Exodus 14:8

8 And Yahweh hardened the heart of Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and he chased after the {Israelites}. (Now the {Israelites} [were] going out {boldly}.)

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 And he harnessed his chariot and took with him his people.

7 And he took six hundred select chariots and all the chariots of Egypt and officers over all of them.

8 And Yahweh hardened the heart of Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and he chased after the {Israelites}. (Now the {Israelites} [were] going out {boldly}.)

9 And [the] Egyptians chased after them, and they overtook them encamped at the sea--all the horses of the chariots of Pharaoh and his charioteers and his army--at Pi-hahiroth before Baal Zephon.

10 And Pharaoh approached, and the {Israelites} lifted their eyes, and there were the Egyptians traveling after them! And they were very afraid, and the {Israelites} cried out to Yahweh.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [b]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [c]. Literally "with a raised/high hand"