Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 14:11
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?
11. Comp. similar expostulations in Exo 16:3, Exo 17:3, Num 11:4 f., Exo 14:3, Exo 16:13, Exo 20:3 f., Exo 21:5.
the wilderness ] as v. 3, the Egyptian wilderness, W. of the Isthmus and Gulf of Suez.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
No graves in Egypt – This bitter taunt was probably suggested by the vast extent of cemeteries in Egypt, which might not improperly be called the land of tombs.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Exo 14:11-12
Hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness?
The foolish way in which many people anticipate difficulties
I. That many people meet anticipated difficulties in a spirit of great fear.
II. That many people meet anticipated difficulty in a spirit of complaint against those who have generously aided them in their enterprise. It is base to turn upon men who have spent their best energy and wisdom in our service when trouble seems to threaten, But this is the way of the world, a momentary cloud will eclipse a lifetime of heroic work.
III. That many people meet anticipated difficulties in a spirit which degrades previous events of a glorious character. Lessons:
1. That when trials threaten we should trust in God.
2. That fear weakens men in the hour of trial.
3. That it is ungenerous to murmur against those who earnestly seek our good. (J. S. Exell, M. A.)
An unreasonable complaint
During one of the campaigns in the American Civil War, when the winter weather was very severe, some of Stonewall Jacksons men, having crawled out in the morning from their snow-laden blankets half frozen, began to curse him as the cause of their sufferings. He lay close by under a tree, also snowed up, and heard all this; but, without noticing it, presently crawled out too, and, shaking off the snow, made some jocular remark to the nearest men, who had no idea he had ridden up in the night and lain down amongst them! The incident ran through the army in a few hours, and reconciled his followers to all the hardships of the expedition, and fully re-established his popularity.
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
And they said unto Moses,…. The Targum of Jonathan is,
“the ungodly of that generation said unto Moses;”
but it seems rather to be understood of the body of the people in general, and is not to be limited to some particular persons of the worse characters among them:
because there were no graves in Egypt; as if there had been none, when there were so many; the Egyptians being more solicitous about their graves than their houses, as Diodorus Siculus reports u; thus upbraiding Moses in a sarcastic way for what he had done:
hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? that so there might be room and graves enough to bury them in, for nothing but death was before their eyes:
wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? which was very ungrateful and disingenuous.
u Bibliothec. l. 1. p. 47.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
11. Because there were no graves. This (155) is the more proper sense; for the double negative is put for a single one. It is a bitter and biting taunt; for, not contented with preferring the graves of Egypt to the death which they feared, they scoffingly inquire how he could have thought of bringing them into the wilderness, as if the land of Egypt was not large enough to bury them in. But God had openly and clearly proved Himself to be the leader of their departing; and, again, it was basely insensible of them to forget that they were not long since like dead men, and had been miraculously brought out of the grave. Their madness is wilder still, when they daringly call to remembrance the impious blasphemies which should have been a matter of shame and detestation to themselves. For how sad was their ingratitude in rejecting the proffered favor of deliverance, and in shutting the door against the advances of God, in order that they might rot in their misery! True, that God had pardoned this great depravity; but it was their part unceasingly to mourn, and to be as it were overwhelmed with shame, that their crime might be blotted out before God’s judgment-seat. But now, as if God and Moses were accountable to them, they boastfully and petulantly reproach them for not believing them, when they would have prudently prevented the evil. Hence are we taught how far men’s passions will carry them, when fear has extinguished their hopes, and they wait not patiently for God’s aid.
(155) This sentence is omitted in the French.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(11) Because there were no graves in Egypt.Spoken in bitter irony, doubtless, but scarcely with any conscious reference to Egypt as a land of tombs. They meant simply to say: Might we not as well have died there as here?
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
If we observe the latter part of the preceding verse, and compare it with this, I think we may reasonably conclude, that although some murmured, others prayed. See Heb 3:16 . It is a precious affliction, be it what it may, that leads the soul to prayer. It is a dreadful state when sorrows harden.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 14:11 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?
Ver. 11. Because there were no graves. ] Thus “they provoked him at the sea, at the Red Sea; nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake.” Psa 106:7-8
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Because . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6
wherefore . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Because: Exo 15:23, Exo 15:24, Exo 16:2, Exo 16:3, Exo 17:2, Exo 17:3, Num 11:1, Num 14:1-4, Num 16:41, Psa 106:7, Psa 106:8
wherefore: Exo 5:22, Gen 43:6, Num 11:15
Reciprocal: Exo 13:17 – the people repent Exo 32:1 – the man Exo 32:22 – knowest Num 20:4 – that we Num 21:5 – spake Deu 9:7 – from the day Jos 7:7 – to deliver 1Sa 8:8 – General Act 7:39 – and in