Exodus 14:15-22
New Catholic Bible
15 The Children of Israel Cross the Red Sea.[a] The Lord said to Moses, “Why do they cry out to me? Order the children of Israel to set out again. 16 You are to lift up your staff, stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it so that the children of Israel may pass through the midst of the sea on dry land. 17 I will harden the heart of the Egyptians so that they will enter after them. I will display my glory against Pharaoh and all his army, against his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I display my glory against Pharaoh, against his chariots and his horsemen.”
19 The angel of God, who had gone in front of Israel’s camp, now moved and went in back of them. The pillar of cloud also moved from their front to their back. 20 They were, therefore, between the camps of the Egyptians and the children of Israel. The cloud was dark for the former group, while it lit up the night for the other. Thus, one group could not approach the other throughout the night.
21 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. During the night the Lord caused the sea to move back with a strong east wind, producing dry ground. The waters split in two. 22 The children of Israel entered the sea on dry land, while the waters formed a wall on their right and their left.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Exodus 14:15 At last, the chosen people throw off their bondage by traversing the waters on dry feet thanks to God who fights for them. Israel could do no less than acknowledge its liberator. God wrests his people from the imminent catastrophe. Tradition seized upon this event and multiplied and exaggerated its details in order to magnify a feat that gave glory to God. History has become epic.
