Song of Moses

Text and Content

The term "Song of Moses" refers to two Old Testament passages.

• Exodus 15:1-18: The song that Moses and the children of Israel sang together after Israel crossed the Red Sea. It celebrates how God cast Pharaoh's chariots and army into the sea. It contains declarations such as "The LORD is a man of war" (Exodus 15:3) and "Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods?" (Exodus 15:11). The latter part of the song declares that the inhabitants of Philistia, Edom, Moab, and Canaan will tremble with fear and that God will lead His people to His dwelling place, and it concludes with "The LORD shall reign for ever and ever" (Exodus 15:18). Afterward, Miriam takes a timbrel (a small hand drum), dances with the women, and answers with the opening line of the song (Exodus 15:20-21). For this reason the song is also called the "Song of the Sea."
• Deuteronomy 32:1-43: The song that Moses recited to the congregation of Israel before his death. God commanded that this song be written down and taught so that it might be a witness against Israel (Deuteronomy 31:19). The song exalts God's faithfulness, declaring, "He is the Rock" (Deuteronomy 32:4). It then describes Israel's apostasy and the judgment that follows, and it closes by proclaiming that God will avenge His people against their enemies.

Background

The song of Exodus 15 is a hymn of deliverance sung immediately after the crossing of the Red Sea. The song of Deuteronomy 32 bears witness to the covenant on the eve of Israel's entry into Canaan. Both are composed as Hebrew poetry. Many scholars regard Exodus 15 as belonging to an early stratum of Hebrew poetry, though opinions differ on its date of composition.

Significance in Scripture as a Whole

In Revelation 15:3-4, those who have gained the victory over the beast stand by the sea of glass and sing "the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb." The expression unites the deliverance of the Exodus and the salvation accomplished by Christ, the Lamb, in a single song. Paul wrote of the Red Sea crossing that the Israelites "were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea" (1 Corinthians 10:2). Deuteronomy 32 is quoted several times in the New Testament: Romans 10:19 cites 32:21; Romans 12:19 and Hebrews 10:30 cite 32:35; and Romans 15:10 cites 32:43.

Interpretation and Issues

• The song referred to in Revelation: Many interpreters identify it with Exodus 15 because of shared themes such as the sea and judgment upon enemies. Others identify it with Deuteronomy 32 or regard the expression as evoking both songs together. The words of Revelation 15:3-4 do not reproduce either text directly and are closer to the language of Psalm 86:9 and Jeremiah 10:7.
• The singing multitude: Dispensationalist interpretation often identifies the multitude in Revelation 15 as saints of the Great Tribulation. Other traditions read this multitude as symbolizing the victorious church of all ages.
• Distinguishing popular claims from the text: Exodus 15 is frequently described as "the first song in the Bible," but the text itself makes no such claim. Poetic passages appear earlier, such as Lamech's words in Genesis 4:23-24. In addition, the superscription of Psalm 90 reads "A Prayer of Moses the man of God," designating it a prayer rather than a song.