Journal: Westminster Theological Journal
Volume: WTJ 57:2 (Fall 1995)
Article: The Song Of Redemption
Author: Richard D. Patterson

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WTJ 57:2 (Fall 1995) p. 453

The Song Of Redemption

Richard D. Patterson

One of the loveliest songs in the corpus of Israel’s earliest poetry is Moses’ song commemorating Israel’s deliverance from the Egyptian forces during the Exodus from Egypt (Exod 15:1b–18). The song may be conveniently outlined as follows:

I. Prelude (1b–2)

A. Exordium (1b)

B. Opening confession/praise (2)

II. Singing the Song (3–16)

A. First movement: The victory at the Re(e)d Sea (3–5)

**Hinging refrain—in praise of Yahweh’s invincibility (6)

B. Second movement: The vindication of God’s sovereignty (7–10)

1. Over his enemy (7)

2. Over the enemy’s plans (8–10)

**Hinging refrain—in praise of Yahweh’s incomparability (11)

C. Third movement: The vigor of God’s activity (12–16a)

1. As a powerful God of redemption (12–13)

2. As a fearsome God of rebuke (14–16a)

**Hinging refrain—in praise of Yahweh’s intervention (16b)

III. Postlude (17–18)

A. Promise: God will return his people to his land and theirs (17)

B. Praise: May God (God will) reign forever (18)

The text is located within the narrative concerning Israel’s departure from Egypt as recorded in Exod 13:17–15:21. The near context (Exod 14:26ff.) describes Israel’s safe crossing through the parted waves of the Re(e)d Sea before the waters’ return to destroy the pursuing Egyptians. The smooth flow of the prose narrative from 14:31 to 15:19–21 favors the sugg...

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