The Skeptics Annotated Bible (72 page)

(14.20)
“It was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these.”

21 And
Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD
caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and
made the sea dry land
, and the waters were divided.

(14.21)
“Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD … made the sea dry land.”

22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

23
And the Egyptians pursued
, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even
all Pharaoh’s horses
, his chariots, and his horsemen.

(14.23)
“And the Egyptians pursued …
[with]
all Pharaoh’s horses.”
The Egyptians chased after the Israelites with “all Pharaoh’s horses.” But according to Exodus 9.3-6 there wouldn’t have been any horses, since God killed them all in “a very grievous murrain.”

24 And it came to pass, that in the morning watch
the LORD
looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,

25 And
took off their chariot wheels
, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.

(14.24-25)
“The Lord … took off their chariot wheels.”
God (the devious mechanic) personally removed the wheels from the Egyptian chariots.

26 And
the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians
, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.

(14.26)
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians.”

27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and
the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.

28
And
the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them;
there remained not so much as one of them.

(14.27-28)
“The LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. … And … there remained not so much as one of them.”
God drowned the Egyptian army. God’s 10th Killing

29
But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

(14.29)
“But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.”

30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.

31
And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians
: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.

(14.31)
“And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians.”

15
Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying,
I will sing unto the LORD
, for he hath triumphed gloriously:
the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea
.

(15.1)
“I will sing unto the LORD … the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.”

2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

3
The LORD is a man of war
: the LORD is his name.

(15.3)
“The Lord is a man of war.”
Indeed, judging from his acts in the Old Testament, he is a vicious warlike monster. But how can the same God be both a “man of war” and a “God of peace”?
99 Is God warlike or peaceful?

4
Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.

(15.4)
“Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.”

5 The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.

6
Thy right hand, O LORD
, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD,
hath dashed in pieces the enemy.

(15.6)
“Thy right hand, O LORD … hath dashed in pieces the enemy.”

7 And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee:
thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.

(15.7)
“Thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.”

8 And
with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together
, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea

(15.8)
“With the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together.”

9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil;
my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.

(15.9)
“My lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.”
God satisfies his lust by killing people with his sword.

10
Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.

(15.10)
“Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.”
God blows and makes people drown.

11
Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods?
who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

(15.11)
“Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods?”
Who can kill so many people?
9 How many gods are there?

12
Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.

(15.12)
“Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.”

13 Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.

14 The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.

15 Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.

16 Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.

17 Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O LORD, which thy hands have established.

18 The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.

19
For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them
; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.

(15.19)
“For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them.”

20
And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

(15.20)
“And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.”
100 Is dancing a sin?

21 And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the
horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

(15.21)
“Horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.”

22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.

24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

25 And he cried unto the LORD; and
the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet
: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,

(15.25)
“The LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet.”
God has Moses throw a tree in water to make the water taste sweet.

26 And said,
If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians
: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.