Wesley Corpus

The extreme distress that Israel was in at the Red - sea. Notice given of it to Moses before, ver. 1 - 4. The cause of it was Pharaoh's pursuit of them, ver. 5 - 9. Israel was in a consternation upon it, ver. 10 - 12. Moses endeavours to encourage them, ver. 13, 14. The wonderful deliverance that God wrought for them. Moses is instructed concerning it, ver. 15 - 18. Lines that could not be forced are set between the camp of Israel and Pharaoh's camp, ver. 19, 20. By the divine power the Red - sea is divided, ver. 21. and is made, A lane to the Israelites, who marched safely through it, ver. 22 - 29. But. To the Egyptians it was made, An ambush into which they were drawn, ver. 23 - 25. And, A grave in which they were all buried, ver. 26 - 28. The impressions this made upon the Israelites, ver. 30, 31. They were got to the edge of the wilderness, Ex 13:20, and one stage or two would have brought them to Horeb, the place appointed for their serving God, but instead of going forward, they are ordered to turn short off, on the right - hand from Canaan, and to march towards the Red - sea. When they were at Etham, there was no sea in their way to obstruct their passage; but God himself orders them into straits, which might give them an assurance, that when his purposes were served, he would bring them out of those straits. Before Pi - hahiroth - Or the straits of Hiroth, two great mountains, between which they marched. Migdol and Baal - zephon were cities of Egypt and probably garrison'd. They are entangled - Inclosed with mountains, and garrisons, and deserts. And it was told the king that the people fled - He either forgot, or would not own that they had departed with his consent; and therefore was willing it should be represented to him as a revolt from their allegiance. Captains over every one of them - Or rather over all of them; distributing the command of them to his several Captains. With an high hand - Boldly, resolutely. Chariots and horsemen - It should seem he took no foot with him, because the king's business required haste.