Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 14:9
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 Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon.
9. In the Heb. the order is, ‘And the Egyptians pursued after them, and overtook them encamping by the sea, [all the horses (and) chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army,] by Pi-hairoth, before Baal-zephon’; and the awkward position of the bracketed words makes it almost certain that they are a misplace gloss upon ‘the Egyptians,’ suggested by the similar words in Exo 14:17 b, Exo 14:18 b, 23 b, Exo 14:26 b, Exo 14:28.
horsemen ] so Exo 14:17-18; Exo 14:23; Exo 14:26; Exo 14:28; Exo 15:19, Jos 24:6. The term seems to be an anachronism: the Egyptians used chariots in warfare; and though barbarians are represented on the monuments as fleeing on horseback, ‘we have no representations of Egyptians on horseback’ (Erman, p. 492). ‘For a much later time Egyptian cavalry is indeed attested by Isa 31:1; Isa 36:9; and so it is the more intelligible, when later Biblical writers presuppose it also for the Mosaic age’ (Di.). There is a similar anachronism in Gen 50:9.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And his horsemen – See Exo 14:5.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
But the Egyptians pursued after them,…. When they thought nothing of it, and had no fears about it:
all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army; by the latter Aben Ezra understands the foot, as distinguished from the cavalry, the horses and horsemen; and perhaps these, as before observed, might be carried in the chariots for quicker dispatch:
and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon; where they had pitched their camp by divine appointment,
Ex 14:2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(9) All the horses and chariots of Pharaoh.Heb., all the chariot-horses of Pharaoh.
And his horsemen.It is questioned whether horsemen are really intended here, and suggested that the word used may apply to the riders in the chariots. But it certainly means horsemen in the later books of Scripture, and, indeed, is the only Hebrew word having exactly that signification. Though the Egyptians do not represent cavalry in any of their battle pieces, yet there is abundant testimony that they employed them. Diodorus Siculus gives his Sesostris 24,000 cavalry to 27,000 chariots (Book i. 54, 4). Shishak invaded Juda with 60,000 (2Ch. 12:3). Herodotus makes Amasis lead an army on horseback (ii. 162). The Egyptian monuments appear to make frequent mention of cavalry as forming a portion of the armed force. (Records of the Past, vol. ii., pp. 68, 70, 72, 83, &c, vol. iv., 41, 44, 45, &c.) It is suspected that some conventional rules of art prevented the representation of cavalry in the sculptures, which never show us an Egyptian, and but rarely a foreigner, on horseback.
And his armyi.e., his infantry. The host of this Pharaoh, like that of Shishak (2Ch. 12:3), consisted apparently of the three arms, cavalry infantry, and chariots.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. All the horses and chariots of Pharaoh Rather, the chariot horses .
Three kinds of troops are mentioned, cavalry, chariotry, and infantry.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Exo 14:9. By the sea This sea, which has been mentioned frequently before, is commonly called the Red-sea, or the sea of Suph; which is supposed to be a species of alga, or a marine moss. But Robert Southwell, being at Lisbon, learnt there, from the mouth of an able jesuit, (who had travelled into Ethiopia, and made a voyage on the Red-sea,) the following remarkable particular. The jesuit had seen the Red-sea covered with reddish spots, and he derives from the colour of them, that name which the Greeks gave to it. The particles of these spots proceed from a plant, like to that which is called sargazo; and it is fixed by its root to the bottom of the sea, while its leaves float upon the surface. An Indian, whom they caused in their presence to dive into the sea, brought up such a sufficient quantity of this plant, that it was immediately perceived to be the marine vegetable, which is called by the Egyptians supho. Hence, it is evident, that it is the true suph of the Hebrews, and that hence comes the name which they have given to the Red-sea; and what is decisive is, that even still it has the very same name in the Ethiopian language.
REFLECTIONS.Now the Egyptians begin to recover from their fright, accuse their own folly in parting with their slaves, and call their march a flight, though themselves had thrust them out: so easily can misrepresentations be made. Hereupon they determine, horse and chariots, to pursue and bring them back to the house of their prison; encouraged by the dangerous encampment they had made, where they quickly found them, and promised themselves an easy prey. Note; (1.) They who are merely frightened by God’s word, will quickly be sorry for the little good they did, and be ashamed even of their pretended repentance. (2.) He that will escape out of a sinful world, must expect a hot pursuit from the devil and his servants. (3.) He that brings us out with a high hand, can bear us up with everlasting strength.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Spiritually considered, how often is this the case of the church and people. Reader! I hope you know the sweets of difficulties, by which alone sometimes deliverance is found: See Paul’s case, 2Co 12:102Co 12:10 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 14:9 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.
Ver. 9. But the Egyptians pursued. ] And God made fair way before them, till they came into the Red Sea.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
horses. Egypt was noted for chariots, horses, and cavalry, which had been introduced by the eighteenth dynasty.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the Egyptians: Exo 15:9, Jos 24:6
encamping: Exo 14:2
Reciprocal: Num 33:7 – they removed 1Ch 19:7 – hired Isa 10:24 – after the manner
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 14:9-10. Chariots and horsemen It seems he took no foot with him, because the kings business required haste. The children of Israel cried out unto the Lord Partly by petition, and partly by complaint and expostulation; probably, however, more from despair than trust in God, for they were sore afraid, and their fears were aggravated by the presence and outcries of their wives and children. They knew the strength of the enemy, and their own weakness; numerous indeed they were, but all foot, unarmed, undisciplined, dispirited by long servitude, and now pent up, so that they could not escape. On one hand was Pi-hahiroth, a range of craggy rocks unpassable; on the other hand were Migdol and Baal-zephon, forts upon the frontiers of Egypt; before them was the sea, behind them were the Egyptians; so that there was no way open for them but upward, and thence their deliverance came.