"And We brought near the others there." Qatadah said: He means, We brought Pharaoh and his soldiers near to the sea. Qatadah said: It is said, 'azlafani (he brought me near) to such and such'; meaning: he brought me near to it.
﴿وأزلفنا ثمَّ الآخرين﴾ قَالَ قَتَادَةُ: يَقُولُ: أَدْنَيْنَا فِرْعَوْنَ وَجُنُودَهُ إِلَى الْبَحْرِ. قَالَ قَتَادَةُ: يُقَالُ: أَزْلَفَنِي كَذَا؛ أَيْ: أَدْنَانِي مِنْهُ
