ransomed to pass over. History
has no scene more picturesque than this wild night march, in the roar of
tempest, amid the flying foam which "baptized" them unto Moses,[27]
while the glimmering waters stood up like a rampart to protect their
flanks; the full moon of passover above them, shown and hidden as the
swift clouds raced before the storm, while high and steadfast overhead,
unshaken by the fiercest blast, illumined by a mysterious splendour,
"stood" the vast cloud which veiled like a curtain their whole host from
the pursuer. This it was, and the experience of such protection that the
Egyptians, overawed, came not near them, which gave them courage to
enter the bed of the sea; and as they trod the strange road they found
that not only were the waters driven off the surface, but the sands were
left firm to traverse.

But when the blind fury of Pharaoh, "hardened" against everything but
the sense that his prey was escaping, sent his army along the same
track, and this after long delay, at a crisis when every moment was
priceless, then a new element of terrible sublimity was added. Through
the pillar of cloud and fire Jehovah looked forth on the Egyptian host,
as they pressed on behind, unable to penetrate the supernatural gloom,
cold fear creeping into every heart, while the chariot wheels laboured
heavily in the wet sand. In that direful vision at last the question was
answered, "Who is Jehovah, that I should let His people go?" Now it was
the turn of those who said "Israel is entangled in the land, the
wilderness hath shut them in," themselves to be taken in a worse net.
For at that awful gaze the iron curb of military discipline gave way;
their labouring chariots, the pride and defence of the nation, were
forsaken; and a wild cry broke out, "Let us fly from the face of Israel,
for Jehovah"--He who plagued us--"fighteth for them against the
Egyptians." But their humiliation came too late,--for in the morning
watch, at a natural time for atmospheric changes, but in obedience to
the rod of Moses, the furious wind veered or fell, and the sea returned
to its accustomed limits; and first, as the sands beneath became
saturated, the chariots were overturned and the mail-clad charioteers
went down "like lead," and then the hissing line of foam raced forward
and closed around and over the shrieking mob which was the pride and
strength of Egypt only an hour before.

But, as the story repeats twice over, with a very natura