Holy Week · Holy Saturday Third Reading · Year B
Exodus 14:15–15:1
Crossing the Sea
March 27, 2027
Overview & Insights
“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (Exodus 14:14)
These verses introduce the next major section (13:17–15:21) that takes the Israelites to the wilderness by way of the sea. We return to the story of the exit from Egypt with three brief notes. First, we look ahead to the geographical route. Next, we look back in history to an oath made about Joseph. Then we are brought up to date on a new manifestation of the Lord’s presence in cloud and fire. The first note (vv. 17–18) concerns the route to the sea. The name God occurs for the first time since Exodus 10, reminding the reader that “the LORD” who had been close at hand in Egypt was still “God” as they leave it. The mentions of Philistine country and facing war were ominous in the ancient historical setting. Newly liberated slaves with their families were not prepared for this, though they would face it soon enough (17:8). The Lord’s first concern was that they would not change their minds and return to Egypt.
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Commentary
Exodus 14 Commentary: The Crossing of the Red Sea Enduring Word · David Guzik
Guzik works through the parting of the sea, Israel's deliverance, and the drowning of Pharaoh's army verse by verse.
Exodus 14:15 Commentaries (BibleHub) BibleHub
Classic expositors gathered from the command to go forward through the walls of water on either side.
Exodus 14 Commentary | Precept Austin Precept Austin
An evangelical study hub assembling expositors and word notes on the deliverance at the sea.
Commentary on Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21 (Vigil of Easter) Working Preacher
A Luther Seminary commentary on the exact Easter Vigil crossing, tying the rescue through the sea to baptism.
The Easter Vigil (Year B) | Dr. Brant Pitre Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre
Brant Pitre reads the crossing of the sea as the Vigil's central deliverance prefiguring the passage from death to life.
Background & Word Study
Exodus 14 (Hebrew and English, Sefaria) Sefaria
The Hebrew text of the crossing with English and Jewish commentary for the original wording of the miracle.
Exodus 14:15 Hebrew Interlinear BibleHub
Word-by-word Hebrew with parsing across the command to move forward and the dividing of the waters.
Book of Exodus Summary (Part 1) | BibleProject BibleProject
An animated overview of Exodus 1-18 placing the sea crossing within the story of God rescuing Israel from slavery.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
Why is the crossing of the sea the heart of the Vigil?
God parts the sea so Israel passes through on dry ground and the pursuing army is swept away, the great salvation the Easter Vigil sees fulfilled in baptism.
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