Fawaqahu Allahu sayyi-ati ma makaroo wahaqa bi-ali firAAawna soo-o alAAathab (surah Ghafir: 45)

Tafseer Tafheem-ul-Quran by Syed Abu-al-A'la Maududi

(40:45) Eventually Allah saved the person endowed with faith from all the evils of their guile, *61 and a woeful chastisement *62 encompassed the Pharaonites.

Fa waqaahul laahu saiyiaati maa makaroo wa haaqa bi Aali-Fir`awna sooo`ul `azaab

*61) This shows that the Believer was such an important man in the kingdom of Pharaoh that although he spoke out the truth in the face of Pharaoh, in the full-packed court, yet none could have the courage to punish him publicly. That is why, Pharaoh and his supporters had to make secret plans to kill him, but these plans also were frustrated by Allah.
*62) It so appears from the style that this event of the Believer's speaking out the truth had taken place in the last stage of the conflict between the Prophet Moses and Pharaoh. Probably being fed up and disgusted with the long drawn out conflict, Pharaoh might have at last made up his mind to kill the Prophet Moses. But he might have felt from the truthfulness of that influential person of his kingdom that the Prophet Moses' influence had even reached the higher circles of his government. Therefore, he might have decided that before taking the extreme step against Moses he should find out who among the chiefs and nobles and higher officials of the kingdom had been influenced by the movement, and should seize Moses after having punished them. But while he was still busy devising his plans, AIlah commanded the Prophet Moses and his companions to migrate, and it was while pursuing them that Pharaoh was drowned in the sea along with his hosts.