According to Exodus 14, how many chosen chariots did Pharaoh take after the Israelites left Egypt?

According to Exodus 14, Pharaoh took 600 chosen chariots after the Israelites left Egypt.

The chapter describes Pharaoh changing his mind after releasing the Israelites. He gathers his forces, including 600 chosen chariots, other Egyptian chariots, and officers over the troops. The pursuing army catches up with the Israelites near the sea, creating the crisis at the center of the crossing narrative.

The word “chosen” refers to an elite or specially selected group rather than the entire Egyptian chariot force. This is why the verse distinguishes the 600 chosen chariots from the other chariots mentioned in the same account.

The chariots are part of the military pursuit, not the number of Israelites or the number of plagues. They are also separate from the later biblical references to chariot forces in Canaan and other kingdoms. Exodus presents the episode as a clash between Pharaoh’s organized army and a departing population caught between the army and the sea.