וְאָמַ֤ר פַּרְעֹה֙ לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל נְבֻכִ֥ים הֵ֖ם בָּאָ֑רֶץ סָגַ֥ר עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם הַמִּדְבָּֽר׃
So wird Pharao denken von den Kindern Israel, sie seien verirrt im Lande, [Baal Zefon] habe sie in der Wüste eingeschlossen.
Rashi on Exodus
ואמר פרעה THEN PHARAOH WILL SAY — when he hears that they are turning back.
Sforno on Exodus
סגר עליהם המדבר. A reference to the Egyptian deity Baal Tzefon whom Pharaoh credited with this accomplish- ment of halting the Israelites.
Or HaChaim on Exodus
ואמר פרעה…. נבוכים הם בארץ, "and Pharaoh will say 'they are entangled in the land, etc.'" This would be Pharaoh's reaction when his spies brought him up-to-date on Israel's travels.