Exodus 15:6-7

15:6 Your right hand, O Lord, was majestic ¹  in power,

your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy.

15:7 In the abundance of your majesty ²  you have overthrown ³ 

those who rise up against you. ⁴ 

You sent forth ⁵  your wrath; ⁶ 

it consumed them ⁷  like stubble.

Exodus 15:12-13

15:12 You stretched out your right hand,

the earth swallowed them. ⁸ 

15:13 By your loyal love you will lead ⁹  the people whom ¹⁰  you have redeemed;

you will guide ¹¹  them by your strength to your holy dwelling place.

[15:6]  ¹ tn The form נֶאְדָּרִי (ne’dari) may be an archaic infinitive with the old ending i, used in place of the verb and meaning “awesome.” Gesenius says that the vowel ending may be an old case ending, especially when a preposition is inserted between the word and its genitive (GKC 253 §90.l), but he suggests a reconstruction of the form.

[15:7]  ² sn This expression is cognate with words in v. 1. Here that same greatness or majesty is extolled as in abundance.

[15:7]  ³ tn Here, and throughout the song, these verbs are the prefixed conjugation that may look like the imperfect but are actually historic preterites. This verb is to “overthrow” or “throw down” – like a wall, leaving it in shattered pieces.

[15:7]  ⁴ tn The form קָמֶיךָ (qamekha) is the active participle with a pronominal suffix. The participle is accusative, the object of the verb, but the suffix is the genitive of nearer definition (see GKC 358 §116.i).

[15:7]  ⁵ sn The verb is the Piel of שָׁלַח (shalakh), the same verb used throughout for the demand on Pharaoh to release Israel. Here, in some irony, God released his wrath on them.

[15:7]  ⁶ sn The word wrath is a metonymy of cause; the effect – the judgment – is what is meant.

[15:7]  ⁷ tn The verb is the prefixed conjugation, the preterite, without the consecutive vav (ו).

[15:12]  ⁸ tn The verb is the prefixed conjugation, the preterite without the vav consecutive. The subject, the “earth,” must be inclusive of the sea, or it may indicate the grave or Sheol; the sea drowned them. Some scholars wish to see this as a reference to Dathan and Abiram, and therefore evidence of a later addition or compilation. It fits this passage well, however.

[15:13]  ⁹ tn The verbs in the next two verses are perfect tenses, but can be interpreted as a prophetic perfect, looking to the future.

[15:13]  ¹⁰ tn The particle זוּ (zu) is a relative pronoun, subordinating the next verb to the preceding.

[15:13]  ¹¹ tn This verb seems to mean “to guide to a watering-place” (See Ps 23:2).