Was Pharaoh Drowned in the Red Sea?
Psalms 136:15 - But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.
According to "The Ten Commandments" with Charelston Heston, and "The Prince of Eqypt" cartoon-movie, Pharaoh lived after the Red Sea returned after Moses parted it.
But according to the Bible he drowned, Right?
Solution
|
Agree (4) Disagree (0) |
|
100% |
Yes, Absolutely! Pharaoh drowned in the Red Sea along with his entire army.
After hearing the news that the Israelites were trapped in the mountainous wilderness called the wilderness of the Red Sea (Ex. 13:18,20;14:1-3)(which is the Sinai Peninsula), the Pharaoh decided to pursue them.
Ex. 14:6 And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him
7 And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.
8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.
Ex 14:6-8 clearly says that the Pharaoh prepared or “made ready” his own chariot and personally “took” or led his entire army to hunt down the Israelites. As v. 8 says, “he pursued after the children of Israel”
Ex. 14:10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.
Ex. 14:10 says that after the Israelites were trapped at the Red Sea (at Nuweiba Beach next to the Gulf of Aqaba)(there is an old map of this place, which calls it Nuwayba’ al Muzayyinah or “Waters of Moses Opening”), the Pharaoh finally caught up with the Israelites or “drew nigh” to them that they could see with their eyes Pharaoh and his entire army.
Even God said that the Pharaoh was at the Red Sea crossing.
Ex. 14: 4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I [am] the LORD. And they did so.
17 And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
18 And the Egyptians shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
Ex 14:4,17-18 says that God will harden Pharaoh’s heart so that the Pharaoh would personally pursue the Israelites along with his entire army. Even v. 17 says that Pharaoh and his army would go in after them at the crossing of the Red Sea (Ex. 14:23). Why? So God would get honor upon Pharaoh himself and his entire army, and so that the Egyptians would believe that God is the LORD(Yahweh).
Conclusion: Pharaoh must have personally been at the Red Sea Crossing and drown so that God would be completely honored upon Pharaoh and his army. Ps. 136:15 testifies to that.
Now, one might say that Ex. 14:6 and Ex. 15:19 contradict each other since the first one says that Pharaoh “made ready his chariot”, while the other one says that “the horse of Pharaoh” drowned at the Red Sea, which would imply that Pharaoh was riding a horse and not a chariot. But remember what happened during the crossing of the Red Sea.
Ex. 14: 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.
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.
Ex. 14:23-25 says that when the Egyptians went in after the Israelites through the Red Sea, God confused them by taking off the wheels of the chariots in order to make it hard for the Egyptians to pursue the Israelites and to make them afraid that God was on Israel’s side. Probably God made the ground so muddy that the Egyptians “drave them (chariots) heavily”. Since the chariots were falling apart and were pretty much useless, Pharaoh continued the pursuit on one of his chariot horses by letting it loose and riding it. Pharaoh was arrogant and prideful to the very end, as Ex. 15:9-10 testifiies.
Don’t worry if some movies show something different from the Bible. Either they didn’t know or didn’t care to know. Either way, you can rely on the Word of God entirely.