John Calvin Commentary Exodus 15:16

"Terror and dread falleth upon them; By the greatness of thine arm they are as still as a stone; Till thy people pass over, O Jehovah, Till the people pass over that thou hast purchased." — Exodus 15:16 (ASV)

Fear and dread shall fall upon them. Some read this in the optative mood, but with little probability, as it seems to me; for Moses is not so much expressing wishes or prayers as animating the Israelites to have a good hope and to be firmly convinced that God would not conclude until He had finished the course of His grace.

We may fairly apply this to ourselves at this time, namely, that God will continue His calling in the elect until they are brought to the goal. For the heavenly inheritance (to which we are called) corresponds to “the mountain” of His holiness.¹⁶⁶

The same reason, previously advanced, is again repeated, namely, that God would not fail His people until the end, because He had “purchased” them for Himself.

For the translation which thou hast possessed is not so suitable; because although Moses signifies that they are God’s peculiar people, yet their deliverance is undoubtedly asserted as the cause of their full redemption. It is as if he had said that the people whom God had once undertaken to protect would always be dear to Him.

¹⁶⁶ Sion. — Fr..