Tafsir of An-Nazi'at 79:23

(فَحَشَرَ): That is, he gathered the sorcerers, according to the words of the Almighty: "Then Pharaoh sent heralds into the cities."

And His, the Glorified's, saying: "Then Pharaoh went away and gathered his trickery, then came," means he brought that with which he intended to deceive—namely, the sorcerers and their instruments. It is also said: he gathered his soldiers. It is permissible that it refers to the people of his kingdom, then he proclaimed to the assembly himself or through a herald, and the latter is supported by the words of the Almighty: