Pharaoh Harnessed His Own Chariot in His Eagerness

"And he harnessed his chariot" (Exodus 14:6). With his own hand he harnessed it. He said: it is the way of kings to stand while others arrange things for them, but here with his own hand he harnessed it. When the nobles of the kingdom saw that he was standing and arranging for himself, each one stood and arranged for himself. Four harnessed in joy (written at remez 96). "And he took his people with him." He took them with words. He said to them: it is the way of kings to lead at the rear while their armies go before them; I will go before you, as it is said (Exodus 14:10), "And Pharaoh drew near." It is the way of kings to plunder for themselves and take a portion first; I will share equally with you in the spoil, as it is said, "I will divide the spoil." And not only that, but I will open for you treasuries of silver and of gold and distribute to you. Therefore it says, "and he took his people with him," he took them with words. "And he took six hundred chosen chariots" (Exodus 14:7). From whose? (Written at remez 186.) Of Sisera it says (Judges 4:3), "nine hundred chariots of iron." Rabbi Shimon said, a parable, to a wild ox from which all were fleeing. They said: let us bring out the lion against it to dwell with it in the province. The lion went out and cut it limb from limb. So Sisera prided himself on iron. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: with iron you take pride? By your life, the fire will melt it, as it is said (Judges 5:20), "The stars from their courses fought against Sisera." Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: come and see the greatness and wealth of the guilty kingdom, that they had no pause; not one was idle, for all ran by day and by night, while those of Egypt all stood idle. "And officers over all of them" (Exodus 14:7): "officers" means nothing other than mighty men, as it is said, "officers and called ones, all of them riding horses." Another interpretation: "officers," that they were threefold in weaponry. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: "officers," those over the chariot. In the past there were only two, and Pharaoh added one more to them, in order to hasten in pursuit of Israel. Rabbi says: Antoninus added one more to them.