MPV Commentary

1. Then Moses and the Israelites sang this thanksgiving song at their landing place on the eastern shore of the Red Sea, near Ayoun Musa, "the fountains of Moses." This location is situated somewhat northward along the shore from where they initially set out. As they extended their line during the passage, one end reached as far north as these fountains, which provided them with water upon landing. The song was sung in the morning after their passage.

This song is considered to be the oldest poem in the world, dating back by about a hundred years. Its language has an unparalleled sublimity and beauty that has drawn admiration from many judges. However, its superiority does not solely arise from the splendor of its diction; it also owes its interest and sublimity to the character of the event commemorated and its divine inspiration.

I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously—Considering their state of servitude and the rough features of their subsequent history, it cannot be supposed that the Israelites generally were qualified to appreciate the beauties of this song. Nevertheless, they might perfectly understand its pervading strain of sentiment; and with a view to suitably improving the occasion, all, old and young, joined their united voices in rehearsing its words.

20. Miriam the prophetess—so called from her receiving divine revelations (Numbers 12:1; Micah 6:4), but here primarily from her being skilled in music—took a timbrel—a musical instrument in the form of a hoop with rings or pieces of brass to make a jingling noise and covered over with tightened parchment like a drum. It was beaten with the fingers, corresponding to our tambourine.

All the women went out after her with timbrels and dances—We understand this by attending to the modern customs of the East, where the dance—a slow, grave, and solemn gesture, generally accompanied with singing and the sound of the timbrel—is still led by the principal female of the company. The rest imitate her movements and repeat the words of the song as they drop from her lips.

21. Miriam answered them—the Hebrew word for "them" is masculine, so Moses probably led the men and Miriam the women—both bands responding alternately and singing the first verse as a chorus.

22. wilderness of Shur—comprehending all the western part of Arabia-Petræa. The desert of Etham was a part of it, extending around the northern portion of the Red Sea and a considerable distance along its eastern shore; whereas the "wilderness of Shur" (now Sudhr) was the designation of all the desert region of Arabia-Petræa that lay next to Palestine.

23. when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters—Following the general route of travelers southward between the sea and the tableland of the Tih ("valley of wandering"), Marah is almost universally believed to be what is now called Howarah, in Wady Amarah, about thirty miles from where the Israelites landed on the eastern shore of the Red Sea—a distance sufficient for their march of three days. There is no other perennial spring in the intermediate space.

25. The Lord showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet—Some travelers have identified this tree as the Elvah of the Arabs or the berries of the Ghurkhud. However, neither of these shrubs are known by the natives to possess such natural virtues. It is more likely that God miraculously endowed some tree with the property of purifying the bitter water—a tree employed as the medium, but the sweetening was not dependent upon the nature or quality of the tree, but the power of God (compare John 9:6).

And there he proved them—God now brought the Israelites into circumstances that would put their faith and obedience to the test (compare Genesis 22:1).

27. They came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water—supposed to be what is now called Wady-Ghurandel, an oasis with a great variety of trees, among which the palm is still conspicuous, and fertilized by a copious stream. It is estimated to be a mile in breadth but stretches out far to the northeast. After their weary travel through the desert, this must have appeared a most delightful encampment from its shade and verdure as well as its abundant supply of sweet water for the thirsty multitude. The palm is called "the tree of the desert," as its presence is always a sign of water.