Exodus 15

1. Then sang Moses. When books were almost unknown, national histories were preserved in songs. God, on this as on other occasions (see Deut. xxxii.), directed Moses to use this mode of perpetuating the remembrance of His mercies; cp. 2 Sam. i. 18.

triumphed gloriously. Or, “He is highly exalted” (R.V. marg.).

2 will prepare Him a habitation. Rather, “will glorify Him.” So it is rendered in the old English versions, in accordance with the Greek, Syriac, Latin, etc., and with the parallelism of the passage (“will praise Him,” R.V.).

11 fearful in praises. i.e., to be praised with solemn awe.

14. Palestina. “Philistia” (R.V.). The Philistines were among the most warlike of the enemies of Israel. See xiii. 17; 1 Sam. iv., etc.

16 still as a stone. i.e., remain quiet, so as to offer no opposition. The delay of the forty years’ wandering lessened but did not destroy this dread on the part of the Canaanites. See Numb. xx. 18; xxii.; Josh. ii. 10; ix. 10.

17 the mountain of Thine inheritance. The whole of Canaan was hilly; but this seems prophetically to designate the site of the future temple.

20. Miriam. Or, “Mary”; it being the same name; a “prophetess,” as speaking under Divine direction—with dances. A dance of triumph, as in Judges xi. 34. Cp. Psa. cxlix. 3; cl. 4.

22. Shur. Surrounding the head of the Gulf of Suez, and called Etham (Numb. xxxiii. 8), from the town of that name on its edge (xiii. 20).

23 bitter. The brackish water found in the wells of the desert would be very distasteful after the water of the Nile. Arabs regard the water of Marah as the worst in the desert. These trials would teach trust in God’s providence.

24 the people murmured. Praises proceeding from gratified self-love will soon be changed into murmurs when our circumstances alter. See Psa. cvi. 12-14.

25 a tree. In some countries water is purified naturally by similar means; but neither Moses, who was well acquainted with this part of the desert, nor its present Arab inhabitants, to whom such a remedy would be invaluable, appear to know anything of it. Some have supposed that the tree was the phurkud, which is found near the bitter springs of Arabia, and bears a refreshing berry, which might make water palatable. But these berries are not ripe at the time of year when the Israelites were at Marah.

27. Elim. Probably Wady Ghurundel—a fertile valley, where, according to travellers, fountains, and trees, especially tamarisks and palm-trees, are still found. It has been noted that the wells equal the number of the tribes, and the trees the number of the Elders (xxiv. 9).

encamped. The places in the subsequent narrative were probably the head-quarters of Moses and the priests; the people spreading themselves over the neighbourhood. Numb. xxxiii. has a list of encampments, those only, apparently, being mentioned which were distinguished by prolonged stay, or by some remarkable event.