Exodus 14:8, commentary and pictures

Israel went out boldly, in haste yet in order, divided into several bodies each with its leader. This pursuit was what God had told Moses beforehand would happen, for God directed Moses just where to encamp before the sea so that He would be honored before Pharaoh and all his host. It came after the Hebrews had been gone some days, after Israel had left and after the Egyptians had buried their dead and God's judgments had ceased.

The Egyptians regretted consenting to let Israel go, mourning the loss of their service as a very great loss. Word was brought to Pharaoh that the Hebrews had fled and would never return to serve him, and his counselors urged him to recover them for service. Pharaoh's heart was hardened by long withstanding God and by continual rebellion despite all the judgments suffered in Egypt and God's mighty, wondrous works. His counselors, mighty men, and people hardened with him by explaining the plagues and the bereavement, including the death of the firstborn, as the result of natural causes, denying God's power and refusing to admit the visitation was God's judgment.

Pharaoh repented of giving permission to depart and, with his people, decided to pursue the children of Israel and bring them back by force into Egypt and into service. He also meant to intimidate Israel with a display of power and greatness and to redeem Egypt's glory before the nations that would deride the Egyptians for yielding to Israel's God. He gathered a powerful, very large army with six hundred chariots, with mighty men on horses and in chariots equipped for war, including priests of idol gods, rulers, great men, and the mightiest of Egypt, and set out after them.

He pursued after them and overtook them while encamped by the sea, the place appointed for God's last display of power before the Egyptians. There Israel was shut in with the Red Sea before them and the Egyptian host behind them so they appeared trapped between the army and the water. God opened a miraculous path through the sea for His people, which the Hebrews walked on a dry path with high walls of water congealed on either side, and then returned the waters to their strength to cover and drown the Egyptians. The Egyptians, hardened by long resistance and increased in rebellion at the sight, blindly rushed into the path God had prepared, bringing utter destruction of the Egyptian host. Bringing Israel by the way of the sea revealed God as compassionate as well as a God of judgment.