Exodus 14:9 - The Egyptians pursued them. All the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen, and his army overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baal Zephon.
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What does "Exodus 14:9" mean?
This verse from Exodus 14:9 describes the beginning of the chase sequence in the story of the Exodus. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"The Egyptians pursued them": This means that the Egyptian army, under the command of Pharaoh, began to chase after the Israelites after Pharaoh changed his mind about letting them go free.
"All the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen, and his army overtook them": This specifies who was pursuing the Israelites:
"All the horses and chariots of Pharaoh": Chariots and horses were the main weapons of war for the Egyptians at this time. The use of "all" indicates a massive military force.
"His horsemen": These were the soldiers who rode on the horses, likely either as chariot drivers or as cavalry (mounted soldiers).
"His army": A general term referring to the entire Egyptian military force, including infantry and support troops.
"overtook them": The Egyptians caught up with the Israelites.
"encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baal Zephon": This is a crucial detail, as it describes the location where the Israelites were trapped:
"encamping by the sea": The Israelites had set up camp on the shore of a sea or large body of water (traditionally understood to be the Red Sea, though its specific location is debated).
"beside Pihahiroth": Pihahiroth was a place name, likely a town or geographical feature. Its exact location is unknown today.
"before Baal Zephon": Baal Zephon was a temple or shrine to the Canaanite god Baal. It was located on a prominent landmark (likely a high place) near the sea. Its presence indicated this region was likely on the border between Egypt and Canaan.
In summary, this verse paints a picture of a desperate situation: The Israelites, now with Pharaoh regretting his decision to release them, found themselves trapped by the sea, pursued by the full force of the Egyptian army, with no apparent way to escape. The mention of Pihahiroth and Baal Zephon helps to place the scene in a specific, and rather hopeless, geographical location.
This sets the stage for the miraculous event that follows: the parting of the Red Sea, which is understood by religious people as a direct intervention of God to save his people.
Exodus 14:9 - The Egyptians pursued them. All the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen, and his army overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baal Zephon.
What does "Exodus 14:9" mean?
This verse from Exodus 14:9 describes the beginning of the chase sequence in the story of the Exodus. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"The Egyptians pursued them": This means that the Egyptian army, under the command of Pharaoh, began to chase after the Israelites after Pharaoh changed his mind about letting them go free.
"All the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen, and his army overtook them": This specifies who was pursuing the Israelites:
"All the horses and chariots of Pharaoh": Chariots and horses were the main weapons of war for the Egyptians at this time. The use of "all" indicates a massive military force.
"His horsemen": These were the soldiers who rode on the horses, likely either as chariot drivers or as cavalry (mounted soldiers).
"His army": A general term referring to the entire Egyptian military force, including infantry and support troops.
"overtook them": The Egyptians caught up with the Israelites.
"encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baal Zephon": This is a crucial detail, as it describes the location where the Israelites were trapped:
"encamping by the sea": The Israelites had set up camp on the shore of a sea or large body of water (traditionally understood to be the Red Sea, though its specific location is debated).
"beside Pihahiroth": Pihahiroth was a place name, likely a town or geographical feature. Its exact location is unknown today.
"before Baal Zephon": Baal Zephon was a temple or shrine to the Canaanite god Baal. It was located on a prominent landmark (likely a high place) near the sea. Its presence indicated this region was likely on the border between Egypt and Canaan.
In summary, this verse paints a picture of a desperate situation: The Israelites, now with Pharaoh regretting his decision to release them, found themselves trapped by the sea, pursued by the full force of the Egyptian army, with no apparent way to escape. The mention of Pihahiroth and Baal Zephon helps to place the scene in a specific, and rather hopeless, geographical location.
This sets the stage for the miraculous event that follows: the parting of the Red Sea, which is understood by religious people as a direct intervention of God to save his people.