Pharaoh Pursues the Israelites

Then the LORD said to Moses 2 “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp before vvv Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. You are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite vvv Baal-zephon

3 

For Pharaoh will say vvv of the Israelites,‘They are wandering the land in confusion; the wilderness has boxed them in.’ 4 And I will harden[fn] Pharaoh’s heart so that he will pursue them. But I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.”

So this is what the Israelites did.

5 

When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about [them] and said,“What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.”

6 

So [Pharaoh] prepared his chariot and took his army with him. 7 He took600 of the best chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them.

8 

And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt so that he pursued the Israelites who were marching out defiantly 9 The Egyptians— all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops— pursued [the Israelites] and overtook them as they camped by the sea near vvv Pi-hahiroth, opposite vvv Baal-zephon.

10 

As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians marching after them, and [they] were terrified and cried out to the LORD. 11 They said to Moses,“Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us into the wilderness to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 {Did we} not say to you in Egypt‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

13 

But Moses told the people,“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today you will never see again 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

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