"Indeed, those are but a small band"—meaning: they are a small group among many.

Muhammad said: The meaning of "shirdhma" (a small band) is: a faction, and the root of the word denotes fewness.

Qatadah said: It was mentioned to us that the Children of Israel with whom Moses crossed the sea were six hundred thousand fighting men.

Al-Hasan said: Excluding the baggage attendants. And the vanguard of Pharaoh consisted of one million and two hundred thousand horses.