Augustine of Hippo : WHAT DOES IT MEAN: IT SEEMED TO PHARAOH THAT HE WAS ON THE RIVER? — Pharaoh thought he was standing on the river . Abraham's servant used the same expression: Here I am standing on the fountain of water (Gen. 24:43). The Greek text, in the second passage, says: επι της πητης; in the same way as in the first one it says: επι του ποταμου. If this expression is correctly understood in the Psalm that says: That he founded the earth on the water (Ps. 24:2), there is no need to think that the earth swims on the water like a ship. In fact, according to this expression, it is perfectly understood that the earth is higher than water. For it is high above the waters, that the animals of the earth may dwell therein. [ — QUESTIONS ON GENESIS, Q. 131 (tr. J. Litteral, draft)