For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel
The Septuagint version adds, "to his people", his ministers and
courtiers, when he hears where they are: they are entangled
in the land;
have lost their way, and got into places they cannot easily get
out of, and are perplexed in their minds, and do not know what
way to take or course to steer: the wilderness hath shut
them in;
or, "shut up the way to them" F14; the wilderness between the
mountains the above mentioned traveller speaks of F15 the
mountains of Gewoubee; these would stop their flight or progress
to the southward, as those of the Attackah would do the same
towards the land of the Philistines; the Red sea likewise lay
before them to the east, while Pharaoh (could) close up the
valley behind them, with his chariots and his horsemen; and
which, no doubt, appeared very advantageous and encouraging to
him, as it must be very distressing to the Israelites.
F14 (Mhyle rgo) "clausit viam illis", Pagninus, "praeclusit sese illis", Vatablus.
F15 Dr. Shaw's Travels, p. 309. Ed. 2.