Exodus 13:20

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 13:17-22

Final triumph over Egypt (13:17-14:31)When they left Egypt, the Israelites did not go by way of the Mediterranean coast, as this was well defended by the Egyptians and war would certainly have resulted. Instead they went east towards the Red Sea (17-18). (A literal translation for the name of this stretch of water is Sea of Reeds. It was not the 200 kilometre wide sea that we today call the Red Sea, but probably an extension of the Red Sea’s north-western arm, the Gulf of Suez. It seems to have... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Exodus 13:17-22

"And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: but God led the people about, by the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea: and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Exodus 13:20

Exodus 13:20. From Succoth, and encamped in Etham— The Lord for wise and good reasons, not thinking proper to lead the people directly into Canaan through the land of the Philistines, which was but a journey of a few days, (see Exodus 13:17.) conducted them towards the wilderness of Shur, ch. Exodus 15:22.; upon the edge or extremity of which, next to Egypt, at the bottom of the Arabian gulph, lay Etham, where they made their second encampment. See Numbers 33:8. REFLECTIONS.— God is their... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Exodus 13:20

20. encamped in Etham—This place is supposed by the most intelligent travellers to be the modern Ajrud, where is a watering-place, and which is the third stage of the pilgrim-caravans to Mecca. "It is remarkable that either of the different routes eastward from Heliopolis, or southward from Heroopolis, equally admit of Ajrud being Etham. It is twelve miles northwest from Suez, and is literally on the edge of the desert" [Pictorial Bible]. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Exodus 13:17-21

D. God’s completion of Israel’s liberation 13:17-15:21The Israelites now began their migration from Goshen to Canaan. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Exodus 13:17-22

1. The journey from Succoth to Etham 13:17-22"The way of the land of the Philistines" refers to the most northern of three routes travelers took from Egypt to Canaan (Exodus 13:17). The others lay farther south. The Egyptians had heavily fortified this caravan route, also called the Via Maris (the way of the sea). The Egyptians would have engaged Israel in battle had the chosen people gone that way.The people marched in an orderly fashion (Exodus 13:18). This is the meaning of "martial array."... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:1-22

The Consecration of the Firstborn. The March to Etham1-16. The Consecration of the Firstborn.All Israel was holy unto the Lord: see on Exodus 19:5, Exodus 19:6. But the firstborn of man and beast were specially consecrated to Him, as the part representing the whole. There was a special fitness in the consecration of the firstborn, seeing they had been spared in the destruction which overtook the Egyptians. The firstborn of mankind were to be consecrated to the service of Jehovah as priests; the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Exodus 13:20

THE JOURNEY RESUMED.(20) They took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham.—The exact positions of both Succoth and Etham are uncertain, and can only be conjectured; but they probably lay to the southeast of Tanis, between that city and the Bitter Lakes. Succoth may have been at or near Tel Dafneh, about fifteen miles from Tanis, and Etham near the modern Ismailia, on the verge of the desert. Dr. Brugsch’s identification of Etham with the Egyptian Khetam is highly improbable, since... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Exodus 13:1-22

Exodus 13:14 Compare Mr. A. R. Wallace's remark on Darwin in whose character, he observed,' the restless curiosity of the child to know the "what for?" the "why?" and the "how?" of everything seems never to have abated its force'. References. XIII. 14-17 F. D. Maurice, The Doctrine of Sacrifice, p. 49. Near-cuts Not God's Exodus 13:17 I. That, then, was one feature of God's guidance. It shunned the near road, and it took the roundabout; and if you have been living with the open eye, and... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Exodus 13:1-22

CHAPTER XIII.THE LAW OF THE FIRSTBORN.Exodus 13:1-22.Much that was said in the twelfth chapter is repeated in the thirteenth. And this repetition is clearly due to a formal rehearsal, made when all "their hosts" had mustered in Succoth after their first march; for Moses says, "Remember this day, in which ye came out" (Exodus 13:3). Already it had been spoken of as a day much to be remembered, and for its perpetuation the ordinance of the Passover had been founded.But now this charge is given as... read more

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