Exodus 14:3

“For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, etc.] 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” f426; the wilderness between the mountains the above mentioned traveller speaks of f427 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…”

“the wilderness hath shut them in--Pharaoh, who would eagerly watch their movements, was now satisfied that they were meditating flight, and he naturally thought from the error into which they appeared to have fallen by entering that defile, he could intercept them. He believed them now entirely in his power, the mountain chain being on one side, the sea on the other, so that, if he pursued them in the rear, escape seemed impossible.”

“They are entangled ... - The original intention of Moses was to go toward Palestine by the wilderness: when that purpose was changed by God’s direction and they moved southwards, Pharaoh, on receiving information, was of course aware that they were completely shut in, since the waters of the Red Sea then extended to the Bitter Lakes. It is known that the Red Sea at some remote period extended considerably further toward the north than it does at present. In the time of Moses the water north of Kolsum joined the Bitter Lakes, though at present the constant accumulation of sand has covered the intervening space to the extent of 8000 to 10,000 yards. return to 'Top of Page'”

“They are entangled - Inclosed with mountains, and garrisons, and deserts. Exodus 14:5”

“Pharaoh: Exo 7:3, Exo 7:4; Deu 31:21; Psa 139:2, Psa 139:4; Eze 38:10, Eze 38:11, Eze 38:17; Act 4:28 They are entangled: Jdg 16:2; Sa1 23:7, Sa1 23:23; Psa 3:2, Psa 71:11; Jer 20:10, Jer 20:11 Exodus 14:4”

“This turn in their route was not out of the way for the passage through the Red Sea; but apart from this, it was not only out of the way, but a very foolish way, according to human judgment. God commanded Moses to take this road, that He might be honoured upon Pharaoh, and show the Egyptians that He was Jehovah (cf. Exo 14:30, Exo 14:31). Pharaoh would say of the Israelites, They have lost their way; they are wandering about in confusion; the desert has shut them in, as in a prison upon which the door is shut (על סנר as in Job 12:14); and in his obduracy he would resolve to go after them with his army, and bring them under his sway again. Exo 14:4-9 When it was announced that Israel had…”