Exodus 14:24Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The early morning hours. The ancient Hebrews segmented the night into three distinct intervals, each lasting four hours, which they referred to as watches or shifts of sentinels. The early morning watch aligns with our timekeeping as the hours between 3 and 6 in the morning. The Lord gazed upon the forces of Egypt, displaying His anger through a manifestation of fire and clouds, unleashing storms of thunder and lightning upon the Egyptians. At least, this is how the Psalmist conveys the scene: "The clouds poured out waters, the clouds issued thunder and Thy arrows (lightnings) flew. The voice of Thy thunder in the circle of heaven, the lightnings illuminated the universe, the earth shook and trembled Thy way in the sea” (Psalm 76:18-20).

O. Gerlach notes that the Israelites had a duration of twelve hours to cross the sea, spanning from 6 PM on the previous day until 6 AM the following day, which was adequate for the crossing of such a large multitude.