The Egyptians refers to all those who were chasing after the Israelites. Pursued is the same word as verse 8. And went in after them is literally “and they entered after them.” What they entered, of course, was the seabed and not the water, for the water had been driven back (verse 21). Into the midst of the sea means the middle of the sea area. However, in languages that will have a problem translating this phrase, especially when the term for sea indicates an area always filled with water, it is possible to simply say “went after them,” with the implicit assumption that the Egyptians pursued the Israelites along the path between the walls of water. So Contemporary English Version has “The Egyptian chariots and cavalry went after them.”

All Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen are the same terms used in verses 9 and 18.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• All the Egyptian chariots and the cavalry [or, soldiers riding horses] chased after the Israelites.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .