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<< Exodus 14: At the Red Sea >>
PHARAOH at last had told the children of Israel to go. They gathered in the land of Rameses (another name for the part of Egypt where Goshen was) and moved on to Succoth, the district in the extreme east of Goshen.
In those days the Red Sea reached further north than now, to the Bitter Lakes and Lake Timsah (which means "crocodile lake"), and at the end bent westward into the land of Goshen.
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From Succoth at the head of the sea the people journeyed to Etham, "in the edge of the wilderness." They were moving in the direction of the shorter way to Palestine, which led to the northeast and along the Mediterranean shore. This was the route usually taken by an army and was strongly guarded by the Egyptians. But the Lord did not lead the people by the way of the Philistines, although it was near, lest they should repent at the sight of war. They were bidden to turn southeastward along the Egyptian side of the Red Sea. The camping place was by what was then the shore of the sea, perhaps about midway between Lake Timsah and the Bitter Lakes.
The Egyptians thought that the children of Israel were ''entangled in the land," that the wilderness and the sea had shut them in. Pharaoh prepared his chariots, such as we see carved on the walls of the old temples, mid overtook the people. The sea was before them and the Egyptian army behind them. They were "sore afraid." "Fear ye not," Moses said; "stand still, and see the salvation ol' the Lord. . . . The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace." But the Lord told them that they must do their part. "Wherefore criest thou unto me? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward."
At the Lord's command, Moses stretched out his rod over the sea, and all night the strong east wind blew, till the shallow waters of the sea were driven back, making an open way for the people to pass over on the sands.
We must read the story, and what happened to the Egyptians who followed the children of Israel.
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And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you. And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 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. For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. 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. 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 fromserving us? And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him: And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them. 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. 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. 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. 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? 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. 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. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: 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. 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. 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. 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: 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. 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. 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. 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. 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, 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.
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 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. 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. 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.Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. 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---Exodus XIII. 17-22; XIV.
Author: William L. Worcester 1904
Spiritual Correspondences
Spiritual Meaning
EXODUS XIII
17, 18. And it was in Pharaoh's letting the people go, that God led them not by the way of the land of the Philistines, because that was near; for God said, Perchance the people will repent when they see war, and return to Egypt. And God led the people about, by the way of the wilderness, the sea Suph; and the sons of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt.
"And it was in Pharaoh's letting the people go," signifies when they who had infested left those who were of the spiritual church; "that God led them not by the way of the land of the Philistines," signifies that it was provided by the Divine that they should not pass to truth of faith which is not from good; "because that was near," signifies that it first comes up; "for God said," signifies the Divine foresight; "Perchance the people will repent when they see war," signifies that they will turn aside from truth by reason of assaults; "and will return to Egypt," signifies that from this there would be a fall into falsities, which are utterly contrary to the truths and goods of faith; "and God led the people about, by the way of the wilderness," signifies that under the Divine auspices they were brought to confirm the truths and goods of faith through temptations; "the sea Suph," signifies the damnation which they were first to pass through; "and the sons of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt," signifies that they were taken away from a state of infestations, and thus prepared to undergo temptations.
19. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him; for swearing he had called the sons of Israel to swear, saying, Visiting God will visit you; and ye shall bring up my bones with you from hence.
"And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him," signifies the representative of a church, which they had; "for swearing he had caused the sons of Israel to swear, saying," signifies a binding; "Visiting God will visit you," signifies when this last state and first state of the church would come; "and ye shall bring up my bones with you from hence," signifies as above, the representative of a church with them, and not a church, which moreover is in what is internal.
20-22. And they journeyed from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, at the end of the wilderness. And Jehovah went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them in the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, departed not from before the people.
"And they journeyed from Succoth, and encamped in Etham," signifies the second state after they were liberated; "at the end of the wilderness," signifies the first state of temptations; "and Jehovah went before them," signifies the continuous presence of the Lord; "by day in a pillar of cloud," signifies that when there was a state of enlightenment, it was tempered by obscurity of truth; "to lead them in the way," signifies the Divine auspices; "and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light," signifies that when there was a state of obscurity it was tempered by enlightenment from good; "to go by day and by night," signifies thus life in both states; "the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, departed not from before the people," signifies that the presence of the Lord was perpetual.
