We are not told that Israel saw Pharaoh's body dead on the shore. It is highly probable that only the fastest moving units, those utilizing horses, were sent, while those on foot stayed with Pharaoh. Having survivors who witnessed such a supernatural and resounding defeat would have made sure that Egypt knew clearly that it was the hand of God that had judged them.
Popular media, books, and many retellings of the story of the Exodus state or imply that the Egyptian Pharaoh in pursuit of the fleeing Israelites was drowned. This cannot be construed to say that Pharaoh himself went in, or even that all Pharaoh's soldiers went in. Deuteronomy 11:2-4 End 4 speaks of what God did "in the heart of Egypt, both to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his whole country" then "what he did to the Egyptian army, to its horse and chariots, how he overwhelmed them with the waters of the Red Sea as they were pursuing". While historical sources cannot be the final authority, this also squares with a timeline determination of which Pharaoh was involved, also showing that he reigned for years following. Moses returned to carry out God's command, but God caused Pharaoh to refuse, and only after God had subjected Egypt to ten plagues did Pharaoh relent. Undoubtedly the loss of this best and fastest part of Pharaoh's army - in its entirety - would have been a devastating blow to Pharaoh and all Egypt. For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, 'They are bewildered by the land; the wilderness has closed them in.' Then I will harden Pharaoh's heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord." And they did so.
Pharaoh had commanded that all male Hebrew children born be drowned in the river Nile, but Moses' mother placed him in an ark and concealed the ark in the bulrushes by the riverbank, where the baby was discovered and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter. In these three summary excerpts it is clear that only Pharaoh's horsemen and charioteers followed the Israelites into the sea. For the former, including Pharaoh, other than their firstborns (as established by other passages), they lived to be witnesses of what God had done.
Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: "Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zephon; you shall camp before it by the sea. Virtually every army of that day had foot soldiers too. Without a doubt, scriptures portray Pharaoh's army as being drowned , but as for this unrepentant ruler he most likely lived to face the shame of defeat. This demonstrates how we are often quick to forget what God has done and demonstrated. For the latter, all ended up dead. That Pharaoh lived on also provides further reason why there would be virtually non-existent mention of such an ignoble event in historical records - he would certainly not want it remembered. Moses led the Israelites to the border of Egypt, but there God hardened Pharaoh's heart once more, so that he could destroy Pharaoh and his army at the Red Sea Crossing as a sign of his power to Israel and the nations.
Pharaoh had been warned ten times already to let God’s people go, yet by sending his army after Israel, Pharaoh revealed that he still had not learned. It wasn't difficult to think of at least ten good reasons - namely, ten powerful plagues - why Pharaoh let Israel go. He still could not let go. Typically pharaoh's only recorded their victories and successes anyway.
There, on Mount Horeb, God revealed to Moses his name YHWH (probably pronounced Yahweh) and commanded him to return to Egypt and bring his Chosen People (Israel) out of bondage and into the Promised Land (Canaan). He still persisted in rebellion against God. Moses, in order to escape Pharaoh's death penalty, fled to Midian (a desert country south of Judah).
a. The Red Sea crossing was not a trap set by God for Pharaoh, but was a form of deliverance for God’s people Israel, and Egypt, in their rebellion, tried to use God’s protection as a method by which to destroy.
8. This passage clearly separates what was done to the nation and pharaoh from what happened to the pursuing army which followed the Israelites into the Sea. One day after Moses had reached adulthood he killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew. An irrelevant question or issue? Not quite. The statement that "not one of them survived" cannot be taken apart from its context which is solely in reference to the chariots and horsemen who had followed the Israelites in. Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us? This was a strange question for Pharaoh to ask.
Popular media, books, and many retellings of the story of the Exodus state or imply that the Egyptian Pharaoh in pursuit of the fleeing Israelites was drowned. This cannot be construed to say that Pharaoh himself went in, or even that all Pharaoh's soldiers went in. Deuteronomy 11:2-4 End 4 speaks of what God did "in the heart of Egypt, both to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his whole country" then "what he did to the Egyptian army, to its horse and chariots, how he overwhelmed them with the waters of the Red Sea as they were pursuing". While historical sources cannot be the final authority, this also squares with a timeline determination of which Pharaoh was involved, also showing that he reigned for years following. Moses returned to carry out God's command, but God caused Pharaoh to refuse, and only after God had subjected Egypt to ten plagues did Pharaoh relent. Undoubtedly the loss of this best and fastest part of Pharaoh's army - in its entirety - would have been a devastating blow to Pharaoh and all Egypt. For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, 'They are bewildered by the land; the wilderness has closed them in.' Then I will harden Pharaoh's heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord." And they did so.
Pharaoh had commanded that all male Hebrew children born be drowned in the river Nile, but Moses' mother placed him in an ark and concealed the ark in the bulrushes by the riverbank, where the baby was discovered and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter. In these three summary excerpts it is clear that only Pharaoh's horsemen and charioteers followed the Israelites into the sea. For the former, including Pharaoh, other than their firstborns (as established by other passages), they lived to be witnesses of what God had done.
Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: "Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zephon; you shall camp before it by the sea. Virtually every army of that day had foot soldiers too. Without a doubt, scriptures portray Pharaoh's army as being drowned , but as for this unrepentant ruler he most likely lived to face the shame of defeat. This demonstrates how we are often quick to forget what God has done and demonstrated. For the latter, all ended up dead. That Pharaoh lived on also provides further reason why there would be virtually non-existent mention of such an ignoble event in historical records - he would certainly not want it remembered. Moses led the Israelites to the border of Egypt, but there God hardened Pharaoh's heart once more, so that he could destroy Pharaoh and his army at the Red Sea Crossing as a sign of his power to Israel and the nations.
Pharaoh had been warned ten times already to let God’s people go, yet by sending his army after Israel, Pharaoh revealed that he still had not learned. It wasn't difficult to think of at least ten good reasons - namely, ten powerful plagues - why Pharaoh let Israel go. He still could not let go. Typically pharaoh's only recorded their victories and successes anyway.
There, on Mount Horeb, God revealed to Moses his name YHWH (probably pronounced Yahweh) and commanded him to return to Egypt and bring his Chosen People (Israel) out of bondage and into the Promised Land (Canaan). He still persisted in rebellion against God. Moses, in order to escape Pharaoh's death penalty, fled to Midian (a desert country south of Judah).
a. The Red Sea crossing was not a trap set by God for Pharaoh, but was a form of deliverance for God’s people Israel, and Egypt, in their rebellion, tried to use God’s protection as a method by which to destroy.
8. This passage clearly separates what was done to the nation and pharaoh from what happened to the pursuing army which followed the Israelites into the Sea. One day after Moses had reached adulthood he killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew. An irrelevant question or issue? Not quite. The statement that "not one of them survived" cannot be taken apart from its context which is solely in reference to the chariots and horsemen who had followed the Israelites in. Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us? This was a strange question for Pharaoh to ask.
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