Exodus 13:17-18

MARCH FROM SUCCOTH TO ETHAM, Exodus 13:17-22.

17, 18. God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines The direct route to Palestine was northeast, by way of Pelusium and Gaza, along the Mediterranean coast, through the great maritime plain where dwelt the Philistines, whose warlike character we learn from the monuments of Rameses III., as well as from the Hebrew annals. By this route they started, as if to reach their destination in a few weeks’ journey, but suddenly “turned” southeasterly, for God led the people about, ( made them turn,) by the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea See Exodus 14:2.

Harnessed Equipped for march, marshalled in orderly array, not scattered like a mob of fugitives . Gesenius makes the word mean brave, eager for battle, and many of the old interpreters render, as in the margin, five in a rank, or five-fold in five divisions. It is certain that afterwards we find the able-bodied men in five camps or battalions, (counting the Levites and the tabernacle as a division,) (Numbers 1:2;) and they probably commenced their march in regular order, so as to protect the great train of women and children, flocks and herds. See diagram and notes on Numbers 2:0.