Exodus 14:1-10 ▼

1 The LORD told Moses,

2 |Tell the Israelis that they are to turn back and camp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. You are to camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it by the sea.

3 Pharaoh will say about the Israelis, 'They're wandering aimlessly in the land, and the desert has closed in on them.'

4 I've made Pharaoh's heart stubborn so he will pursue them. But I'll receive honor by means of Pharaoh and his army, so that the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.| So this is what the Israelis did.

5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the minds of Pharaoh and his officials changed toward the people, and they said, |What have we done in releasing Israel from serving us?|

6 So Pharaoh had his chariot prepared and took his troops with him.

7 He took 600 of the best chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers in charge of each one.

8 The LORD made the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, stubborn, and he defiantly pursued the Israelis as they were leaving.

9 The Egyptians pursued them—all the chariot-horses of Pharaoh, along with his horsemen and army—and they overtook them camped by the sea, near Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal Zephon.

10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelis looked up, and there were the Egyptians bearing down on them! Extremely frightened, the Israelis cried out to the LORD.