The Egyptian army had many horse soldiers and chariots. They chased the people of Israel and caught up with them while they were camped near the Red Sea [92] at Pi Hahiroth, east of Baal Zephon.
The king must not get more and more horses for himself. And he must not send people to Egypt to get more horses. Why? Because the Lord has told you, ‘You must never go back that way.’
“The Lord found Jacob (Israel) in
a desert land,
an empty, windy land.
The Lord surrounded Jacob
to watch over him.
He protected him,
like the pupil of his eye.
In fact, the Lord has already given you this land east of the Jordan River. Your wives and children can stay in this land with your animals. But your fighting men must cross the Jordan River with your brothers. You must be ready for war and help them {take their land}.
The men from the family groups of Reuben, Gad, and half of the family group of Manasseh obeyed Moses. These men crossed the river in front of the other people. These men were prepared for war. They were going to help the rest of the people of Israel {take the land God had promised to give them}.