Exodus 15:9
The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
Study Note
Study Note
The enemy's boast — 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them' — is placed in the mouth of the Egyptians immediately before the Sea of Reeds closes over them. The five boastful 'I will' statements build to a climax of confident violence that makes the immediate divine response (15:10: 'thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them') all the more devastating in its brevity. Literary scholars have noted this as a masterpiece of dramatic irony: the most elaborate speech in the Song of Moses belongs to the enemy, making his complete annihilation the more humiliating. The motif of the boasting enemy whose plans are reversed by a single divine act runs through Psalms 2, 46, and 76.
Other Translations
The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
The enemy said, I pursue, I overtake; I apportion spoil; Filled is my soul with them; I draw out my sword; My hand destroyeth them: --
Egypt said, I will go after them, I will overtake, I will make division of their goods: my desire will have its way with them; my sword will be uncovered, my hand will send destruction on them.
Cross References
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because …
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For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am …
For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings?
Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a …
But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour …
Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter …
Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide …
But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and …
And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and …