1Then the Lord said to Moses, 2“Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. 3Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ 4And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” So the Israelites did this.
5When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!” 6So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him. 7He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. 8The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly. 9The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen14:9 Or charioteers; also in verses 17, 18, 23, 26 and 28 and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon.
10As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. 11They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”
13Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
15Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”
19Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 20coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.
21Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.
23The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25He jammed14:25 See Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint and Syriac; Masoretic Text removed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.”
26Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 27Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward14:27 Or from it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. 28The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.
29But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 30That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.
Kuvuka Bahari Ya Shamu
1Ndipo Bwana akamwambia Mose, 2“Waambie Waisraeli wageuke nyuma na wapige kambi karibu na Pi-Hahirothi, kati ya Migdoli na bahari. Watapiga kambi kando ya bahari, mkabala na Baal-Sefoni. 3Farao atafikiri kwamba, ‘Hao Waisraeli wanatangatanga katika nchi kwa kuchanganyikiwa, nalo jangwa limewafungia.’ 414:4 Kut 4:21; Za 71:11; Kut 9:16; Rum 9:17, 22-23; Kut 6:2; 7:5; Eze 32:15Nami nitaufanya moyo wa Farao mgumu, naye atawafuatilia. Lakini nitajipatia utukufu kwa ajili yangu mwenyewe kupitia Farao na jeshi lake lote, nao Wamisri watajua kuwa mimi ndimi Bwana.” Kwa hiyo Waisraeli wakafanya hivyo.
514:5 Mwa 31:21; Za 105:25Mfalme wa Misri alipoambiwa kuwa Waisraeli wamekimbia, Farao na maafisa wake wakabadili nia zao kuhusu Waisraeli, wakasema, “Tumefanya nini? Tumewaachia Waisraeli waende zao na tumeukosa utumishi wao!” 6Kwa hiyo akaandaliwa gari lake la vita, naye akaenda pamoja na jeshi lake. 714:7 Kut 15:4Akachukua magari bora mia sita, pamoja na magari mengine yote ya Misri, pamoja na maafisa wa magari hayo yote. 814:8 Kut 11:10; Hes 33:2; Mdo 13:17Bwana akaufanya mgumu moyo wa Farao, mfalme wa Misri, kwa hiyo akawafuatia Waisraeli, waliokuwa wakiondoka Misri kwa ujasiri. 914:9 Mwa 47:17; Yos 24:6; Isa 43:17; Kut 15:9Nao Wamisri, yaani farasi wote wa Farao na magari ya vita, wapanda farasi na vikosi vya askari, wakawafuatia Waisraeli, wakawakuta karibu na Pi-Hahirothi, mkabala na Baal-Sefoni walipokuwa wamepiga kambi kando ya bahari.
1014:10 Kut 15:25; Yos 24:7; Neh 9:9; Za 5:2; 34:17; 50:15; 107:6, 28Farao alipokaribia, Waisraeli wakainua macho yao, wakawaona Wamisri wakija nyuma yao. Wakashikwa na hofu, wakamlilia Bwana. 1114:11 Kut 5:21; 16:13; 17:3; Hes 11:1; 14:22; 20:4; 21:5; Kum 9:7Wakamwambia Mose, “Je, ni kwamba hayakuwako makaburi huko Misri hata umetuleta tufe huku jangwani? Umetufanyia nini kututoa Misri? 1214:12 Kut 5:21; 15:24; 17:2; Za 106:7-8Hatukukuambia tulipokuwa huko Misri, tuache tuwatumikie Wamisri? Ingekuwa vyema zaidi kwetu kuwatumikia Wamisri kuliko kufa jangwani!”
1314:13 Mwa 15:1; 1Sam 12:16; 2Nya 20:17; Isa 41:10-14Mose akawajibu Waisraeli, “Msiogope. Simameni imara, nanyi mtauona wokovu Bwana atakaowapatia leo. Hao Wamisri mnaowaona leo kamwe hamtawaona tena. 1414:14 Kut 15:3; Kum 1:30; 3:22; 20:4; Yos 10:14; 23:3; 2Sam 5:24; 2Nya 20:29; Neh 4:20; Za 24:8; Isa 42:13; Yer 41:12; 1Sam 12:16; Za 37:7; 46:10; 116:7; Isa 28:12; 30:15; Zek 2:13Bwana atawapigania ninyi, nanyi mnatakiwa kutulia tu.”
1514:15 Yos 7:10Ndipo Bwana akamwambia Mose, “Kwa nini wewe unanililia? Waambie Waisraeli waendelee mbele. 1614:16 Kut 4:2, 17; Isa 10:26; Hes 20:8-11Inua fimbo yako na unyooshe mkono wako juu ya bahari ili kuyagawa maji, hivyo kwamba Waisraeli wapate kupita mahali pakavu baharini. 1714:17 Kut 4:21Nitaifanya mioyo ya Wamisri kuwa migumu kusudi waingie baharini wakiwafuatia. Nami nitajipatia utukufu kupitia Farao pamoja na jeshi lake lote, kupitia magari yake ya vita na wapanda farasi wake. 1814:18 Kut 6:2; Eze 32:15Nao Wamisri watajua kwamba Mimi ndimi Bwana nitakapojipatia utukufu kupitia Farao, magari yake ya vita na wapanda farasi wake.”
