שמות, פרק י״ד, פסוק ו׳

The departure from Egypt fundamentally shifts how Pharaoh views the Israelites. They are no longer seen simply as rebelling slaves, but as a full-fledged enemy [קונטרס חיבה יתירה]. Pharaoh embarks on his pursuit driven by an existential crisis, believing that his very rule and kingdom depend on their presence, and without them, his authority means nothing [שפתי כהן].

Driven by this desperation, Pharaoh prepares for the chase. The preparation involves tying the horses and riding animals rather than readying the physical chariot itself [שד״ל]. Commentators differ on how this was carried out. One approach suggests that Pharaoh issued a standard military draft [קאסוטו], ordering his servants to harness the horses as is customary for royalty [אבן עזרא, רלב״ג, ביאור יש״ר, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. However, many commentators emphasize that Pharaoh completely abandoned royal protocol and harnessed the animals himself [רש״י, חזקוני, גור אריה, מזרחי, צאינה וראינה]. This unusual personal involvement highlights how deep hatred can disrupt normal behavior [חזקוני] and reveals his intense eagerness to begin the pursuit [רלב״ג].

When gathering his forces, Pharaoh does not mobilize ordinary citizens. Instead, he calls upon his military, his bodyguards, and his elite troops [ספורנו, העמק דבר, שפתי כהן, קאסוטו], specifically the foot soldiers who operate alongside the cavalry [שד״ל]. Assuming the Israelites are merely confused and fleeing, Pharaoh feels no need to summon a massive horde. He relies solely on his elite units and the horses that survived the earlier plague of pestilence [מלבי״ם].

Gathering these men requires more than a simple command. A leader cannot physically take an entire army, but must win their hearts and minds [גור אריה]. The Egyptian soldiers are terrified at the prospect of chasing the Israelites after witnessing the miracles God performed [אור החיים, רלב״ג]. To overcome their fear, Pharaoh has to entice and persuade them [רש״י, מזרחי, צאינה וראינה], though he likely uses a degree of force as well [רלב״ג]. He opens the royal treasuries, distributes silver and gold, and promises to treat them better [צאינה וראינה].

To further motivate his men, Pharaoh promises a relationship of equality [משכיל לדוד]. He assures them that he will not act like typical kings who stay safely in the rear and claim the best portions of the loot. Instead, he vows to march at the very front, take direct command, and share the spoils of war equally among everyone [רש״י, רש״ר הירש]. This creates a deep bond of unity between the ruler and his military [קאסוטו]. Finally, some ordinary citizens do join the soldiers, motivated entirely by the desire to plunder. However, unlike the official army, these commoners do not ultimately follow the troops into the sea [קונטרס חיבה יתירה].