1._Then sang Moses. _Moses introduced this song not only in testimony
of his gratitude, but also in confirmation of the history; for the
song which he dictated to the Israelites was not concerning an unknown
event, but he brought them forward as eye-witnesses, that all ages
might know that nothing t... [ Continue Reading ]
2._The Lord is my strength. _In this expression they acknowledge that
they have a sufficient defense in God; and afterwards they add, that
His grace furnishes them with just ground for praise. The sum is, that
they were strong in God, and had not conquered their enemies by their
own bravery; and tha... [ Continue Reading ]
4._Pharaoh’s chariots. _Moses in these words only meant to assert,
that the drowning of Pharaoh was manifestly God’s work. Therefore,
he now illustrates in more glowing terms the transaction which he had
before simply narrated; as also when he compares the Egyptians to
stones and lead, as if he had... [ Continue Reading ]
9._The enemy said. _He relates the boast of Pharaoh not merely in
exultation over him, but to magnify the miracle, whereby God gives
over to destruction this wolf intent upon his prey. But there is more
force in the language when he introduces the Egyptians as speakers,
than as if he had described t... [ Continue Reading ]
11._Who is like unto thee? _Moses concludes this song of praise with
an ejaculation, because the grandeur of the subject transcends the
power of words. The interrogation expresses more than as if he had
simply asserted that none can be compared with God; because it marks
both admiration and assured... [ Continue Reading ]
13._Thou in thy mercy hast led them forth. _(164) The verb in Hebrew
is indeed in the past tense; but, since it is plain from the context
that their hope for what was to come was founded on God’s former
mercies, I have preferred making the meaning clearer by translating it
in the future. (165) Moses... [ Continue Reading ]
14._The people shall hear. _Again in this place I have not scrupled to
change the tenses; for it is plain that Moses is speaking of things
future; although I do not deny, that by verbs of the past tense he
confirms the certainty of the matter; which is a common figure with
the Prophets. This boast d... [ Continue Reading ]
16._Fear and dread shall fall upon them. _Some read this in the
optative mood, but with little probability, as it seems to me; for
Moses is not so much expressing wishes or prayers, as animating the
Israelites to have a good hope, and to be firmly convinced that God
would not make an end until He ha... [ Continue Reading ]
17._Thou shalt bring them in. _The metaphor of planting denotes a firm
habitation; as also in Psalms 44:2, “Thou didst drive out the
heathen with thine hand, and plantedst” our fathers, and causedst
them to take root. Moreover, by his commendatory allusion to the
temple, Moses excites in the people’... [ Continue Reading ]
19._For the horse of Pharaoh went in. _This verse does not; seem to be
suited to the song, and therefore I am rather of opinion that Moses
returns here to the history, and assigns the reason why the Israelites
so magnificently celebrated the praises of God. For the sake of
avoiding ambiguity, it wou... [ Continue Reading ]
20._And Miriam the prophetess. _Moses here introduces in his song the
ἀντιστροφὴ, such as were constantly used by the lyric
poets. For God would have not only men to be the proclaimers of this
great miracle, but associated the women with them. When, therefore,
the men had finished their song, the wo... [ Continue Reading ]
22._So Moses brought. _Moses now relates that, from the time, of their
passage through the sea, they had been suffering for three days from
the want of water, that the first they discovered was bitter, and that
thence the name was given to the place. This was indeed no light
temptation, to suffer th... [ Continue Reading ]
25._And he cried. _Hence we gather that Moses alone duly prayed when
the people tumultuously rose against him, and that they who were not
worthy of the common air itself were abundantly supplied with sweet
water. Herein shone forth the inestimable mercy of God, who deigned to
change the nature of th... [ Continue Reading ]
26._If thou wilt diligently hearken. _Moses now unfolds what was the
statute or ordinance which God promulgated. For here the reference is
not to the whole law which was afterwards given on mount Sinai, but to
the special admonition which served to chastise the wickedness of the
people. The sum of i... [ Continue Reading ]
27._And they came to Elim. _Moses here relates that a more pleasant
station was granted to the people, when they were led to a
well-watered spot, even planted with palm-trees, which do not usually
grow in a dry soil. But we learn from what precedes, that this was a
concession to their infirmity, bec... [ Continue Reading ]