Joshua 24 6

Joshua 24:6 kjv

And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea.

Joshua 24:6 nkjv

'Then I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea; and the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea.

Joshua 24:6 niv

When I brought your people out of Egypt, you came to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea.

Joshua 24:6 esv

"'Then I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea. And the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea.

Joshua 24:6 nlt

But when your ancestors arrived at the Red Sea, the Egyptians chased after you with chariots and charioteers.

Joshua 24 verses

Joshua 24 6 Meaning

Joshua 24:6 recounts God's sovereign act of delivering the Israelite ancestors from Egypt. It details how the Almighty led them out, brought them to the edge of the Red Sea, and allowed the Egyptian army, with its formidable chariots and horsemen, to pursue them to that critical juncture. This verse highlights the deliberate divine orchestration of events, setting the stage for the miraculous salvation that established God's power and Israel's unique identity.

Joshua 24 6 Context

Joshua 24:6 is part of Joshua's final address to the Israelite nation at Shechem, shortly before his death (Joshua 24:1-28). This pivotal speech serves as a covenant renewal ceremony, reminding the people of God's unfailing faithfulness and miraculous interventions on their behalf throughout their history. Beginning with God's call to Abraham and tracing their journey through the patriarchs, the Egyptian bondage, the Exodus, wilderness wanderings, and conquest of Canaan, Joshua presents a compelling case for God's unilateral grace and power. Verse 6 specifically hones in on the foundational event of the Exodus, particularly the pursuit to the Red Sea, which climaxed in the greatest demonstration of God's salvific power against their most formidable oppressor. This historical recap sets the stage for Joshua's exhortation to "choose for yourselves today whom you will serve," highlighting God's past actions as the basis for present and future loyalty.

Joshua 24 6 Word analysis

• And I brought: The pronoun "I" refers to Yahweh (God) speaking through Joshua, emphasizing God's personal and active role in deliverance. The Hebrew verb יָצָא ( yatsa') means "to go out, to lead out, to bring forth." It signifies an intentional and powerful act of liberation, not a mere escape. God initiated and accomplished this removal.
• your fathers: Hebrew: אֲבֹתֵיכֶם (ʾavōteykhem). This term underscores the continuity of the covenant lineage, directly linking the present generation to the foundational events of their national history. It emphasizes inherited identity and the intergenerational nature of God's faithfulness.
• out of Egypt: Hebrew: מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם (mimmitzrayim). "Egypt" represents the land of severe bondage and oppressive power. Being "brought out" signifies release from slavery and entry into freedom, a central theme of redemption throughout the Bible.
• and ye came unto the sea: Hebrew: וַתָּבֹ֥אוּ יָ֖מָּה (vatavoʾu yammâ). "Came" implies guided movement. God intentionally led them to a seeming dead end, amplifying the necessity of His direct intervention. The "sea" (יָם, yam) refers to the Red Sea, a location divinely chosen to demonstrate absolute power.
• and the Egyptians pursued after: Hebrew: וַיִּרְדְּפ֣וּ מִצְרַיִם֙ (vayyirdᵉfû mitsrayim). The verb "pursued" (רָדַף, radaf) conveys aggressive, relentless chasing, highlighting the dire and humanly inescapable predicament Israel faced. This pursuit was divinely orchestrated to set the stage for a spectacular rescue.
• your fathers: Reinforces the generational connection and the specific historical event being recounted to the current assembly.
• with chariots and horsemen: Hebrew: בְּרֶ֣כֶב וּבְפָרָשִׁ֗ים (bᵉrekhev ûvᵉfārāšîm). These were the peak of ancient military technology and power, symbolizing the overwhelming might of Pharaoh's army. It emphasizes the impossible odds Israel faced, further magnifying God's omnipotence when He destroyed them.
• unto the Red Sea: Hebrew: יַם־ס֖וּף (yam-sûph). Lit. "sea of reeds." This specific geographical designation identifies the exact location of the climactic deliverance. It serves as the tangible backdrop for one of God's most iconic and powerful acts of salvation in Israel's history. This was not a random place but the appointed arena for divine victory.

• "I brought your fathers out of Egypt": This phrase encapsulates God's absolute sovereignty over history and nations. It emphasizes that Israel's freedom was not achieved by human effort or rebellion, but by God's unilateral act of power. It established the bedrock of their national identity and their special relationship with Yahweh.
• "ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers": This passage highlights divine providence, where seemingly desperate circumstances were part of God's plan. God led them to the sea knowing the Egyptians would pursue. This intentional juxtaposition of human impossibility (trapped at the sea) and overwhelming threat (the pursuing army) magnifies the miraculous nature of the coming salvation. It serves as a strong polemic against the notion that any other deity or human power could challenge God's supreme authority, directly refuting Egyptian theological claims of Pharaoh's divinity and the strength of their gods like Ra or Ptah.
• "with chariots and horsemen unto the Red Sea": This details the severity of the threat. Egyptian chariots and cavalry were the most formidable military force of the era. The mention of "Red Sea" (Yam Suph) is significant; it became the definitive symbol of God's ability to create a path where none existed, to deliver His people completely, and to judge His enemies decisively. The encounter at Yam Suph solidified God's identity as a Warrior for His people, a stark contrast to the pagan gods dependent on human effort or limited in their spheres of influence.

Joshua 24 6 Bonus section

This verse functions as part of a crucial "historical prologue" in covenant literature, common in ancient Near Eastern treaties where the great king would recount his benevolent deeds to his vassals, obligating their loyalty. Here, Yahweh is the Great King, and Israel the vassal. Joshua 24:6, detailing the Red Sea event, serves as the central act of grace and power in this divine-human treaty. The strategic choice of leading them to a "dead end" at the sea highlights God's "making a way where there was no way," a theme that resonates throughout biblical history as a metaphor for impossible divine intervention. This specific act also served as the initiation for Israel into a unique relationship with God, often paralleled with the concept of "spiritual baptism" into Moses and God's covenant, as alluded to in the New Testament. The deliberate bringing of Israel to the sea, not just out of Egypt, set the stage for an encounter that permanently cemented God's supremacy over all earthly powers and idols.

Joshua 24 6 Commentary

Joshua 24:6 serves as a foundational historical recap within Joshua's farewell address, reminding Israel of God's direct and sovereign involvement in their redemption. It encapsulates the core truth of God's character as Deliverer. By recounting how He meticulously brought them out of Egyptian bondage and led them to the precipice of the Red Sea, intentionally setting them up for what appeared to be inescapable destruction by Pharaoh's elite military, the verse magnifies God's power and strategic foresight. This dire situation was not an accident but a divinely orchestrated prelude to the ultimate display of His salvific might, underscoring that their freedom and existence as a nation were entirely dependent on God's miraculous intervention, not on their own strength or planning. The vulnerability of Israel and the overwhelming force of their enemies (chariots and horsemen) further accentuate the absolute power of the Lord who acted on their behalf. This pivotal event ingrained in Israel's consciousness that their salvation was an act of grace, setting a pattern for God's faithful deliverance throughout their history.