Exodus 14:4

4 "I will make Pharaoh's heart stubborn. He will chase them. But I will gain glory for myself because of what will happen to Pharaoh and his whole army. And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord." So the Israelites camped by the Red Sea.

Exodus 14:4 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 14:4

And I will harden Pharaoh's heart
Once more, as he had often done: that he shall follow after them:
to Pihahiroth, and even into the sea after them: and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host;
in his wisdom, faithfulness, power, and justice, by the destruction of them: that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord;
the only Jehovah, the Lord God omnipotent; even those that feel the weight of his hand while troubling their host, and bringing the waters upon them; especially those that shall remain in the land, and will not be involved in the catastrophe: and they did so:
the Israelites turned to the right to Pihahiroth, instead of going by Bishbesh and Tinah (Bubastis and Pelusium), and so along the sea coast towards Gaza and Ascalon, and encamped there between Migdol and the sea over against Baalzephon, as they were ordered and directed.

Exodus 14:4 In-Context

2 He said, "Tell the people of Israel to turn back. Have them camp near Pi Hahiroth between Migdol and the Red Sea. They must camp by the sea, right across from Baal Zephon.

3 Pharaoh will think, 'The people of Israel are wandering around the land. They don't know which way to go. The desert is all around them.'

4 "I will make Pharaoh's heart stubborn. He will chase them. But I will gain glory for myself because of what will happen to Pharaoh and his whole army. And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord." So the Israelites camped by the Red Sea.

5 The king of Egypt was told that the people had gotten away. Then Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them. They said, "What have we done? We've let the people of Israel go! We've lost our slaves and all of the work they used to do for us!"

6 So he had his chariot made ready. He took his army with him.