New Living Translation
Exodus 13:17
17When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”
Exodus 13:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:
- New International Version (NIV)When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, "Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.”
Context of Exodus 13:17
15Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, so the Lord killed all the firstborn males throughout the land of Egypt, both people and animals. That is why I now sacrifice all the firstborn males to the Lord—except that the firstborn sons are always bought back.’ 16This ceremony will be like a mark branded on your hand or your forehead. It is a reminder that the power of the Lord’s mighty hand brought us out of Egypt.” When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle. 19Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear to do this. He said, “God will certainly come to help you. When he does, you must take my bones with you from this place.”
Read all of Exodus 13Exodus 13:17 word by word
וַיְהִ֗י בְּשַׁלַּ֣ח פַּרְעֹה֮ אֶת־הָעָם֒ וְלֹא־נָחָ֣ם אֱלֹהִ֗ים דֶּ֚רֶךְ אֶ֣רֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים כִּ֥י קָר֖וֹב ה֑וּא כִּ֣י׀ אָמַ֣ר אֱלֹהִ֗ים פֶּֽן־יִנָּחֵ֥ם הָעָ֛ם בִּרְאֹתָ֥ם מִלְחָמָ֖ה וְשָׁ֥בוּ מִצְרָֽיְמָה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And it came to pass, when Pharaohפַּרְעֹהpar‛ôh · PharaohH6547
- had let the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- goשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: let goH7971
- that Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- ledנָחָהnâchâh · to leadH5148
- the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: roadH1870
- of the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
- althoughכִּיkîy · forH3588
- nearקָרֹבqârôb qârôb · nearH7138
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- repentנָחַםnâcham · to be sorry: relentH5162
- when they seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- warמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
- and they returnשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
- to Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
Cross-references for Exodus 13:17
- Exodus 14:11and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt?
- Numbers 14:1Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night.
- Deuteronomy 20:8“Then the officers will also say, ‘Is anyone here afraid or worried? If you are, you may go home before you frighten anyone else.’
- Judges 7:3Therefore, tell the people, ‘Whoever is timid or afraid may leave this mountain and go home.’” So 22,000 of them went home, leaving only 10,000 who were willing to fight.
- 1 Kings 8:47But in that land of exile, they might turn to you in repentance and pray, ‘We have sinned, done evil, and acted wickedly.’
- Luke 14:27And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
- Acts 15:38But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work.
- Exodus 16:2There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron.
- Deuteronomy 17:16“The king must not build up a large stable of horses for himself or send his people to Egypt to buy horses, for the Lord has told you, ‘You must never return to Egypt.’
- Nehemiah 9:17They refused to obey and did not remember the miracles you had done for them. Instead, they became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them,
- Acts 7:39“But our ancestors refused to listen to Moses. They rejected him and wanted to return to Egypt.
Commentaries on Exodus 13:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, etc. - 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…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-20Verses 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, and 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 nearest way, yet we may be sure he leads…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-18If the people face war: The Israelites had not yet seen God fight on their behalf. Even though they left Egypt like an army ready for battle (13:18; see also 12:51), it was only an appearance. Until they experienced the Lord as fighting for them (14:14) in the crossing of the sea, they were not ready to face enemies in the promised land.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 17-2117. God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near, &c.--The shortest and most direct route from Egypt to Palestine was the usual caravan road that leads by Belbeis, El-Arish, to Ascalon and Gaza. The Philistines, who then possessed the latter, would have been sure to dispute their passage, for between them and the Israelites there was a hereditary feud (1Ch 7:21, 22); and so early a commencement of hostilities…Read the comment
Topics related to Exodus 13:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Exodus 13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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