SEV Biblia, Chapter 13:17
¶ Y luego que el Faraón dejó ir al pueblo, Dios no los llevó por el camino de la tierra de los filisteos, que estaba cerca; porque dijo Dios: Que por ventura no se arrepienta el pueblo cuando vieren la guerra, y se vuelvan a Egipto;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Exodus 13:17
Verse 17. God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, &c.] Had the Israelites been obliged to commence their journey to the promised land by a military campaign, there is little room to doubt that they would have been discouraged, have rebelled against Moses and Aaron, and have returned back to Egypt. Their long slavery had so degraded their minds that they were incapable of any great or noble exertions; and it is only on the ground of this mental degradation, the infallible consequence of slavery, that we can account for their many dastardly acts, murmurings, and repinings after their escape from Egypt. The reader is requested to bear this in mind, as it will serve to elucidate several circumstances in the ensuing history. Besides, the Israelites were in all probability unarmed, and totally unequipped for battle, encumbered with their flocks, and certain culinary utensils. which they were obliged to carry with them in the wilderness to provide them with bread, &c.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 17-20 - There were two ways from Egypt to Canaan. One was only a few days journey; the other was much further about, through the wilderness, an that was the way in which God chose to lead his people Israel. The Egyptians were to be drowned in the Red sea; the Israelites were to be humbled and proved in the wilderness. God's way is the right way though it seems about. If we think he leads not his people the neares way, yet we may be sure he leads them the best way, and so it wil appear when we come to our journey's end. The Philistines were powerfu enemies; it was needful that the Israelites should be prepared for the wars of Canaan, by passing through the difficulties of the wilderness Thus God proportions his people's trials to their strength, 1Co 10:13 They went up in good order. They went up in five in a rank, some; i five bands, so others, which it seems rather to their faith and hope that God would bring them to Canaan, in expectation of which the carried these bones with them while in the desert.
Original Hebrew
ויהי 1961 בשׁלח 7971 פרעה 6547 את 853 העם 5971 ולא 3808 נחם 5148 אלהים 430 דרך 1870 ארץ 776 פלשׁתים 6430 כי 3588 קרוב 7138 הוא 1931 כי 3588 אמר 559 אלהים 430 פן 6435 ינחם 5162 העם 5971 בראתם 7200 מלחמה 4421 ושׁבו 7725 מצרימה׃ 4714
