Exodus

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Exodus 15 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on Exodus 15 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment


1 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.

(15:1-21) Moses and the people sing praises to their murderous god.
If the Egyptians had succeeded in their plans, they probably would have killed many Israelites, enslaved them again, and continue to murder their children. But when God protects them, the author of the SAB claims he murders innocent Egyptians.

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"?
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.

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."
He smashes people with his right hand.
It is sooo insensitive to kill those who want to kill you.

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.

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.
The author of the SAB has misread this verse. The person saying this is Pharaoh. This is what he intended to do: to kill the Israelites.

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.
Yes, if God protects his people against those that wanted to kill them (verse 9), it is murder.

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?
How many gods are there?
This verse does not say these other gods exist, but is comparing God to all those the Egyptians claimed were gods. They were nothing compared to God.
And again, defence is murder according to the author of the SAB.

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


(15:12) "Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them."
If that had not happened to their enemies, the Israelites themselves would have been killed.

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."
Is dancing a sin?
There is dancing and dancing, see Gal. 5:19.

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.
The author of the SAB was there and can confirm it did not happen. And of course, by itself, this tree would have been insufficient for the quantities of water. A clear miracle happened. But I suppose the argument is: it cannot be repeated in a laboratory, therefore it didn't happen.

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.


(15:26) "Diseases ... which I have brought upon the Egyptians"
If you do what God says, he won't send his diseases on you (like he did to the Egyptians). But otherwise....
What the Bible says about medical science
This is a reference to the plagues which befell the Egyptians. They were punishments for their sins.
On the phrase “do what God says, else”: is human law not similar? If you disobey it, you will be punished. Or does the author of the SAB really find that unjust? One should just be allowed to steal?

27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.