Exodus 14:7 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

He took six hundred chosen chariots— These six hundred, most probably, were those which appertained to the king's guard, and were always ready to attend him, being the very choice and strength of his army. Besides these, it is said, he took all the chariots of Egypt. Chariots were very early, and especially in the eastern countries, used in war; we read of them as quite common in Homer: Xenophon says, they were usually drawn by four horses. Egypt was a plain country, and very fit for them; and accordingly we read that its strength consisted in them. 2 Chronicles 12:3.Isaiah 31:1. If these chariots were all drawn by four horses, the number required on this occasion must have been very great; and as it is said, ch. Exodus 9:6 that all their cattle was destroyed, some have wondered whence they should have procured so many. But it is to be observed, that this is said only of the cattle which was in the field; the cavalry, as is usual, being kept in stables, and so preserved. "Of all the infatuated resolutions (to use the words of the learned Dr. Jackson, b. 10: ch. 11.) which either king or people adventured on, the pursuing the Israelites with such a mighty army, after they had so intreated and urged them to leave their country, may well seem, to every indifferent reader, the most stupid that ever was taken;" and so, indeed, the author of the Book of Wisdom, ch. Exodus 19:3 justly censures it: for whilst they were yet mourning, says he, and making lamentation at the graves of the dead, they added another foolish device, and pursued them, as fugitives, whom they had intreated to be gone. But how much soever the Egyptians had suffered for detaining the Hebrews, yet, now that they were gone, they possibly might be of the same mind with the Syrians; (1 Kings 20:23.) who fancied that the God of Israel might not be alike powerful in all places; or, if he was, they might, nevertheless, think that Moses's commission extended no farther than the meridian of Egypt; or that, if it did, it might, however, have no power over mighty hosts and armies. They knew, at least, that the Israelites had no skill in military matters; no captains of infantry, no cavalry at all, no weapons or engines of war; whereas they were well furnished, and equipped with every thing of this nature: and upon these, and the like presumptions, it was that they became foolhardy and desperately resolute, either to bring back the Israelites to their slavery, or to be revenged upon them for all the losses they had sustained, and the penalties they had suffered. See Patrick's Commentary.