פירוש על שמות 14:6

ויאסר את רכבו AND HE MADE READY HIS CHARIOT — he himself (Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 14:6:1)

ואת עמו לקח עמו, the choicest of his cavalry and chariots.

ואת עמו לקח עמו. "and he took his people with him. The Egyptian people had never been involved in the negotiations with Moses and Aaron. Pharaoh had to convince the Egyptians that what he was about to do had a chance to succeed as the people were greatly afraid The words לקח עמו in this context mean that "he convinced them."

He [Pharaoh] harnessed his chariot. Because he thought that B’nei Yisrael were confused and panic stricken and on the verge of returning to Egypt, he did not take a large army with him but only his special chariot and “his people,” i.e. his personal guard. He also took “all the chariots of Egypt,” but these were not very numerous because most of their horses died in the pestilence.

V. 6. Den ganzen Heereszug stellte er unter seinen unmittelbaren Befehl und zog voran. —

ויאסור את רכבו, “he harnessed his chariot;” according to Rashi, he did this personally, not ordering his servants to do so. This is interpreted as part of the psychology of people who are extremely angry. They give vent to their anger by involving themselves personally.

ואת עמו לקח עמו AND TOOK HIS PEOPLE WITH HIM — he drew them on by fine words, as follows: “We have been stricken and they have taken our money and yet we have let them go free. Come with me and I will not behave with you as other kings. It is the way of other kings that their subjects go in front of them into the battle, but I will go in front of you” — as, indeed, it is said, (v. 10) “And Pharaoh הקריב” (the Hiphil): which signifies he brought himself near and hastened in front of his army. — “It is the way of other kings to take the booty at the beginning as he chooses (to have first pick of the booty), but I will be equal to you in the division of the booty” — as, indeed, it states that he said, (Exodus 15:9) “I will divide the spoil”Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 14:6:2.