EXODUS XIV
1-4. And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the sons of Israel, that they turn back and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal-zephon; over against it shall ye encamp by the sea. And Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut upon them. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he shall follow after them; and I will be glorified in Pharaoh, and in all his army; and the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah. And they did so.
"And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying," signifies instruction by the Divine by means of Divine truth; "Speak unto the sons of Israel," signifies the influx of truth Divine with those who are of the spiritual church; "that they turn back," signifies that they were not yet prepared; "and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal-zephon," signifies the beginning of a state for undergoing temptations; "over against it shall ye encamp by the sea," signifies that the influx of temptation is thence; "and Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel," signifies the thought of those who are in damnation concerning the state of those who are of the spiritual church; "They are entangled in the land," signifies that they are in confusion in respect to the things of the church; "the wilderness hath shut upon them," signifies that obscurity has taken possession of them; "and I will harden Pharaoh's heart," signifies that they who were in falsities from evil would still be determined; "and he shall follow after them," signifies that they would still endeavor to subjugate them; "and I will be glorified," signifies that they should see a Divine effect from the Divine Human of the Lord in the dissipation of falsity; "in Pharaoh, and in all his army," signifies the immersion in hell of those who were in falsities from evil, and an environment there by falsities as by waters; "and the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah," signifies that from this it will be known that the Lord is the only God; "and they did so," signifies obedience.
5-9. 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, What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us? And he harnessed his chariot, and took his people with him; and he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and tertian captains upon all of them. And Jehovah hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the sons of Israel; and the sons of Israel went out with a lofty hand. And the Egyptians pursued after them, and overtook them encamping by the sea, all the horses of the chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon.
"And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled," signifies the thought of those who were in mere falsities from evil, that they were completely separated; "and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people," signifies a change of state into evil in the case of those who were in falsities from evil; "and they said, What is this we have done?" signifies chiding; "that we have let Israel go from serving us," signifies that they have left and have not subjugated them; "and he harnessed his chariot," signifies the doctrine of falsity, which is that of faith separate in general; "and took his people with him," signifies with all falsities both in general and in particular; "and he took six hundred chosen chariots," signifies all and each of the doctrinal things of falsity which are of faith separate in their order; "and all the chariots of Egypt," signifies also the doctrinal things of falsity that are of service to them; "and tertian captains upon all of them," signifies reduced into order under generals; "and Jehovah hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt," signifies obstinacy from the falsity which is from evil; "and he pursued after the sons of Israel," signifies an attempt to subjugate those who were in faith conjoined with charity; "and the sons of Israel went out with a lofty hand," signifies when nevertheless they had been released by the Divine power from the endeavor to subjugate them; "and the Egyptians pursued after them," signifies the effect from the endeavor to subjugate on the part of those who were in falsities from evil; "and overtook them encamping by the sea," signifies communication around the region of hell where are falsities from evil; "all the horses of the chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army," signifies all things which are of falsity from a perverted understanding; "beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon," signifies whence there was communication, and therefore the beginning of the state of undergoing temptations.
10-14. And Pharaoh drew nigh, and the sons of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold the Egyptian marching after them, and they were sore afraid; and the sons of Israel cried unto Jehovah. And they said unto Moses, Were there no graves in Egypt, that thou hast taken us to die in the wilderness? Why hast thou done this to us, to lead us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we spake unto thee in Egypt, saying, Cease from us, and let us serve the Egyptians? because it is good for us to serve the Egyptians, rather than that we should die in the wilderness. And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of Jehovah, which He will do for you today; for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever. Jehovah shall wage war for you, and ye shall keep silence.
