To whom will Par'oh say "Nevuchim Hem ba'Aretz"?
What does "Nevuchim Hem ba'Aretz" mean?
Rashi #1: 'They are locked in' (entangled, and do not know how to escape).
Rashi (in Michah, 7:4): 'They are perplexed'.
Rashbam: It is the acronym of 'Nivchei Yam' - implying that the hidden depths of the sea are preventing them from fleeing forwards. 1
What does "Ve'amar Par'oh ... Sagar aleihem ha'Desert" mean?
Seforno and Targum Yonasan: He will say that Ba'al Tzefon had locked them in the desert (and they could not escape).
Rashbam and Targum Onkelos: He will say that the desert has enclosed them. 1
Oznayim la'Torah: He will say that Hashem closed the desert on them - that He does not really want their Avodah, as per the words of Moshe and Aharon, who were lying all along. And this would encourage Par'oh to chase after Yisrael - just as Hashem planned!
They were unable to flee back (the way they had come), due to the snakes, serpents, scorpions and wild beasts that abound in the desert (Rashbam).