Exodus 13:16-18

Amplified Bible

¹⁶So it shall serve as a sign and a reminder on your [left] hand (arm) and as ^[a]frontlets between your eyes, for by a strong and powerful hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.”

God Leads the People

¹⁷So it happened, when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearer; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war [that is, that there will be war], and return to Egypt.” ¹⁸But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the ^[b]Red Sea; the sons of Israel went up in battle array (orderly ranks, marching formation) out of the land of Egypt.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

Exodus 13:16 Heb totaphoth, later renamed tefillin (“attachment”) but often called phylacteries (Gr “safeguards”) these came to be small cube-shaped leather pouches which contained tiny parchments of Ex 13:1-16 and Deut 6:4-9; 11:13-21. They were strapped to the forehead and the left forearm of Jewish men (or the right forearm, if a man was left-handed) in obedience to the commands in this verse and Deut 6:8. Phylacteries and the parchments contained in them were very artistically made, and are still worn today by observant Jews during morning services.
Exodus 13:18 Lit Sea of Reeds. See note 10:19.