Exodus Chapters 14 And 15: A Comparism

EXODUS CHAPTERS 14 AND 15A COMPARISM By: Uche Onyekwelu CCE

Emergencies

The early life of Israel in Egypt, the early life of Moses, the call of Moses, the Plagues of Egypt, the Passover, infact the high expectancy of deliverance from Egypt as the supreme act of God’s power and love were the events that emerged which led to Israel’s movement “from Etham to the Sea of Reeds” in chapter 14 and the “Song of Victory” in chap 15.

Convergencies The first convergent point of chap 14 and 15 was seen in the moving of Pharaoh and his army into the sea- 14:26-29; 15:4. Also, both chapters mentioned Yahweh as God which seen in the sentences like“and they’ll know that I’m Yahweh”, or Yahweh is his name”. More so, they mentioned the name of the sea in question- “the sea of Reeds”. Also they bear the incident of the waters piling high and firm wind in the crossing of the sea event. There’s also the mentioning of the sea becoming a firm or dry ground. Issues like, the threat of the enemy to catch and destroy the Israelites- cf. Ex 14: 15; 15:9- and that Yahweh wrapped the sea over Pharaoh and his army by Moses’ instrumentality- cf. Ex 14:26; 15:10were extant.

Divergencies

On a meticulous study, one discovers that there are many divergent points (that is, points found in chap 14 which are not in chap 15). They are as follows: (i) The pitching of Israel’s camp at Pi-Hiroth between Migdol and the sea facing Baal Zephon as seen in Ex. 14:2. (ii) The decision of Yahweh to harden Pharaoh’s heart as seen in Ex. 14:17. (iii)

That six hundred of best chariots were used by Pharaoh against Israel as seen in Ex 14:17. (iv) Israel’s fear and complaints at the advent of the Egyptians towards them as seen in Ex. 14:11-12. (v) The assurance given to them by Moses as regards Yahweh’s omnipotence and victory over the war as seen in Ex 14:13-14. (vi) The reverence of Israel on God and Moses with there subsequent faith in them as seen in Ex. 14:3. Furthermore, the divergencies extend to: (i) The celebration of the glory and majesty of God after the deliverance of the Israelites from the hand of Egyptians as seen in Ex. 15:1; 7. (ii) The fall of Pharaoh and his soldiers which is compared to a stone thrown into water and settles at the bottom of the sea as seen in Ex. 15:5. (iii) God’s use of his breath to control the rhythm of the sea as seen in Ex. 15:10. (iv) The fear of Phillistia, Edom, Moab and all inhabitants of Canaan over God’s wonders for Israel as seen in 15: 14-15. (v) The motion that Yahweh will bring his people to his dwelling place, and reign as king as seen in EX. 15: 18. (vi) Out of joy, Aaron’s sister- Miriam- took up a tambourine and every other woman followed her suite, as EX. 15: 20 testifies.

Exigencies By exigencies here we mean certain common relatedness between chap 14 and 15. Infact we have to know that chap 14 would not have been too significant if not for the undeniable content of chap 15 that made chap 14 profound. Likewise the 14th chapter renders chap 15 relevant by being the seed ground for its relevance too. A practical instance of this was seen in some issues emphasized by chap.15 in chap.14, they are as follows: (i) the mentioning of God as using breath to control the sea to Israel’s favour, and to the detriment of the Egyptian. (ii) The enemies’ regret to have left Israel to go and later pursued them. (iii) The assertion of Yahweh. However, another serious issue is that of knowing which of the two came first in composition. Even though this was not told in the biblical narrative

itself, our class discussion explains that Ex. 15 may have been the first because of its credence as one of the oldest poetry in the Bible.