Exodus 13:20

20. Etham, in the edge of the wilderness The Wady et Tumey-lat, through which the Israelites commenced their march, leads to the ancient Bitter Lakes, (now a swampy basin, which, except at the inundation, is a dry, deep, white salt plain,) and runs southeast towards Suez . Along the western (or rather southwestern) margin of this basin the Israelites moved, and reached Etham, probably on its southern border, a place on the line where the cultivable land ends and the desert begins . Etham is an Egyptian word, meaning, according to Chabas, the house or temple of Atum, “the setting sun,” which was worshipped at Heliopolis . Du Bois Ayme identified Etham with Bir Suweis, “the well of Suez,” where are now two deep wells of brackish water. Robinson placed it farther east, near the present head of the Gulf. It must have been not far from what was then the head of the Gulf. Travellers generally agree with Du Bois Ayme, ( Descr. de l’Egypte, 11,371,) that the Gulf of Suez once extended much farther north, probably about fifty miles, joining the Bitter Lakes. Etham in that event would be much north of the present Suez.

It is often assumed that the Israelites reached Succoth at the end of the first day, and Etham at the end of the second, but the narrative hardly warrants this. These were the “encampments,” but they may have halted more than a day at each, for the stations are nowhere said to have been a day’s march apart. When we consider the hurry and confusion of the start the vast population of at least two millions which was moved, taking up one portion after another on the march; and the immense number of cattle, sheep, and goats which were gathered together it is not probable that they moved ten miles a day, nor that they marched each day successively. Yet some have so laid out the route as to necessitate a march of from thirty to fifty miles for three successive days! Fourteen miles is a usual day’s march, and twenty-five miles a forced march, for a Prussian soldier in service, and here were women, and children, and cattle.

It seems probable that the Israelites followed about the line of the ancient Canal till they reached the Red Sea. When at Etham they were north of the Sea, and could from thence strike northeast direct to Palestine, or southeast along the east shore of the Sea to Sinai, by either route avoiding the Sea; but instead of being led on either of these courses, they were, to their surprise, commanded to “turn” down the west shore of the Sea, where they had Mount Attaka on the south and southwest, and the Sea on the east. Thus they appeared to Pharaoh to be “entangled in the land,” or, rather, bewildered, perplexed in their movements. Exodus 14:3.