UTN uW Translation Notes:

Exodus 15 General Notes

Structure and Formatting

Verses 1b-18 and 21b of chapter 15 are poetry. They are a song of praise to Yahweh because he defeated and destroyed the Egyptian army (Exodus 14:26–28). Translating poetry should be done by someone who is a skilled poet in the target language. Because the forms of poetry are so different in different languages, a translation that is good poetry in the target language may seem very different from the original poem. The structure may look quite different. The poet will be well served by looking at the entire poem from multiple perspectives. He will need to know the meaning of the poem, the themes and discourse structure of the poem, and the feelings that the poem is supposed to create in the reader at each point (UST, tNotes). He will need to understand how that was accomplished by the original form and structure (ULT). Then he will need to compose the translated poem using forms and structures that have the same or similar meaning, themes, discourse elements, and feelings in his own language. Unlike in many other places, most notes in this chapter will not advise towards expressing meaning in plain ways or combining parallel phrases as that advice would be too simplistic for handling poetry.

Structure

This song follows a basic AB structure which is given to us in verse 1b-c and 21b-c:* A - praise to Yahweh - he is magnificent (expressed in various words)* B - because he defeats our enemiesThe song can be divided into three major sections, each of which is patterned as: AB(a)b. Each section starts with an AB portion which is characterized by fewer verbal forms (especially the A portion). The section then elaborates on each. Note that there are other possible analyses of the structure of the poem.Here is an outline of the structure according to this model:* Section 1 (See: alternate breakdown below):* 1b: A “Let me sing to Yahweh, for he has triumphantly triumphed;”* 1c: B “the horse and the one riding it he threw into the sea.”* 2–3: a* 4–5: b* Section 2:* 6a: A* 6b: B* 7a: a “And in the abundance of your majesty”* 7a-10: b “you overthrow those who rise up against you … ”* Section 3:* 11: A* 12: B* 13a: a (possibly) “In your covenant loyalty”* 13a-17: b* 18: finaleAlternate breakdown of section 1: it is possible to view 1b-c as the introduction and divide verse 2 such that:* 2a: A “Yah is my strength and my song”* 2b: B “and he has become my salvation”* 2c-3: a* 4–5: b

Themes:

There are several images and themes that are throughout the song as well as some that are throughout an individual section.* “High” versus “low”: Yahweh is high, while his enemies are low.* The following words are all related to the idea of being high or rising up: triumph (v1), exalt (v2), majestic (v6, v11), majesty (v7), and the mountain of \\Yahweh’s\\] possession ([v17). In the last case, Yahweh’s people are brought to a high place with him.* In contrast, his enemies are low. Note in 15:7, Yahweh overthrows those who rise up against \\him\\]. Ideas of being low are as follows: sank ([v4, v10), deeps (v5), descended into the depths (v5), melted away (v15), and fall on them (v16).* The strength of Yahweh in 15:2, 15:6, and 15:13.* The effectiveness of Yahweh’s hand versus the enemy’s hand. Yahweh’s hand (and arm) is effective in 15:6, 15:12, 15:16, and 15:17 but the enemy’s hand is ineffective despite his boasting in 15:9.* There is parallel imagery near the end of each section. The enemy is compared three times by simile to a heavy, inert object. In 15:5 and 15:16 that is a stone, in 15:10 that is lead.* More parallel imagery occurs at the end of sections one (v5) and two (v10): that of the enemy sinking in the water and being covered by it.* In sections two and three the water (v8) and the other peoples (v16) are made still by Yahweh.* Section two begins and ends with majestic (v6, v10) and that word is picked up in the beginning of section three (v11).* In section two (v9), the enemies seek to dispossess (or disinherit) the Israelites; in section three (v16), the Israelites come to live in the land of Yahweh’s possession (or inheritance).* In 15:11, three themes for the third section are introduced. These are each expanded on in that section.* Holiness occurs again in 15:13 and 15:16* Fear is vividly described in 15:14–16 (shake, terror, panic, trembling, melted away, dread)* Yahweh does miracles to protect and build a home for his people* 15:14–16a are a chiasm, a complex parallel structure where concepts are repeated in reverse order:* A: 14a: peoples (nations) *become* afraid* B: 14b: *inhabitants* of Philistia are afraid* C: 15a: *rulers* of Edom are afraid* C’: 15b: *rulers* of Moab are afraid* B’: 15c: *inhabitants* of Canaan are afraid* A’: 16a: people *become* afraid* In section three, there is another parallel structure:* v13: you led this people => v16: your people pass by* v13: this people you redeemed => v16: this people you acquired (or purchased or ransomed)* v13: you led them to the home => v17: you will bring them … \\to\\] the place … you made* v13: of your holiness => v17: the Holy Place

Special Concepts in this Chapter

The Israelite’s discontent

In [15:24 the word murmur is introduced for the first time. This is a very strong term for “grumble” or “complain” that is used to describe the Israelites’ attitude throughout their time in the wilderness. It occurs several times in Exodus and Numbers.

Yahweh’s laws

In verses 24–26, there is an introductory revelation of the requirement that Israel keep the covenant by obeying the law of Moses. (See: lawofmoses and reveal)