"And Pharaoh drew nigh," signifies the influx of falsity from evil being thence grievous; "and the sons of Israel lifted up their eyes," signifies the mind's intellectual part and its thought; "and behold the Egyptian marching after them," signifies the grievousness of falsity continually increasing; "and they were sore afraid," signifies a horrible dread; "and the sons of Israel cried unto Jehovah," signifies supplication for aid; "and they said unto Moses," signifies the height of temptation when there is despair; "Were there no graves in Egypt, that thou hast taken us to die in the wilderness?" signifies that if there is damnation it would be all the same whether it came through the falsities of the infested, or through a state of temptations in which they would yield; "why hast thou done this to us, to lead us forth out of Egypt?" signifies that it was in vain that they had been liberated from infestations by falsities; "is not this the word that we spake unto thee in Egypt, saying," signifies that some such thing was thought of when they were infested by falsities; "Cease from us, and let us serve the Egyptians," signifies that they would not be withheld from surrendering; "because it is good for us to serve the Egyptians, rather than that we should die in the wilderness," signifies that damnation by the violence of falsity in a state of infestations was to be preferred to the damnation which comes by yielding in a state of temptations; "and Moses said unto the people," signifies elevation from a state of despair by means of truth Divine; "Fear ye not," signifies that they must not despair; "stand still and see the salvation of Jehovah," signifies salvation from the Lord alone and not at all from them; "which He will do for you today," signifies which is to eternity; "for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever," signifies that the falsities which are once removed will be removed to eternity; "Jehovah shall wage war for you," signifies that the Lord alone sustains the combats of temptations "and ye shall keep silence," signifies that from their own strength they will effect nothing at all.
15-18. And Jehovah said unto Moses, Why criest thou unto Me? speak unto the sons of Israel, that they set forward. And thou, lift up thy rod, and stretch out thy hand over the sea, and cleave it asunder; and the sons of Israel shall come into the midst of the sea on the dry. And I, behold I harden the heart of the Egyptians, and they shall come after them; and I will be glorified in Pharaoh, and in all his army, in his chariots, and in his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah, when I am glorified in Pharaoh, in his chariots, and in his horsemen.
"And Jehovah said unto Moses," signifies exhortation; "Why criest thou unto Me?" signifies that there is no need of intercession; "speak unto the sons of Israel," signifies influx and perception; "that they set forward," signifies what follows on continuously until they are prepared; "And thou, lift up thy rod," signifies the power of Divine truth; "and stretch out thy hand over the sea," signifies the rule of power where the hell of falsity from evil is; "and cleave it asunder," signifies the consequent dissipation of falsity; "and the sons of Israel shall come into the midst of the sea on the dry," signifies that they who are of the spiritual church may pass safely and without the influx of falsity; "and I, behold I harden the heart of the Egyptians," signifies the obstinacy of falsity from evil; "and they shall come after them," signifies an endeavor to offer violence by means of the influx of falsity from evil; "and I will be glorified in Pharaoh, and in all his army, in his chariots, and in his horsemen," signifies that they will see the effect of the dissipation of falsity and of reasonings by virtue of the Divine good of the Lord's Divine Human; "and the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah," signifies that it may be known that the Lord is the only God, and besides Him there is none else; "when I am glorified in Pharaoh, in his chariots, and in his horsemen," signifies, as above, from their seeing the effect of the dissipation of falsity and of its teachings and reasonings, by the Lord alone.
19-22. And the angel of God set out, marching before the camp of Israel, and he went behind them; and the pillar of cloud set out from before them and stood behind them; and it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness, and it lighted up the night; and the one came not near the other all the night. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and Jehovah made the sea go away by a strong east wind all night, and made the sea dry, and the waters were cleft asunder. And the sons of Israel came into the midst of the sea in the dry; and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left.
"And the angel of God set out," signifies a setting in order by Divine truth; "marching before the camp of Israel," signifies that was around the truths and goods of the church; "and he went behind them," signifies protection lest the falsity of evil should flow into the will; "and the pillar of cloud set out from before them and stood behind them," signifies the presence of the Lord protecting the things of the will, as it had previously protected those of the understanding; "and it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel," signifies between the falsities of evil on the one side, and the truths of good on the other; "and it was a cloud and darkness," signifies the condensation of falsity from evil on the one side; "and it lighted up the night," signifies the enlightenment of truth from good on the other; "and the one came not near the other," signifies consequently no communication; "all the night," signifies in the obscure state; "and Moses stretched out his hand over the sea," signifies the rule of the power of truth Divine over hell; "and Jehovah made the sea go away by a strong east wind," signifies the means of the dissipation of falsity; "all the night," signifies in the obscure state; "and made the sea dry," signifies the dissipation of falsity; "and the waters were cleft asunder," signifies separation from truths, and removal; "and the sons of Israel came into the midst of the sea in the dry," signifies the entrance and passage of those who were of the spiritual church through hell in safety, and without any influx of falsity; "and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left," signifies that they were withheld from falsities on every side.
