One day, the great painter Hogarth was commissioned to paint a picture of Pharaoh crossing the Red Sea. Shortly after the work began, a hitch arose over the fee, and Hogarth found he would have to complete the commission for about half his expected sum.
When the painting was finished, the patron was invited to inspect it. In reality, the picture was just one daub of brilliant red.
"What's this?" exclaimed the purchaser. "I asked for the Red Sea on the occasion of its celebrated passage."
"That's it," replied Hogarth.
"But where are the Israelites?"
"They are all gone over."
"Where are the Egyptians?"
"They're all drowned."