The Leading of God

13:17 60 When Pharaoh released61 the people, God did not lead them62 by the way to the land63 of the Philistines,64 although65 that was nearby, for God said,66 “Lest67 the people change their minds68 and return to Egypt when they experience69 war.” 13:18 So God brought the people around by the way of the desert to the Red Sea,70 and the Israelites went up from the land of Egypt prepared for battle.71

13:19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph72 had made the Israelites solemnly swear,73 “God will surely attend74 to you, and you will carry75 my bones up from this place with you.”

13:20 They journeyed from Sukkoth and camped in Etham, on the edge of the desert. 13:21 Now the Lord was going before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them in the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light,76 so that they could77 travel day or night.78 13:22 He did not remove the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night from before the people.79