What does the Pasuk mean when it says, "va'Yasar Eis Ofan Markevosav"?
Rashbam: The Egyptians tried to arrange the wheels to go back (some sort of gear system), but they were unable to do so.
Hadar Zekenim #1: Since the sea [floor] is higher near the shore than in the middle, when the Egyptians saw that the wheels were rolling down to the depths, they removed the wheels and tried to flee from the sea, but now that the wheels were removed, they had difficulty in moving.
Hadar Zekenim #2: An angel removed one wheel from the chariot, making moving more difficult than if both had been removed.
Hadar Zekenim #3 (citing the Bechor Shor): "Va'Yasar" means that they wanted to turn around and go back in order to flee, but when they screamed at those behind them to move aside to let them pass, they were unable to because they were tightly packed and because they were all rolling forward towards the depths.
Moshav Zekenim: Hashem did so while Yisrael were still in the sea, and also made mud where the Egyptians were, to stop them from getting close to Yisrael. Only after the last Yisrael left the sea, did the water cover the Egyptians. This explains the order in the Berachah of 'Emes v'Yatziv' - "... Yam Suf Baka'ta, v'Zeidim Tiba'ta, vi'Yedidim He'evarta, va'Yechasu Mayim Tzareihem." The Egyptians began sinking in mud before the water covered them; R. Yehudah ha'Chasid explained differently.
What does the Torah mean when it writes, "va'Yenahagehu bi'Cheveidus"?
See the various answers to question 14:25:1 .
Rashi: This was Midah k'Neged Midah, because Pharaoh and his servants hardened their hearts - as the Torah wrote in in Parshas Va'era, "va'Yachbed Es Libo, Hu va'Avadav" (9:34). See also Ba'al ha'Turim.
If Hashem was fighting against Mitzrayim, what would they gain by fleeing?
Seforno: They thought that if they retracted and fled, Hashem would stop fighting them. 1
Whereas in actual fact, the drowning of the Egyptians at the Yam-Suf was a punishment for the harsh enslavement of Yisrael.
Why does the Torah add the word, "b'Mitzrayim"?
Rashi #1: It means '"against the Egyptians" (as if it had written 'b'Mitzriyim'). 1
Rashi #2. Rashbam and Hadar Zekenim: Because, just as the Egyptians at the Yam-Suf were being smitten, so too, were those who remained in Egypt. (Hadar Zekenim - In fact, they suffered a similar fate - by drowning in the River Nile.)
Since the Pasuk is quoting the Egyptians, it ought then to have written 'Banu'? It therefore seems that it refers to those who remained in Egypt - like answer #2 (PF). (Compare Gur Aryeh).
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "He led them bi'Cheveidus (with difficulty) - [I.e.], in a way that was heavy and difficult for them (for the Egyptians)." How else might I have translated?
Gur Aryeh: Do not translate as, 'He led them [only] with difficulty,' for we cannot ascribe difficulty to Hashem! For Hashem it was easy; it was the Mitzrim for whom the treatment was difficult.
Rashi writes: "'He led them with Cheveidus' - ... Measure for measure; [for having] hardened his heart ('va'Yachbed' (9:34))." Why does Rashi add this?
Gur Aryeh: The verse already told us that the wheels of the chariots had burnt off, so obviously the riders were getting banged about inside! What Rashi is adding, is why this happened to them - that they deserved this Midah k'Neged Midah.
