en_tn_condensed/exo/14/03.md

Pharaoh will say about the Israelites, 'They are wandering in the land. The wilderness has closed in on them.'

This can be stated as an indirect quote. Alternate translation: "Pharaoh will say the Israelites are wandering in the land and the wilderness has closed in on them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-quotations)

The wilderness has closed in on them

Pharaoh speaks of the wilderness as a person who has trapped the Israelites. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)