Exodus 14:3

3 Pharaoh will say of the Israelites, "They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has closed in on them."

Exodus 14:3 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 14:3

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.


FOOTNOTES:

F14 (Mhyle rgo) "clausit viam illis", Pagninus, "praeclusit sese illis", Vatablus.
F15 Dr. Shaw's Travels, p. 309. Ed. 2.

Exodus 14:3 In-Context

1 Then the Lord said to Moses:
2 Tell the Israelites to turn back and camp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall camp opposite it, by the sea.
3 Pharaoh will say of the Israelites, "They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has closed in on them."
4 I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, so that I will gain glory for myself over Pharaoh and all his army; and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord. And they did so.
5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the minds of Pharaoh and his officials were changed toward the people, and they said, "What have we done, letting Israel leave our service?"
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.