Exodus 13:17-22

Contemporary English Version

The Lord Leads His People

¹⁷After the king^[a] had finally let the people go, the Lord did not lead them through Philistine territory,^[b] though that was the shortest way. God had said, “If they are attacked, they may decide to return to Egypt.” ¹⁸So he led them around through the desert and toward the Red Sea.^[c]

The Israelites left Egypt, prepared for battle.

¹⁹^(A) Moses had them take the bones of Joseph, whose dying words had been, “God will come to your rescue, and when he does, be sure to take my bones with you.”

²⁰The people of Israel left Succoth and camped at Etham at the border of Egypt near the desert. ^21-22^(B) During the day the Lord went ahead of his people in a thick cloud, and during the night he went ahead of them in a flaming fire. That way the Lord could lead them at all times, whether day or night.

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Footnotes

13.17 The king: See the note at 1.11.
13.17 Philistine territory: The shortest land route from the Nile Delta to Canaan; it was the southern section of the major road that led to Megiddo and then on to Mesopotamia by way of Asia Minor.
13.18 Red Sea: Hebrew yam suph, “Sea of Reeds,” one of the marshes or fresh water lakes, near the eastern part of the Nile Delta. This identification is based on Exodus 13.17—14.9, which lists the towns on the route of the Israelites before crossing the sea. In the Greek translation of the Scriptures made about 200 b.c., the “Sea of Reeds” was named “Red Sea.”