 1 Sam. 2:2. 1 Chron. 17:20. Ps. 35:10; 71:19; 73:25; 86:8; 89:6,8; 113:5),
O Lord, among the gods? (=mighty ones. As in v.15. Heb. êlîm. See 22:8)
Who is like You, glorious in holiness,
Revered in praises (i.e. to be revered not feared in praising Him for His wondrous acts), doing wonders?

12 You stretch out Your right hand,
The earth swallowed them.

13 You in Your mercy (=loving kindness, or grace) have led forth Your People which You have redeemed (Heb. g‘âal. See 6:6 & 13:13. Exodus the Book of Redemption. See Title):
You have guided them in Your strength to Your holy habitation.

14-16. Overthrow of Egyptians.

g  x  14-. The peoples: "hear and fear".
    y  -14. Palestine.
     z  15-. Edom.
     z  -15-. Moab.
    y  -15. Canaan.
   x  16. "Them": "fear and dread."

14 The peoples (no art. cp. Gen. 49:16, first occ.) shall hear (cp. Josh. 2:9-11), and be afraid:

Sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.

15 Then the dukes (= chiefs) of Edom shall be amazed;

The mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them;

All the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.

16 Fear and dread shall fall upon them;
By the greatness of Your arm they shall be as still as a stone;
Till Your People pass over, O Lord,
Till the People pass over, which You have purchased.

17 You shall bring them in, and plant (the word used by God throughout of settling His People. Jer. 18:9. Rom. 6:5. 1 Cor. 3:6-10. This includes Him planting us here in the USA.) them in the mountain of Your inheritance,
In the appointed place, O Lord, which You have made for You to dwell in,
In the Sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.

18 The Lord shall reign for ever and ever.
19 For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the sons of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea."

20 And Miriam (= rebellion, Heb. form of Mary = tear) the prophetess (first occ.), the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel (=drum. Heb. toph,) in her hand; and all the women went out after her with drums and with dances.

21 And Miriam answered them,
Sing you all to the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously;
The horse and his rider has He thrown into the sea."

15:22-40:38. Freedom Used.

B  S  15:22-19:2. Journeyings to Sinai.
     U  X¹  19:3-6. Ascent I: Proclamation of Covenant.
         Y¹  19:7,8-. Descent.
        X²  19:-8-13. Ascent II: Preparation of People.
         Y²  14:14-19. Descent.
        X³  19:20-24. Ascent III: Setting of bounds.
         Y³  19:25. Descent.

V 20:1-24:8. Giving of The Law.

T U X4 24:9-32:14. Ascent IV: First 40 days and 1st Tablets. Y4 32:15-30. Descent. Breaking of Tables. X5 32:31-33. Ascent V: Manifestation of glory. Y5 32:34-34:3. Descent. X6 34:4-28. Ascent VI: Second 40 days and 2nd Tables. Y6 34:29-35:3. Descent.

V 35:4-40:35. Making of Tabernacle.

S 40:36-38. Journeyings from Sinai.

(Note the journeyings, at the extremes; with the 6 ascents and descents of Moses, separated by the two principle subjects of the Book: the giving of the Law and the making of the Tabernacle. In Chapter 24 the fourth ascent is given as consisting of several stages.)

15:22-19:2. Journeyings To Sinai.

S  i¹  15:22. From Egypt to Wilderness of Shur.
    k¹  15:23-27. Events in wilderness of Shur.
   i²  16:1. From Shur to Wilderness of Sin.
    k²  16:2-36. Events in wilderness of Sin.
   i³  17:1-. From wilderness of Sin to Rephidim.
    k³  17:-1-18:22. Events at Rephidim.
   i4  19:1,2. From Rephidim to Wilderness of Sinai.

April 14-15th.

22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur (name given from the great wall built to protect Egypt from Asia, with its great Migdol, or fortress. See 14:2); and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

23-27. Events in wilderness of Shur.

k¹  l¹  23. Marah's bitter water.
     m¹  24. Murmuring of people.
    l²  25-. Marah's sweet water.
     m²  -25,26. Ordinance of God.
    l³  27. Elim's wells of water.

23 And when they came to Marah (= bitter. The Divine principle in the training of God's People. Fore-shown in Abraham's furnace and lamp; Marah before Elim; wilderness before Canaan; the Cross before the Crown; worse before better-John 2:10; sufferings before glory-Luke 24:26. 2 Tim. 2:11,12; Cp. Rom. 17:8. 2 Cor. 4:17,18. Jas. 1:12. Rev. 2:10. 1 Pet. 1:11; 4:13; 5:1; 10:11. Heb. 12:11. Ps. 126:6; 66:10-13. John 12:24. Matt. 5:4. John 16:20,22), they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.

24 And the people murmured against Moses (the first murmuring after leaving Egypt. Note 7 others: 16:2; 17:2,3. Num. 11:33,34; 14:2; 16:41; 21:5. Josh. 9:18, and cp. 1 Cor. 10:10), saying, "What shall we drink?"

25 And he cried to the Lord; and the Lord showed him a tree (The Cross is the Divine provision for every trial: See Olney Hymns,i:13. Yahaveh showed it.), which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet:

There the Lord made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there the Lord proved them,
26 And the Lord said, "If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and will do that which is right in His sight, and will give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon you, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that heals you."

April 16-17th. 2nd Sabbath

27 And they came to Elim (=strong trees), where were twelve wells of water (#12 = governmental perfection, or completeness. Cp. Num. 21:16-18. The scene at Rephidim [Ch.17] after the 39 years was because they expected God to provide for them still), and threescore and ten palm trees (#70 = Punishment and restoration of Israel; Universality.): and they encamped there by the waters.

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