11:29

By faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land: The Israelites and the “vast mixed company” who joined them obeyed Jehovah’s instructions for the Exodus. (Ex 12:37, 38, 50) They followed the pillar of cloud and of fire to the Red Sea. (Ex 13:21, 22; 14:2) When they seemed to be trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army, the people panicked. (Ex 14:10-12) But Moses encouraged them to trust in Jehovah’s salvation, and they felt God’s protection by means of the cloud between them and the Egyptians. (Ex 14:13, 19, 20) When Jehovah parted the waters, the people followed Moses’ direction and successfully crossed the seabed, demonstrating faith by their obedience.​—Ex 14:21, 22.

the Red Sea: Paul uses the accepted Greek name for this body of water, which was also the name used in the Septuagint version. (Ex 15:4; De 11:4) Luke did likewise in recording Stephen’s speech to the Sanhedrin. (Ac 7:36) Because the name used in the Hebrew Scriptures could mean “Reed Sea” or “Sea of Reeds,” some modern scholars have asserted that the Hebrew name proves that Moses led the Israelites across reedy, shallow water. However, the Hebrew Scriptures use this same term when referring to geographical locations associated with the Red Sea, such as Elim, Mount Hor, and Ezion-geber (near Edom). (Ex 15:4, 22; 16:1; Nu 21:4; 33:10; 1Ki 9:26) This fact verifies that the Hebrew term corresponds to the body of water commonly called the Red Sea and not simply to some shallow, marshy areas, as that theory would suggest. Further, Paul states here that the Egyptians were swallowed up, or totally engulfed, when they attempted to pursue the Israelites across the seabed. For that to happen, the crossing could not have taken place at a shallow marsh; it must have occurred at a fairly deep part of the Red Sea.​—Ex 14:26-28; see also Ps 106:9-11; 136:13-15.