Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Exodus 13:17 - 13:22

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Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Exodus 13:17 - 13:22


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The First Stage of the Journey

v. 17. And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go,
had dismissed them and sent them out of the country, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near, which would have been the shortest, the most direct route; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt. The Israelites, disheartened and weakened by a life of servitude, were at that time in no condition to cope with the warlike Philistines.

v. 18. But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea,
by the southeastern route, through the desert; and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt, they did not go in irregular troops, like fugitives, but in marching order, a provision which kept their forces together and made supervision easy.

v. 19. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him; for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you in mercy; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you. Gen_50:25. This last order of Joseph had been transmitted from generation to generation, and the vow was now remembered in all its earnestness.

v. 20. And they took their journey from Succoth,
apparently nothing more than an encampment on the boundary of the desert toward Philistia, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. Instead of continuing toward the east, they turned southward, along the western shore of the Bitter Lakes, Etham being located at their southwestern end.

v. 21. And the Lord,
Jehovah, the Son of God, went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, to go by day and night.

v. 22. He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night from before the people.
Thus the Lord, in a miraculous manner, gave evidence of His presence to the children of Israel and guided them on their long journey. In the same way the Lord is present in His Church at all times in the means of grace, leading His children on the right path and protecting them against all enemies.