Exodus 14:8

8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out defiantly. ^[a]

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 prepared his chariot and took his army with him.

7 He took 600 of the best chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them.

8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out defiantly.

9 The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi-hahiroth, opposite Baal-zephon.

10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians marching after them, and they were terrified and cried out to the LORD.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or marching out boldly; literally marching out with an upraised hand