Misinterpretations often wrongly attribute Pharaoh's change of heart directly to God's hardening at this point, overlooking the text's focus on the natural, self-interested reaction of Pharaoh and his officials to the practical loss of slaves; others mistakenly see this as a moment of Pharaoh's spiritual remorse or repentance, ignoring the purely economic and opportunistic motive revealed in their question about why they let Israel go from serving them, which distorts the narrative's emphasis on human fickleness over divine sovereignty.
Exodus 14:5
King James Version (1769)
5 And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?
Exodus 14:5 captures the sudden regret of Pharaoh and his servants upon learning that the Israelites had fled, realizing the immense economic loss of their unpaid labor force, which prompts a reversal of their earlier decision to release them; this highlights the fragility of obedience when motivated by fear rather than true submission to God, setting the stage for Pharaoh's pursuit and God's ultimate demonstration of power through the Red Sea deliverance.