1914:19 Mwa 16:7; Isa 63:9; Kut 13:2; 1Kor 10:1; Isa 26:7; 42:16; 49:10; 52:10; 58:8Ndipo malaika wa Mungu, aliyekuwa akisafiri mbele ya jeshi la Israeli, akaondoka akakaa nyuma yao. Pia ile nguzo ya wingu ikaondoka hapo mbele yao na kusimama nyuma, 2014:20 Yos 24:7ikakaa kati ya majeshi ya Misri na Israeli. Usiku kucha wingu likaleta giza upande mmoja na nuru kwa upande mwingine, kwa hiyo hakuna aliyemkaribia mwenzake usiku kucha.
2114:21 Kut 7:19; 4:2; Ay 26:12; Isa 14:27; 23:11; 51:15; Yer 31:35; Mdo 7:36; Mwa 41:6; Kut 15:8; 2Sam 22:16; 1Fal 19:11; Ay 38:1; 40:6; Yer 23:19; Nah 1:3; Mwa 8:1; 2Fal 2:8; Za 74:13; 78:13; 114:5; 136:13; Isa 63:12Ndipo Mose akanyoosha mkono wake juu ya bahari, naye Bwana akayasukuma maji ya bahari nyuma kwa upepo mkali wa mashariki usiku ule wote na kupafanya nchi kavu. Maji yakagawanyika, 2214:22 Hes 33:8; Yos 24:6; Isa 43:16; 63:11; 1Kor 10:1; Kut 3:12; 15:19; Kum 31:6-8; Yos 3:16; 4:22; Neh 9:11; Za 66:6; 77:19; 106:9; Isa 11:15; 41:10; 43:5; 44:27; 50:2; 51:10; 63:13; Yer 46:28; Nah 1:4; Ebr 11:29; Kut 15:8; Yos 3:13nao Waisraeli wakapita baharini mahali pakavu, maji yakiwa ukuta upande wao wa kuume na upande wao wa kushoto.
23Wamisri wakawafuatia ndani ya bahari, pamoja na farasi wote wa Farao, magari ya vita na wapanda farasi. 2414:24 Kut 13:21; 1Kor 10:1; Kut 23:27; Yos 10:10; 1Sam 5:9; 5:9; 7:10; 14:15; 2Sam 5:24; 2Fal 7:6; 19:7Karibia mapambazuko, Bwana akaliangalia jeshi la Wamisri kutoka ile nguzo ya moto na ya wingu, akalifadhaisha. 2514:25 Kum 32:31; 1Sam 2:2; 4:8; Kut 14:14Mungu akayaondoa magurudumu ya magari yao, kwa hivyo wakayaendesha kwa shida. Nao Wamisri wakasema, “Tuachane na Waisraeli! Bwana anawapigania dhidi ya Misri.”
Wafuatiaji Wazama
26Ndipo Bwana akamwambia Mose, “Nyoosha mkono wako juu ya bahari ili maji yarudiane yawafunike Wamisri, magari yao ya vita na wapanda farasi wao.” 2714:27 Yos 4:18; Kut 15:1; Kum 1:40; 11:4; Za 78:53; 106:11; 136:15; Ebr 11:29Mose akanyoosha mkono wake juu ya bahari, wakati wa mapambazuko bahari ikarudiana na kuwa kama kawaida. Wamisri wakajaribu kuyakimbia maji, lakini Bwana akawasukumia ndani ya bahari. 2814:28 Kut 15:19; Yos 24:7; Kut 15:5; Amu 4:16; Neh 9:11Maji yakarudiana na kuyafunika magari ya vita na wapanda farasi pamoja na jeshi lote la Farao lililokuwa limewafuata Waisraeli ndani ya bahari. Hakuna hata mmoja wao aliyenusurika.
2914:29 Yos 24:11; 2Fal 2:8; Za 74:15; 78:13Lakini Waisraeli wakapita baharini mahali pakavu, ukiwepo ukuta wa maji upande wao wa kuume na upande wao wa kushoto. 3014:30 1Sam 14:23; 1Nya 11:14; Za 44:7; 106:8-10; Isa 43:3; 50:2; 51:9-10; 60:16Siku ile Bwana akawaokoa Waisraeli kutoka mikononi mwa Wamisri, nao Waisraeli wakawaona Wamisri wamelala ufuoni mwa bahari wakiwa wamekufa. 3114:31 Kut 9:16; Za 147:5; Kut 20:18; Kum 31:13; Yos 4:24; 1Sam 12:18; Za 76:6-7; 112:1; Kut 4:5; Za 22:4; 40:3; 106:12; Yn 2:11; 11:45Basi Waisraeli walipoona uwezo mkubwa Bwana aliodhihirisha dhidi ya Wamisri, watu wakamwogopa Bwana na wakaweka tumaini lao kwake na kwa Mose mtumishi wake.
