Exodus 14:26-29 & 15:20-21

Exodus 14:26-29 & 15:20-21
Easter Vigil – A Women’s Lectionary

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14:26 Then the LordA said to Moses,B “Stretch outC your handD over the sea,E

Notes on verse 14:26a

A “Lord” = YHVH. From havah (to be, become) or hayah (to come to pass, become, be). This is the name of the God of Israel, the self-existent and eternal one, the tetragrammaton. This pronunciation has been lost to time so “Lord” is generally used in its place.
B “Moses” = Mosheh. From mashah (to pull out in a literal or figurative sense, to draw out) OR from Egyptian mes or mesu (child, son i.e. child of…). This is Moses – the one drawn out from the water, which is to say, rescued. If derived from the Egyptian, his name would share a root with Rameses and Thutmose.
C “stretch out” = natah. This is to stretch or spread out, to extend, or bend. In can also imply moral deflection.
D “hand” = yad. This is hand, ability, power. Hand in a literal sense, but also what one can do or the means by which one does it.
E “sea” = yam. Root may mean to roar. This is the sea, often referring to the Mediterranean. It comes from the root in the sense of the roar of crashing surf. This word is sometimes used for rivers or other sources of water. It can mean to the west or to the south.

so that the water may come backF upon the Egyptians,G upon their chariotsH and chariot drivers.”I 

Notes on verse 14:26b

F “come back” = shub. To turn back, return, turn away – literally or figuratively. Doesn’t necessarily imply going back to where you started from. This is also the root verb for the Hebrew word for repentance “teshubah.”
G “Egyptians” = Mitsri. From the same as mitsrayim (Egypt); perhaps from matsor (besieged or fortified place, bulwark, entrenchment; something hemmed in; a siege or distress or fastness); from tsur (to confine, besiege, to cramp). This is Egyptian.
H “chariots” = rekeb. From rakab (to ride an animal or in some vehicle; also, bringing on a horse). This is a vehicle, wagon, or chariot. It can be cavalry or an individual rider.
I “chariot drivers” = parash. From parash (to make distinct, separate, scatter; can also imply to wound). This is a horse or a person who rides a horse. A chariot driver or cavalry as a collective.

27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and atJ dawnK the sea returnedL to its normal depth.M

Notes on verse 14:27a

J {untranslated} = panah. This is to turn, regard, appear, look, prepare.
K “dawn” = boqer. From baqar (to seek, plow, break forth, admire, care for). This refers to the break of day. So it is dawn, early, morning, or morrow.
L “returned” = shub. Same as “come back” in v14:26. See note F above.
M “normal depth” = ethan. 13x in OT. Root might mean to continue. This is mighty, strong, ever-flowing, enduring, or permanence.

As the Egyptians fledN beforeO it, the Lord tossedP the Egyptians intoQ the sea. 

Notes on verse 14:27b

N “fled” = nus. This is to flee, vanish away, hide, escape, be displayed.
O “before” = qirah. From the same as qara (to happen, meet, bring about). This is any kind of encounter, whether peaceful, hostile, or incidental. It can also mean help or seek.
P “tossed” = naar. 11x in OT. This is to shake, toss up and down, tumble around, overthrow, shake off.
Q “into” = tavek. This is among, middle, in the midst, the center. Perhaps, properly, to sever.

28 The waters returned and coveredR the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entireS armyT of PharaohU

Notes on verse 14:28a

R “covered” = kasah. This is to cover, conceal, overwhelm. It is to cover as clothes do or to hide a secret.
S “entire” = kol. From kalal (to complete). This is all or every.
T “army” = chel. From chul (whirling around so dancing as in a circle or writhing in pain; used particularly for the pain of childbirth or from writhing due to fear; can also be falling in pain or waiting) OR from chayil (strength, wealth, ability, activity; a soldier or a company of soldiers; goods; a force of people, means, or goods; valor, virtue, or strength); from chul (to be firm, strong, prosperous; to endure). This is an army, entrenchment, fortress, wall, or host.
U “Pharaoh” = Paroh. From Egyptian pr (palace, pharaoh; literally house + great). This is Pharaoh, a title for Egyptian kings. See https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pharaoh

that had followedV them into the sea; not oneW of them remained.X 

Notes on verse 14:28b

V “followed” = bo. This is to enter, come in, advance, fulfill, bring offerings, enter to worship, attack. It can also have a sexual connotation.
W “one” = echad. Perhaps from achad (to unify, continue on a path; figuratively, to gather one’s thoughts). This is the number one, first, united. It can also be alone, altogether, a certain, a few.
X “remained” = shaar. Properly, this is swelling up i.e. being left over, a remnant, remaining, being redundant.

