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Easter Season · A Fifth Reading Easter Vigil · Year A

Exodus 15:1b-13, 17-18

The Song of Moses and Miriam

April 5, 2026

The Destruction of Pharaoh’s Host, John Martin
The Destruction of Pharaoh’s Host, John Martin, 1836The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
A low red sun across the whole width of the picture, the sea already closing from the left, and on the rock at the right one small figure with the staff still raised.I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea. Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he cast into the sea.John MartinMartin, who painted catastrophe at a scale that makes the people in it almost too small to find.The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los AngelesThe J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles.The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
Revised Common Lectionary
Old TestamentExod. 14:10-31; 15:20-21Ex 14:10-31; 15:20-21
PsalterExod. 15:1b-13, 17-18Ex 15:1b-13, 17-18

Overview & Insights

“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously.” (Exodus 15:1)

Worshiping the Lord was Israel’s transition to a new existence. Exodus 15 links the experience of Egypt (chs. 1–14) and the trust-building journey of the first year in the wilderness (chs. 15–18). It ends the traumas of Egypt with a song to, and about, the Lord’s victory over the chaos. Verses 22–27 describe the challenge of trusting Yahweh for basic provision and protection during their journey to the mountain of God (Horeb/Sinai).

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Take it further: Exodus 15:1b-13, 17-18

Commentary

Exodus 15 - The Song of Moses and IsraelEx 15 - The Song of Moses and Israel Enduring Word · David Guzik

A verse-by-verse reading of the Song of Moses, the canticle sung after the sea crossing.

Exodus 15:1 CommentariesEx 15:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Collected classic commentaries on the opening of the victory song used as the Vigil responsory.

Background & Word Study

Exodus 15 (Hebrew and English)Ex 15 (Hebrew and English) Sefaria

The Hebrew of the Song of the Sea with English and Jewish commentary for this OT canticle.

Exodus 15:1 InterlinearEx 15:1 Interlinear BibleHub

The Hebrew of the canticle word by word for anyone probing the poetry of the song.

The Church Fathers

Exodus 15 (Catena)Ex 15 (Catena) Catena

Early church readings of the Song of Moses, long heard as a figure of baptism and resurrection.

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