23-25. And the Egyptians pursued, and came after them, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen, into the midst of the sea. And it was in the morning watch, and Jehovah looked forth to the camp of the Egyptians in the pillar of fire and of cloud, and troubled the camp of the Egyptians. And He took off the wheel of his chariots, and he drew it in heaviness; and the Egyptian said, I will flee before Israel, because Jehovah wageth war for them against the Egyptians.
"And the Egyptians pursued," signifies an endeavor of falsity from evil to inflict violence; "and came after them," signifies the endeavor of the influx; "all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen, into the midst of the sea," signifies memory-knowledges from a perverted understanding, doctrinal things of falsity, and reasonings, that they filled hell; "and it was in the morning watch," signifies the state of thick darkness and destruction of those who are in falsity from evil, and the state of enlightenment and salvation of those who are in truth and good; "and Jehovah looked forth to the camp of the Egyptians," signifies the extension thence of Divine influx toward those who were endeavoring to inflict violence by means of falsities; "in the pillar of fire and of cloud," signifies the presence in this manner of Divine good and truth there; "and troubled the camp of the Egyptians," signifies that the consequent extensions of falsity and evil returned upon them; "and He took off the wheel of his chariots," signifies the power of inflicting falsities taken away; "and he drew it in heaviness," signifies resistance and impotence; "and the Egyptian said," signifies the thought under these circumstances; "I will flee before Israel," signifies separation from those who are in the good of truth and the truth of good; "because Jehovah wageth war for them against the Egyptians," signifies that the Lord alone sustains the fight against falsities and evils.
26-28. And Jehovah said unto Moses, Stretch out thy hand over the sea, and let the waters return upon the Egyptians, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned, at the turn of the morning, to the strength of its flow; and the Egyptians fled to meet it; and Jehovah shook out the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, even all the army of Pharaoh that came after them into the sea; there was not left of them even one.
"And Jehovah said unto Moses," signifies influx; "Stretch out thy hand over the sea," signifies the rule of the power of truth Divine over hell; "and let the waters return upon the Egyptians," signifies that the falsities would flow back to them, and would environ those who are in falsities from evil; "upon his chariots and upon his horsemen," signifies doctrinal things of falsity, and reasonings from a perverted understanding; "and Moses stretched out his hand over the sea," signifies, as above, the rule of Divine power over hell; "and the sea returned, at the turn of the morning, to the strength of its flow," signifies the flowing back to them of the falsities from evil, by reason of the presence of the Lord; "and the Egyptians fled to meet it," signifies that they immersed themselves in the falsities from evil; "and Jehovah shook out the Egyptians into the midst of the sea," signifies that thus they cast themselves into hell, where are falsities from evil; "and the waters returned," signifies the return of the falsities into them; "and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, even all the army of Pharaoh," signifies that their own falsities hid them; "that came in after them into the sea," signifies that took possession of them; "there was not left of them even one," signifies all and each.
29-31. And the sons of Israel went on the dry into the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left. And Jehovah saved Israel on this day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore. And Israel saw the great hand which Jehovah wrought on the Egyptians, and the people feared Jehovah; and they believed in Jehovah, and in His servant Moses.
"And the sons of Israel went on the dry into the midst of the sea," signifies that they who were in the good of truth and the truth of good passed safely through that hell without infestation; "and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left," signifies that they were withheld from falsities on every side; "and Jehovah saved Israel on this day out of the hand of the Egyptians," signifies that in this state the Lord protected those who were of the spiritual church from all violence by reason of falsities from evil; "and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore," signifies the view of the damned scattered here and there; "and Israel saw the great hand which Jehovah wrought on the Egyptians," signifies the acknowledgment of the Lord's omnipotence; "and the people feared Jehovah," signifies adoration; "and they believed," signifies faith and trust; "in Jehovah, and in His servant Moses," signifies the Lord as to Divine good, and as to Divine truth proceeding from Him and ministering. [AC 8091-8230]
Author: Emanuel Swedenborg
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