שמות, פרק י״ד, פסוק כ״ה

At the climax of the pursuit through the parted sea, the tide suddenly turns against the mighty Egyptian army. Confident and powerful just moments before, the pursuers find themselves caught in a terrifying trap, entirely at the mercy of the elements and Divine providence. This sudden panic breaks their spirit, leading to a delayed but profound recognition of God's greatness and His devotion to His people.

God's intervention begins by crippling the pursuers' vehicles. The primary approach among commentators is that the Divine pillar of fire scorched and consumed the wooden wheels of the chariots [רש״י, רבנו בחיי, מלבי״ם, צאינה וראינה]. Notably, the chariots themselves were spared from the flames, as they were laden with treasures destined to become spoils for the Israelites [ברכת אשר]. Other scholars suggest a more naturalistic mechanism, explaining that the wheels became hopelessly lodged in the deep mud. As the horses struggled to break free, the sheer physical force tore the wheels from their axles. Alternatively, the panicked Egyptians might have intentionally detached the horses from the chariots in a desperate bid to escape faster on horseback [אבן עזרא, קאסוטו, תולדות יצחק]. Another perspective frames the crippling of the chariots as the result of a chaotic retreat. As the terrified Egyptians tried to reverse course, the treacherous terrain and churning water pulled the wheels deep into the seabed. The chariots collided and entangled, creating a horrific crush that halted all movement [רשב״ם, חזקוני, בכור שור, הדר זקנים]. Furthermore, some commentators note that only a single wheel was removed from each chariot. This imbalance caused the vehicles to tilt and drag violently along the ground, battering the riders inside with far greater force than if both wheels had been lost entirely [הטור הארוך, פרדס יוסף, תולדות יצחק].

Stripped of their mobility and battling the harsh terrain, the Egyptian advance becomes impossibly heavy. On a physical level, the pillars of cloud and fire melted the previously frozen seabed into slippery, sinking mud, severely impeding their progress [ספורנו, מלבי״ם, ביאור יש״ר, שד״ל]. On a spiritual level, most commentators view this as a profound expression of measure for measure. Just as Pharaoh had made his own heart heavy and imposed heavy labor upon the Israelites, God now made his maneuvering unbearably heavy within the sea [רש״י, קיצור בעל הטורים, גור אריה, משכיל לדוד, שפתי כהן].

Realizing that all hope is lost, the Egyptian forces suffer a total psychological collapse. The masses understand that Pharaoh and his elite army are completely helpless, prompting a collective decision to abandon the campaign and flee [העמק דבר]. They specifically articulate a desire to run from the Israelites rather than directly from God, highlighting that the ultimate sanctification of God's name in the world is achieved precisely through the salvation of His people [קונטרס חיבה יתירה]. In these final moments, the Egyptians acknowledge that their suffering is not merely a punishment for their defiance. Rather, it stems from God's profound love for the Israelites and His active desire to fight on their behalf, even overpowering the spiritual guardian of Egypt who sought to condemn them [פני דוד]. This realization fulfills the promise Moses had made to the Israelites just moments prior. Now, the Egyptians themselves concede defeat, actualizing the Divine objective that Egypt would finally know God's true identity [קאסוטו].

In their final admission of defeat, the Egyptians recognize the full scope of God's retribution. While they acknowledge God battling the pursuers directly in the sea, an additional interpretation broadens the geographic impact of this Divine warfare to the Egyptian homeland itself. According to this view, God was not only destroying the army in the water but was simultaneously striking the Egyptians who had remained securely in their homes, ensuring the absolute and total downfall of the entire nation [רש״י, ברטנורא, הדר זקנים].