Overall meaning : Allah Almighty explains what He commanded His Prophet Moses, peace be upon him, to do and the total destruction that befell Pharaoh and his people: We inspired Moses, saying, ‘Leave with My servants at night, for you will surely be pursued to prevent them from leaving Egypt.’ When Pharaoh learnt of the Children of Israel’s night flight, he sent heralds to mobilise troops from various cities of his kingdom.
Once all his forces were marshalled, he began to underestimate Moses and his followers, as well as the danger they posed, saying, ‘The Israelites who have departed without my permission are but a small and weak band of people who have really enraged us. We are on full alert and on our guard against them, and we are a well-equipped, united force that is well-prepared to defeat them.’
The Almighty then mentions the terrible destruction Pharaoh and his forces suffered: So we brought Pharaoh and his people out of orchards and springs, from which they drank, and money that was owned by them, and dwellings like that, and the dwellers of Israel and those who lived there.
Thus did We expel them out of their gardens and springs of fresh water from which they used to drink, properties they used to own and sumptuous dwellings they used to inhabit; and We made the Children of Israel inherit all of that.
Allah Almighty goes on to explain the course of action Pharaoh and his forces took and what the Israelites said when they saw the approaching heavily-equipped army: Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued the Children of Israel at sunrise. And when the two groups came within sight of each other, Moses’ companions said, ‘Pharaoh and his forces will surely overtake us, and there is no escape for us, for they are to our rear and the sea is before us.’
Confident of Allah’s help, Moses reassured them, saying, ‘No indeed! The matter is not as you think; for my Lord is with me with His help and support, and He will guide me to the path of salvation and victory.’
Then We inspired Moses, saying, ‘Strike the sea with your staff.’ Moses did, and its waters parted, each part was like a tall, massive mountain. We caused the pursuers to draw near to Moses and his people and to go after them onto the dry path through the sea to catch up with them. Then We saved Moses and all those with him from drowning, and we drowned Pharaoh and all his forces.
Surely in this story there was a great lesson. Most of Pharaoh’s people did not believe in Allah; and surely your Lord, Muhammad, is the Almighty who vanquishes and severely punishes His enemies, and the All-Compassionate towards His servants, who does not hasten their punishment once they commit a sin.