Exodus

Describes how Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt and slavery, and how they receive laws from God.

Chapter 14

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2 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.

*Tell the people of Israel to move and set up camp at a place called Pihahiroth, which is between Migdol and the sea, facing Baalzephon. They should camp near the sea there.

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

*Pharaoh will think that the Israelite kids are stuck in the land and cannot escape the desert.

4 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.

*I will make Pharaoh's mind stubborn, causing him to chase them. This will show Pharaoh and his whole army that I am God. The Egyptians will realize that I am the LORD, and they obeyed.

5 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?

*The king of Egypt heard that the people had escaped. Pharaoh and his officials became angry and asked, "Why did we let Israel leave, so they don't have to serve us anymore?"

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

*He prepared his chariot and brought his people along.

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

*He chose 600 best chariots and took all Egypt's chariots, along with leaders for each one.

8 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.

*And God made Pharaoh's heart stubborn, so he chased the Israelites; meanwhile, the Israelites left confidently.

9 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.

*But the Egyptians chased them with all of Pharaoh's horses and chariots, along with his riders and soldiers. They caught up to them while they were camped near the sea at a place called Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.

10 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.

*When Pharaoh got close, the Israelites looked and saw the Egyptians coming after them, causing great fear. They cried out to God for help.

11 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?

*They asked Moses, "Since there were no burial places in Egypt, why did you bring us here to die in the desert? Why have you treated us like this, to take us out of Egypt?"

12 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.

*Isn't this the message we told you in Egypt: "Leave us alone so we can serve the Egyptians"? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert.

13 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.

*Moses told the people, "Don't be afraid, stay calm, and watch how God saves you today. You won't see those Egyptians again forever."

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

*The Lord will protect you; just stay calm and don't worry.

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

*And God told Moses, "Why are you shouting at me? Just tell the Israelite people to move forward."

16 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.

*But lift your stick, and reach out your hand over the sea, and split it apart. Then the children of Israel can walk through the sea on dry land.

17 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.

*I will make the Egyptians' hearts stubborn, and they will follow the Israelites. I will gain glory against Pharaoh and his entire army, including their chariots and horse riders.

18 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.

*The Egyptians will realize I am God when I show my power over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.

19 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:

*The angel and the cloud, leading Israel's camp, moved to the back; they stopped in front of them and now were at their rear.

20 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.

*The verse says: A cloud appeared between the Egyptian and Israeli camps, causing darkness for one side and light at night for the other. This kept them separated all night long.

21 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.

*Moses reached out his hand over the sea, and God made the sea retreat with a powerful east wind all night, turning it into dry land and dividing the water.

22 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.

*The Israelite kids walked through the sea on solid ground. The water formed a wall on both sides, protecting them.

23 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.

*The Egyptians chased them into the sea, including Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and riders.

24 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,

*One day, during the night watch, God looked at the Egyptian army through the fire and cloud pillar and caused confusion among them.

25 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.

*They removed the chariot wheels to make them move slowly. This made it difficult for the Egyptians to escape and showed that God was fighting for Israel against the Egyptians.

26 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 God told Moses, "Reach out your hand over the sea so the water can return and cover the Egyptians, their chariots, and their riders.

27 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.

*Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the sea became strong as morning came; the Egyptians ran away from it, and God defeated the Egyptians in the sea.

28 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.

*The water went back and covered the chariots, horsemen, and all of Pharaoh's army that chased them into the sea. None of them survived.

29 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.

*But the Israelites walked on dry ground in the middle of the sea; the water was like a wall on both sides, protecting them.

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

*So, God rescued Israel from the Egyptians that day, and they saw the Egyptians dead on the beach by the sea.

31 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.

*Israel witnessed the amazing things God did to the Egyptians. The people then feared God, trusted Him, and believed in Moses, His servant.

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