Exodus 13:17–14:4

Summary of Travel

17 And when Pharaoh released the people, God did not lead them the way of the land of the Philistines, though it was nearer, because God said, “Lest the people change their mind when they see war and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people around by the way of the desert to the ⌊Red Sea⌋,n and the ⌊Israelites⌋o went up in battle array from the land of Egypt. 19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Josephp had made the ⌊Israelites⌋q solemnly swear an oath, saying, “God will surely attend to you, and you will take up my bones from here with you.” 20 And they set out from Succoth, and they encamped at Etham on the edge of the desert. 21 And Yahweh was going before them by day in a column of cloud to lead them on the way and by night in a column of fire to give light to them to go by day and night. 22 The column of cloud by day and the column of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

Yahweh Rescues Israel at the Red Sea

14 And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the ⌊Israelites⌋a so that they turn and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol ⌊and the sea⌋;b before Baal Zephon, which is opposite it, you will camp by the sea. 3 And Pharaoh will say of the ⌊Israelites⌋,c ‘They are wandering around in the land. The desert has closed in on them.’ 4 And I will harden the heart of Pharaoh, and he will chase after them, and I will be glorified through Pharaoh and through all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am Yahweh.” And they did so.