C. F. Keil and Franz Delitzsch on Exodus 14:15-19

Exo 14:15-19

The words of Jehovah to Moses, “What criest thou to Me?” imply that Moses had appealed to God for help, or laid the complaints of the people before Him, and do not convey any reproof, but merely an admonition to resolute action. The people were to move forward, and Moses was to stretch out his hand with his staff over the sea and divide it, so that the people might go through the midst on dry ground. Exo 14:17 and Exo 14:18 repeat the promise in Exo 14:3, Exo 14:4. The command and promise were followed by immediate help (Exo 14:19-29). Whilst Moses divided the water with his staff, and thus prepared the way, the angel of God removed from before the Israelites, and placed himself behind them as a defence against the Egyptians, who were following them. “Upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen” (Exo 14:17), is in apposition to “all his host;” as Pharaoh’s army consisted entirely of chariots and horsemen (cf. Exo 14:18).