Exodus and The Red Sea Crossing
- Dates
- 1446 BC
Moses demands of Pharaoh to "let my people go." Pharaoh is reluctant, but after many plagues tells them to leave Egypt. When the people come to the Red Sea with Pharaoh's army behind them, God miraculously leads them through the waters to safety.
In detail
The departure, or journey, of the Israelites from Egypt after they had lived in that country for more than four centuries and had been held in slavery for some time. This migration, accomplished under the leadership of Moses, was accompanied by many miracles. The story of the departure from Egypt is related primarily in the book of Exodus, chapters 1 to 14, with the preceding events narrated in the last chapters of Genesis.
After showing some reluctance at the first, Moses accepted the divine call and became his nation's greatest leader. Arriving in Egypt, Moses requested that Pharaoh release the Israelites. His request met only with refusal and ridicule, as did subsequent requests. As a result ten plagues in all were brought upon Egypt, some of them real catastrophes.
Only after the Egyptians had lost heavily of their crops and domestic animals, had been smitten with diseases, and had lost their first—born children, did Pharaoh give in and allow the Israelites to leave Egypt. The departure took place on the 15th day of the month Abib, the morning after the Passover supper, which was initiated at that time by divine order, to be celebrated by the Israelites henceforth as a feast in memory of their liberation from slavery.
Leaving Goshen, the area of their habitation, they were led in a southerly direction until they reached the northwestern shore of the Red Sea. They were prevented from taking the shortest route to Canaan, because they were unprepared to meet the opposition of the nations they would face on that route. At the Red Sea, Pharaoh, who in the meantime had recovered from his initial shock of losing the crown prince, and who now regretted having allowed the Israelites to depart, overtook the Israelites, hoping to force them to return to Egypt.
It was then that God divided the waters of the Red Sea and enabled His people to pass through to the eastern shore. The pursuing Egyptians, on the other hand, were swallowed up by the returning waters. The crossing of the Red Sea marked the accomplishment of the departure or exodus from Egypt proper and the beginning of the Wilderness Wandering.
Bible passages
- Exodus 12:31-42
31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said. 32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also. 33 And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men. …
- Exodus 13:17-22
17 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: 18 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. 19 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. …
- Exodus 14:1-31
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pi–hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baal–zephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. …
Text of the King James Version.
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