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15:1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
15:2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.
15:3 The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.
15:4 Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.
15:5 The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.
15:6 Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
15:7 And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.
15:8 And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
15:9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
15:10 Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.
15:11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? 15:12 Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.
15:13 Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.
15:14 The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.
15:15 Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.
15:16 Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.
15:17 Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O LORD, which thy hands have established.
15:18 The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.
15:19 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 children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.
15:20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
15:21 And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
15:22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
15:23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
15:24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? 15:25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
15:27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.


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King James Bible:Exodus
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Exodus
Book: Exodus
Chapter: 15

Overview:
The song of Moses for the deliverance of Israel. (1-21) The
Bitter waters at Marah, The Israelites come to Elim. (22-27)

1-21 This song is the most ancient we know of. It is a holy
song, to the honour of God, to exalt his name, and celebrate his
praise, and his only, not in the least to magnify any Man.
Holiness to the Lord is in every part of it. It may be
considered as typical, and prophetical of the final Destruction
of the enemies of the Church. Happy the people whose God is the
Lord. They have work to do, temptations to grapple with, and
Afflictions to Bear, and are weak in themselves; but his Grace
is their strength. They are often in sorrow, but in him they
have comfort; he is their song. Sin, and Death, and Hell
threaten them, but he is, and will be their Salvation. The Lord
is a God of almighty power, and woe to those that strive with
their Maker! He is a God of matchless Perfection; he is glorious
in Holiness; his Holiness is his Glory. His Holiness appears in
the Hatred of Sin, and his wrath against obstinate sinners. It
appears in the deliverance of Israel, and his faithfulness to
his own promise. He is fearful in praises; that which is matter
of praise to the servants of God, is very dreadful to his
enemies. He is doing wonders, things out of the common course of
nature; wondrous to those in whose favour they are wrought, who
are So unworthy, that they had No reason to expect them. There
were wonders of power and wonders of Grace; in both, God was to
be humbly adored.

22-27 In the Wilderness of Shur the Israelites had No water. At
Marah they had water, but it was Bitter; So that they could not
Drink it. God can make Bitter to us that from which we promise
ourselves most, and often does So in the Wilderness of this
world, that our wants, and disappointments in the Creature, may
drive us to the Creator, in whose favour alone true comfort is
to be had. In this distress the people fretted, and quarrelled
with Moses. Hypocrites may show high affections, and appear
Earnest in religious exercises, but in the time of Temptation
they fall away. Even true believers, in Seasons of sharp trial,
will be tempted to fret, distrust, and murmur. But in every
trial we should cast our care upon the Lord, and pour out our
hearts before him. We shall then find that a submissive will, a
peaceful Conscience, and the comforts of the Holy Ghost, will
render the bitterest trial tolerable, yea, pleasant. Moses did
what the people had neglected to do; he cried unto the Lord. And
God provided graciously for them. He directed Moses to a tree
which he cast into the waters, when, at once, they were made
sweet. Some make this tree typical of the Cross of Christ, which
sweetens the Bitter waters of affliction to all the Faithful,
and enables them to rejoice in Tribulation. But a rebellious
Israelite shall fare No better than a rebellious Egyptian. The
threatening is implied only, the promise is expressed. God is
the great Physician. If we are kept Well, it is he that keeps
us; if we are made Well, it is he that recovers us. He is our
Life and the length of our days. Let us not forget that we are
kept from Destruction, and delivered from our enemies, to be the
Lord's servants. At Elim they had good water, and enough of it.
Though God may, for a time, order his people to Encamp By the
Bitter waters of Marah, that shall not always be their Lot. Let
us not faint at tribulations.

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