שמות, פרק י״ד, פסוק ד׳

As the final confrontation at the edge of the sea approaches, the conflict shifts into a phase of direct divine intervention within the mind of the Egyptian leader. The objective is no longer just the physical liberation of the Israelites. Instead, it is the creation of a resounding historical event designed to finalize the era of enslavement, clarify the true balance of power in the world, and test the trust of the newly freed nation.

Following the devastating plague of the firstborn, Pharaoh's spirit was entirely broken. Under normal circumstances, he would never have dared to chase after the Israelites, let alone follow them into the midst of a split sea. Consequently, God had to intervene supernaturally, instilling him with the unnatural courage and madness required to launch a pursuit [רמב״ן, הטור הארוך, ביאור יש״ר]. This divine intervention caused Pharaoh to completely forget the devastating plagues he had just suffered [אבן עזרא]. This psychological manipulation also served a distinct legal and moral purpose. By choosing to wage war and chase the Israelites to drag them back, Pharaoh positioned himself as the aggressor. This aggressive act officially absolved the Israelites of any obligation to return the property they had borrowed from the Egyptians prior to their departure [בכור שור, חזקוני].

The ultimate purpose of this pursuit was the global revelation of God's glory. The primary approach among commentators is that when God executes justice upon the wicked, His name is magnified, honored, and recognized throughout the world, putting His absolute justice on full display [רש״י, מזרחי, גור אריה, ביאור יש״ר]. Justice dictated that the impending disaster would strike Pharaoh first, as he was the primary architect of the enslavement and the one who initiated the oppression [רש״י, פרדס יוסף]. However, the devastating judgment at the sea was reserved specifically for his military forces, sparing the general civilian population of Egypt [העמק דבר].

The miracle at the sea was intended to bring about a clear, undeniable recognition of God's authority. The primary approach among commentators is that this realization was meant for the general Egyptian populace who remained at home. Until this point, only Pharaoh and his inner circle had experienced the full, close-up intensity of the plagues, while ordinary citizens merely watched the disasters come and go. Now, confronted with the monumental wonder of the splitting sea, the entire Egyptian nation would finally recognize God's greatness [העמק דבר, מלבי״ם]. This realization provided a profound closure to Pharaoh's initial, defiant question of who God was; both the ruler and his nation would now have their definitive answer [קאסוטו, שפתי כהן]. Another perspective suggests that this ultimate recognition of God was actually experienced by the drowning Egyptian soldiers in the final, fleeting moments before their death [אבן עזרא]. Furthermore, this newfound Egyptian awareness had a direct impact on the Israelites. Once the Egyptians recognized the sheer power of God, the Israelites could rest assured that their former oppressors would forever fear God and never pursue them again [רלב״ג].

In the buildup to this dramatic climax, the Israelites displayed remarkable obedience. Despite being instructed to turn back and effectively move closer to their potential pursuers, they did not question the directive, complain, or attempt to flee. Instead, they followed Moses's instructions with profound faith and trust [רש״י, מזרחי, רבנו בחיי, ביאור יש״ר]. This compliance is particularly striking because, at that moment, the Israelites were completely unaware that Pharaoh would soon be hunting them down. That detail had only been revealed prophetically to Moses, yet the nation still camped quietly and securely exactly where they were guided [קאסוטו, ברכת אשר]. In contrast, a differing view suggests that this obedience was not necessarily wholehearted, but rather born out of a lack of alternatives and a lingering fear of Moses [משכיל לדוד].