Exodus 14:3

3 And Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.

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.

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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 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn back and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal-zephon: over against it shall ye encamp by the sea.

3 And Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.

4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he shall follow after them; and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host: and the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah. And they did so.

5 And it was told the king of Egypt that the people were fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed towards the people, and they said, What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?