Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 14:27
And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
Overthrew the Egyptians – Better as in the margin, The Lord shook them off, hurled them from their chariots into the sea.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
The sea returned to his strength; to its natural and it ordinary course and motion, which is swift and strong, which had been hitherto restrained by a stronger hand, and rendered in a manner impotent and weak. But now, Samson-like, when its bonds are broken, it puts forth its former and natural strength. But indeed this word may belong to the morning, and so a learned man translates the place, and that very agreeably to the use and order of the Hebrew words, The sea returned, to wit, to its course, when the morning appeared according to, or in his strength, i.e. when it was full and clear morning; as we oft read of the strength of the day. See Gen 7:13; Job 21:23. So the strength of the morning is here opposed to the morning watch.
Against it; against the sea, for which way soever they fled the waters met them, and fought against them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
27. Moses stretched forth his handover the sea, &c.What circumstances could more clearlydemonstrate the miraculous character of this transaction than that atthe waving of Moses’ rod, the dividing waters left the channel dry,and on his making the same motion on the opposite side, theyreturned, commingling with instantaneous fury? Is such the characterof any ebb tide?
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea,…. Or towards it, as he was ordered, the rod being in his hand, as before observed:
and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; being no longer detained by a superior power, contrary to the nature of it, to stand still as an heap, and firm as a wall, its waves came down and rolled with their usual force and strength, or it returned to its usual course:
at the appearance of the morning in its strength; when the morning looked forth in its first light and brightness, when it was broad day:
and the Egyptians fled against it; against the waves that came rolling down upon them: or “at meeting it” u, for as they turned their backs on the Israelites and fled, the waters of the sea met them, as well as fell on each side of them, or rather over them, and followed after them, and closed and shut them up on all sides; so that it was in vain for them to flee, for let them go which way they would, the sea was against them:
and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea; or shook them “off” or “out” w; out of their chariots, blew them out with the wind; for as there was a wind made use of to divide the waters of the sea, and make the bottom of it dry, there was another to cause the waters to return to their former place; see Ex 15:10 or the waves of the sea dashed them out of their chariots, or through the force of them they were overturned in it.
u “in occursum ejus”, Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius; “obviam mare”, Junius Tremellius, Piscator. w Sept. “et excussit”, Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius “sic excussit”, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(27) When the morning appeared.This would be about five oclock. The light showed the Egyptian their danger. The white-crested waves were seen advancing on either side, and threatening to fill up the channel. The Egyptians had to race against them; but in vain. Their chariot wheels clogged, themselves and their horses encumbered with heavy armour, they made but slow way over the soft and slimy ground; and while they were still far from shore, the floods were upon them, and overwhelmed them. In this way God overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
27. When the morning appeared At the turning of the morning approach of dawn . Then the entanglement of the bemired chariots and horses, the changing wind, which blew the blinding rain and spray directly into the faces of the Egyptians, now struggling towards their own shore, and the darkness, intensified by the lightnings, all conspired with the waters, suddenly returning in their overwhelming might, to make their destruction complete .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Exo 14:27. And Moses stretched forth his hand, &c. The Israelites having been safely landed on the opposite shore, the words of Moses, Exo 14:13 were now about to be fulfilled; the terrible moment of destruction being arrived to the Egyptians. The Lord gave the command: Moses stretched forth his hand, and the sea returned to his strength. The expression seems to import, that the sea, whose waves had been miraculously suspended by the power of Jehovah, now returned to its usual force; and, with its wonted violence, rushed impetuously, a strong wind urging it on (ch. Exo 15:10.) to overwhelm the devoted Egyptians. God had made use of the agency of a wind to suspend the waters; and now he uses the same instrument to urge them with more precipitancy, and to give more terror to the scene; winds and waves uniting to fulfil his awful commands.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
If the Reader consults the map, he will find that the passage Israel made through the deep, was an arm of the sea, about three leagues over; so that the miraculous interposition of the Lord, is thereby fully proved. Job 26:12 ; Psa 68:1-2 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 14:27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
Ver. 27. Returned to his strength. ] For by being divided, it had been weakened. Si collidimur, frangimur. The daughter of dissension is dissolution.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
strength = irresistible might.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
and the sea: Exo 14:21, Exo 14:22, Exo 15:1-21, Jos 4:18
Lord: Jdg 5:20, Jdg 5:21
overthrew: Heb. shook off
Reciprocal: Gen 32:24 – breaking of the day Jos 24:7 – brought Neh 9:11 – divide Job 38:13 – the wicked Psa 46:5 – and that Psa 76:6 – both Psa 78:53 – but Psa 106:9 – He rebuked Psa 106:11 – General Psa 136:15 – But overthrew Isa 33:2 – be thou Zec 10:11 – smite Act 7:36 – in the Red
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 14:27. The sea returned to its strength Its force had, as it were, been checked and held back by the reins of the divine power; but now full scope is given to its impetuous rage. The expression implies that the sea returned not leisurely, as in ordinary tides, but rushed upon them precipitately.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
14:27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD {m} overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
(m) So, using the water, the Lord saved his own and drowned his enemies.