1. The Lord spoke to Moses:
2. “Tell the Israelites that they must turn and camp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; you are to camp by the sea before Baal Zephon opposite it.
3. Pharaoh will think regarding the Israelites, ‘They are wandering around confused in the land – the desert has closed in on them.’
4. I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after them. I will gain honor because of Pharaoh and because of all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” So this is what they did.
5. When it was reported to the king of Egypt that the people had fled, the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people, and the king and his servants said, “What in the world have we done? For we have released the people of Israel from serving us!”
6. Then he prepared his chariots and took his army with him.
7. He took six hundred select chariots, and all the rest of the chariots of Egypt, and officers on all of them.
8. But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he chased after the Israelites. Now the Israelites were going out defiantly.