Exodus 14:25Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Lord manifested Himself to the Egyptians during the morning watch, bringing destruction upon them and confining the wheels of their chariots, as recorded in Exodus 14:24-25. This was to prevent the people from being oppressed or fleeing from the sea. However, they showed no fear of the Lord who had made Himself known, nor did they heed the state of their chariots’ wheels; they continued to pursue their course with urgency.

The Lord intervened by binding the wheels of their chariots and shattering the Egyptians' vehicles, causing their forces to struggle intensely as they attempted to advance. This was due to the sea bed, which had become dry for the Israelites, turning into a treacherous quagmire for the Egyptians, likely formed from the heavy rains. The chaos within the Egyptian ranks likely hindered their chariots from moving smoothly. Ultimately, the Egyptians chose to abandon their pursuit, declaring, “flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord will fight against them.” They finally recognized that their battle was not with the Israelites, but with the Lord Himself, an adversary against whom no one can prevail.