29 But the IsraelitesY walkedZ on dry groundAA throughBB the sea,

Notes on verse 14:29a

Y “Israelites” = ben + Yisrael. Literally, “children of Israel.”  Ben is from banah (to build or obtain children). This is son, age, child. It is son in a literal or figurative sense. Yisrael is from sarah (to persist, exert oneself, contend, persevere, wrestle, prevail) + el (God or god). This is Israel, meaning God strives or one who strives with God; new name for Jacob and for his offspring. This refers to the people and to the land.
Z “walked” = halak. This is go, come, walk. It is walk literally and figuratively and includes people and animals. It can be used figuratively for one’s moral life – how we walk according to God’s way or against it. It can also refer to the walk of life as in the course one’s life takes, the choices we make, etc.
AA “dry ground” = yabbashah. 14x in OT– word used for dry land in Genesis 1:9-10. From yabesh (to dry up, be withered, be dry; to be ashamed, confused, or disappointed). This is dry land or dry ground.
BB “through” = tavek. Same as “into” in v14:27. See note Q above.

the waters forming a wallCC for them on their rightDD and on their left.EE

Notes on verse 14:29b

CC “wall” = chomah. From the same as cham (father-in-law – one’s husband’s father; perhaps from a root meaning to join). This is a wall – a wall as used for protection.
DD “right” = yamin. May be from yamam (to go or choose the right, use the right hand; to be physically fit or firm). This can mean right hand, right side, or south. Since most people are right-handed, the metaphorical usage of this word presumes that the right hand is stronger and more agile. Thus, it is the instrument of power and action.
EE “left” = semol. Perhaps from the same as simlah (mantle, clothes, wrapper); perhaps from semel (image, figure, likeness). This is left, left side, or north as the part that is dark.

15:20 Then the prophetFF Miriam,GG Aaron’sHH sister,II

Notes on verse 15:20a

FF “prophet” = nebiah. 6x in OT– of Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, Noadiah, and Isaiah’s wife. From nabi (prophet, prophecy, speaker; someone inspired). This is to prophesy. Older usages referred to raving, religious ecstasy that sometimes went along with music. In later usage, it was religious teachings that sometimes held prediction. Prophesying is speaking the truth of what is and where it will lead. This word is specifically used for female prophet.
GG “Miriam” = Miryam. 15x in OT. From marah (to be contentious, rebellious, bitter, provoking, disobedient; to be or make bitter or unpleasant; figuratively, to rebel or resist; causatively to provoke). This is Miriam.
HH “Aaron’s” = Aharon. Derivation uncertain. May mean “bearer of martyrs” OR be related to Ancient Egyptian ꜥḥꜣ rw (warrior lion) OR elevated, exalted, high mountain. This is Aaron. See https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Aaron
II “sister” = achot. From the same as ach (brother, kindred, another, other, like). This is sister in a literal or figurative sense. It can also mean another or together.

tookJJ a tambourineKK in her hand; and allLL the womenMM went outNN after her with tambourines and with dancing.OO 

Notes on verse 15:20b

JJ “took” = laqach. This is to take, accept, carry away, receive. It can also have the sense of take a wife or take in marriage.
KK “tambourine” = toph. 17x in OT. Perhaps from taphaph (to play a drum, timbrel, or tambourine). This is a timbrel or tambourine.
LL “all” = kol. Same as “entire” in v14:28. See note S above.
MM “women” = ishshah. From ish (man); perhaps from enosh (human, humankind, mortal); from anash (to be weak, sick, or frail). This is woman, wife, or female.
NN “went out” = yatsa. This is to go or come out, bring forth, appear. It is to go out in a literal or figurative sense.
OO “dancing” = mecholah. Related to “army” in v14:28. 8x in OT. From machol (round dance); from chul (see note T above). This is a dance.

21 And Miriam sangPP to them:

“SingQQ to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;RR

Notes on verse 15:21a

PP “sang” = anah. This is answer, respond, announce, sing, shout, or testify. It means to pay attention, which implies responding and, by extension, starting to talk. Used in a specific sense for singing, shouting, testifying, etc.
QQ “sing” = shir. From shir (song, singer). This is to sing. It could also refer to one who is singing or leading others in song.
RR “triumphed gloriously” = gaah + gaah. 7x in OT. This is to rise up, be exalted, triumph. Figuratively, it can mean to be majestic. The word is repeated twice – the first time as an Infinitive Absolute. The Infinitive Absolute serves to emphasize the sentiment of the word. It is rather like Foghorn Leghorn’s speech pattern, “I said, I said.”

horseSS and riderTT he has thrownUU into the sea.”

Notes on verse 15:21b

SS “horse” = sus. Root may mean to skip as in jump for joy. This is a crane or a swift bird. It is also a horse as leaping.
TT “rider” = rakab. Related to “chariots” in v14:26. See note H above.
UU “thrown” = ramah. 13x in OT. This is to hurl, shoot, carry, or throw. Figuratively, it is to beguile, delude or betray. It can also refer to an archer.


Image credit: “Red Sea 4” at “Ras Baghdadi – Wadi El-Gemal National Park.” Photo by Mohammad Chawki, 2017.

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