Exodus 14:8

8 The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, so he chased after the people of Israel, who had left with fists raised in defiance.

Exodus 14:8 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 14:8

And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt
As he said he would, ( Exodus 14:4 ) ,

and he pursued after the children of Israel;
took their rout in pursuit of them:

and the children of Israel went out with an high hand:
not once dreaming they should be pursued by Pharaoh as an enemy, when they went out with his full consent, and with such pressing solicitations to be gone, and with so much favour shown them by the Egyptians; wherefore they set out, and went on with great boldness, courage, and intrepidity; "with an uncovered head", as the Targum of Onkelos, without any fear, and with great alacrity and cheerfulness; they carried both their heads and their hands high, were fearless and thoughtless of any danger when this mighty preparation was making against them.

Exodus 14:8 In-Context

6 So Pharaoh harnessed his chariot and called up his troops.

7 He took with him 600 of Egypt’s best chariots, along with the rest of the chariots of Egypt, each with its commander.

8 The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, so he chased after the people of Israel, who had left with fists raised in defiance.

9 The Egyptians chased after them with all the forces in Pharaoh’s army—all his horses and chariots, his charioteers, and his troops. The Egyptians caught up with the people of Israel as they were camped beside the shore near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon.

10 As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the LORD,