SEV Biblia, Chapter 13:18
mas hizo Dios al pueblo que rodease por el camino del desierto del mar Bermejo. Y subieron los hijos de Israel de Egipto armados.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Exodus 13:18
Verse 18. But God led the people about] Dr. Shaw has shown that there were two roads from Egypt to Canaan, one through the valleys of Jendilly, Rumeleah, and Baideah, bounded on each side by the mountains of the lower Thebais; the other lies higher, having the northern range of the mountains of Mocatee running parallel with it on the right hand, and the desert of the Egyptian Arabia, which lies all the way open to the land of the Philistines, to the left. See his account of these encampments at the end of Exodus. See note on "chap. xl. 38". Went up harnessed] µymj chamushim. It is truly astonishing what a great variety of opinions are entertained relative to the meaning of this word. After having maturely considered all that I have met with on the subject, I think it probable that the word refers simply to that orderly or well arranged manner in which the Israelites commenced their journey from Egypt. For to arrange, array, or set in order, seems to be the ideal meaning of the word mj chamash. As it was natural to expect that in such circumstances there must have been much hurry and confusion, the inspired writer particularly marks the contrary, to show that God had so disposed matters that the utmost regularity and order prevailed; and had it been otherwise, thousands of men, women, and children must have been trodden to death. Our margin has it by five in a rank; but had they marched only five abreast, supposing only one yard for each rank to move in, it would have required not less than sixty-eight miles for even the 600, 000 to proceed on regularly in this way; for 600, 000 divided by five gives 120, 000 ranks of five each; and there being only 1, 760 yards in a mile, the dividing 120, 000 by 1, 760 will give the number of miles such a column of people would take up, which by such an operation will be found to be something more than sixty-eight miles. But this the circumstances of the history will by no means admit. - Harmer. The simple meaning therefore appears to be that given above; and if the note on the concluding verse of the preceding chapter be considered, it may serve to place this explanation in a still clearer point of view.
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
ויסב 5437 אלהים 430 את 853 העם 5971 דרך 1870 המדבר 4057 ים 3220 סוף 5488 וחמשׁים 2571 עלו 5927 בני 1121 ישׂראל 3478 מארץ 776 מצרים׃ 4714
