Wednesday, July 6, 2022

Exodus 14:20 in the KJV and JST

Exo 14:20 in the KJV and JST reads as follows:

KJV

1867 Inspired Version (RLDS)

And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to the Egyptians, but it gave light by night to the Israelites, so that the one came not near the other all the night.

 

In Old Testament Manuscript 2, page 68, we read the following:

 


 

to the Egyptians — — the Israelites

 

The KJV is ambiguous as to the identity of the “them” in “darkness to them.” The JST clarifies that that the “them” refers to the Egyptians.

 

This fits commentaries on the book of Exodus. Rasham on Exodus 14:20 wrote that

 

ויהי הענן והחושך, the cloud spread darkness for the Egyptian . . .

 

Rabbeinu Bahya, Shemot 14:20:1-4 noted that

 

. . . the Egyptians could see the Israelites as they saw the pillar of fire through the pillar of cloud. When one sits in the dark one can see light even if the light is distant. Israel, however, could not see the Egyptians as people bathed in light cannot see those who sit surrounded by darkness.

 

Commenting on Exo 14:20, Nahum Sarna noted that the

 

Traditional interpretation took it that the side of the cloud facing the Egyptians remained dark, while the other side illuminated the night for the Israelites. (Nahum M. Sarna, Exodus [The JPS Torah Commentary; Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1991], 73)