The Song at the Sea
Moses and Israel begin a song to the LORD, naming him as their strength, salvation, and warrior. The victory at the sea becomes personal praise before it becomes a longer rehearsal of what happened.
T1hen Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: 2The LORD is my strength and my song, 3The LORD is a warrior,
The song recounts Pharaoh's defeat in vivid images: chariots sink, floods stand at the LORD's command, and the enemy's boasts collapse under his breath. What looks like military strength is swallowed by the sea.
4Pharaoh’s chariots and army 5The depths have covered them; 6Your right hand, O LORD, 7You overthrew Your adversaries 8At the blast of Your nostrils 9The enemy declared, 10But You blew with Your breath,
The song pauses to ask who is like the LORD, holy and fearsome in wonders. The same hand that destroys the enemy also leads the redeemed people forward in steadfast love.
11Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? 12You stretched out Your right hand, 13With loving devotion You will lead
The song looks ahead as surrounding nations tremble and Israel is brought in to the mountain and sanctuary the LORD has prepared. The victory at the sea points toward settled worship under his everlasting reign.
14The nations will hear and tremble; 15Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; 16and terror and dread will fall on them. 17You will bring them in and plant them 18The LORD will reign forever and ever!”
A brief prose line recalls the sea's return over Pharaoh, and then Miriam leads the women with tambourines and dancing. Her refrain answers the larger song by repeating the LORD's triumph over horse and rider.
19For when Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them. But the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. 20Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with tambourines and dancing. 21And Miriam sang back to them: