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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Exodus 13:18 So God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the Israelites left the land of Egypt arrayed for battle.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/exodus/13-18.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/02_Exo_13_18.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Exodus 13:18 - The Pillars of Cloud and Fire" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="So God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the Israelites left the land of Egypt arrayed for battle." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/exodus/13-18.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/exodus/13-18.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/exodus/">Exodus</a> > <a href="/exodus/13.htm">Chapter 13</a> > Verse 18</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad18.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/exodus/13-17.htm" title="Exodus 13:17">◄</a> Exodus 13:18 <a href="/exodus/13-19.htm" title="Exodus 13:19">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/exodus/13.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/exodus/13.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/exodus/13.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />So 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/exodus/13.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/exodus/13.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />So God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the Israelites left the land of Egypt arrayed for battle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/exodus/13.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />But God led the people about, <i>through</i> the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/exodus/13.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />So God led the people around <i>by</i> way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/exodus/13.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Therefore God led the people around by way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up in battle formation from the land of Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/exodus/13.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up in martial array from the land of Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/exodus/13.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up in martial array from the land of Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/exodus/13.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Hence God turned the people to the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up in battle array from the land of Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/exodus/13.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea; the sons of Israel went up in battle array (orderly ranks, marching formation) out of the land of Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/exodus/13.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />So he led the people around toward the Red Sea along the road of the wilderness. And the Israelites left the land of Egypt in battle formation.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/exodus/13.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />So He led the people around toward the Red Sea along the road of the wilderness. And the Israelites left the land of Egypt in battle formation. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/exodus/13.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />but God led the people about, by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea: and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/exodus/13.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />So he led them around through the desert and toward the Red Sea. The Israelites left Egypt, prepared for battle. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/exodus/13.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />but God led the people about, by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea: and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/exodus/13.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />So God led the people around the other way, on the road through the desert toward the Red Sea. The Israelites were ready for battle when they left Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/exodus/13.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Instead, he led them in a roundabout way through the desert toward the Red Sea. The Israelites were armed for battle. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/exodus/13.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />So God led the people the roundabout way of the desert toward the Reed Sea. The Israelis went up from the land of Egypt in military formation.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/exodus/13.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />So God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the Israelites left the land of Egypt arrayed for battle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/exodus/13.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />So God brought the people around by the way of the desert to the Red Sea, and the Israelites went up from the land of Egypt prepared for battle. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/exodus/13.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />but God led the people around by the way of the wilderness by the Sea at the End; and the children of Israel went up from the land of Egypt prepared for battle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/exodus/13.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea: and the children of Israel went up harnassed from the land of Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/exodus/13.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />but God led the people around by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea; and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/exodus/13.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and God turns around the people the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea, and the sons of Israel have gone up by fifties from the land of Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/exodus/13.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and God turneth round the people the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea, and by fifties have the sons of Israel gone up from the land of Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/exodus/13.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And God will turn the people about the way of the desert, the sea of sedge: and the sons of Israel went up active out of the land of Egypt.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/exodus/13.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />But he led them about by the way of the desert, which is by the Red Sea: and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/exodus/13.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />But he led them around by the way of the desert, which is next to the Red Sea. And so the sons of Israel ascended, armed, out of the land of Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/exodus/13.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Instead, God rerouted them toward the Red Sea by way of the wilderness road, and the Israelites went up out of the land of Egypt arrayed for battle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/exodus/13.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />So God led the people by the roundabout way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of the land of Egypt prepared for battle.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/exodus/13.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />But God led the people by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea; and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/exodus/13.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And God led the people in the way of the wilderness of the Sea of Reeds, and they were armed; the house of Israel came up from the land of Egypt.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/exodus/13.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />But God led the people about, by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea; and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/exodus/13.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And God led the people round by the way to the wilderness, to the Red Sea: and in the fifth generation the children of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/exodus/13-18.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVae3PiKqhs?start=3347" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/exodus/13.htm">The Pillars of Cloud and Fire</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17</span>When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the road through the land of the Philistines, though it was shorter. For God said, “If the people face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” <span class="reftext">18</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hîm (N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">So God</a> <a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: hā·‘ām (Art:: N-ms) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">led the people</a> <a href="/hebrew/5437.htm" title="5437: way·yas·sêḇ (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively.">around</a> <a href="/hebrew/1870.htm" title="1870: de·reḵ (N-csc) -- Way, road, distance, journey, manner. From darak; a road; figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb.">by the way</a> <a href="/hebrew/4057.htm" title="4057: ham·miḏ·bār (Art:: N-ms) -- A pasture, a desert, speech. From dabar in the sense of driving; a pasture; by implication, a desert; also speech.">of the wilderness</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5488.htm" title="5488: sūp̄ (N-ms) -- Reeds, rushes. Probably of Egyptian origin; a reed, especially the papyrus.">toward the Red</a> <a href="/hebrew/3220.htm" title="3220: yam- (N-msc) -- A sea or large body of water; specifically, the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river.">Sea.</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: ḇə·nê- (N-mpc) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">And the Israelites</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5927.htm" title="5927: ‘ā·lū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- A primitive root; to ascend, intransitively or actively; used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative.">left</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: mê·’e·reṣ (Prep-m:: N-fsc) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">the land</a> <a href="/hebrew/4714.htm" title="4714: miṣ·rā·yim (N-proper-fs) -- A son of Ham, also his desc. and their country in N.W. Africa. Dual of matsowr; Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt.">of Egypt</a> <a href="/hebrew/2571.htm" title="2571: wa·ḥă·mu·šîm (Conj-w:: V-Qal-QalPassPrtcpl-mp) -- In battle array. Passive participle of the same as chomesh; staunch, i.e. Able-bodied soldiers.">arrayed for battle.</a> </span><span class="reftext">19</span>Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear a solemn oath when he said, “God will surely attend to you, and then you must carry my bones with you from this place.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/24-6.htm">Joshua 24:6-7</a></span><br />When I brought your fathers out of Egypt and you reached the Red Sea, the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea. / So your fathers cried out to the LORD, and He put darkness between you and the Egyptians, over whom He brought the sea and engulfed them. Your very eyes saw what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the wilderness for a long time.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/11-16.htm">Judges 11:16</a></span><br />But when Israel came up out of Egypt, they traveled through the wilderness to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/9-9.htm">Nehemiah 9:9-11</a></span><br />You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt; You heard their cry at the Red Sea. / You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the people of his land, for You knew they had acted with arrogance against our fathers. You made a name for Yourself that endures to this day. / You divided the sea before them, and they crossed through it on dry ground. You hurled their pursuers into the depths like a stone into raging waters.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/77-16.htm">Psalm 77:16-20</a></span><br />The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and swirled; even the depths were shaken. / The clouds poured down water; the skies resounded with thunder; Your arrows flashed back and forth. / Your thunder resounded in the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/78-52.htm">Psalm 78:52-53</a></span><br />He led out His people like sheep and guided them like a flock in the wilderness. / He led them safely, so they did not fear, but the sea engulfed their enemies.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/106-9.htm">Psalm 106:9-10</a></span><br />He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; He led them through the depths as through a desert. / He saved them from the hand that hated them; He redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/63-11.htm">Isaiah 63:11-13</a></span><br />Then His people remembered the days of old, the days of Moses. Where is He who brought them through the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is the One who set His Holy Spirit among them, / who sent His glorious arm to lead them by the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to gain for Himself everlasting renown, / who led them through the depths like a horse in the wilderness, so that they did not stumble?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-36.htm">Acts 7:36</a></span><br />He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-1.htm">1 Corinthians 10:1-2</a></span><br />I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. / They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-29.htm">Hebrews 11:29</a></span><br />By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/1-40.htm">Deuteronomy 1:40</a></span><br />But you are to turn back and head for the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/8-2.htm">Deuteronomy 8:2</a></span><br />Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/32-10.htm">Deuteronomy 32:10-12</a></span><br />He found him in a desert land, in a barren, howling wilderness; He surrounded him, He instructed him, He guarded him as the apple of His eye. / As an eagle stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, He spread His wings to catch them and carried them on His pinions. / The LORD alone led him, and no foreign god was with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/14-25.htm">Numbers 14:25</a></span><br />Now since the Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the valleys, turn back tomorrow and head for the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/33-8.htm">Numbers 33:8</a></span><br />They set out from Pi-hahiroth and crossed through the sea, into the wilderness, and they journeyed three days into the Wilderness of Etham and camped at Marah.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.</p><p class="hdg">led the</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/14-2.htm">Exodus 14:2</a></b></br> Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/33-6.htm">Numbers 33:6-8</a></b></br> And they departed from Succoth, and pitched in Etham, which <i>is</i> in the edge of the wilderness… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/32-10.htm">Deuteronomy 32:10</a></b></br> He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.</p><p class="hdg">harnessed.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/12-51.htm">Exodus 12:51</a></b></br> And it came to pass the selfsame day, <i>that</i> the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/14-14.htm">Armed</a> <a href="/genesis/14-8.htm">Array</a> <a href="/genesis/41-42.htm">Arrayed</a> <a href="/genesis/14-8.htm">Battle</a> <a href="/exodus/13-15.htm">Children</a> <a href="/exodus/8-28.htm">Desert</a> <a href="/exodus/13-17.htm">Egypt</a> <a href="/revelation/9-7.htm">Equipped</a> <a href="/luke/9-14.htm">Fifties</a> <a href="/exodus/2-13.htm">Fighting</a> <a href="/songs/1-9.htm">Harnessed</a> <a href="/exodus/11-1.htm">Hence</a> <a href="/exodus/13-2.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/exodus/13-2.htm">Israelites</a> <a href="/exodus/3-1.htm">Led</a> <a href="/exodus/13-10.htm">Order</a> <a href="/exodus/10-19.htm">Red</a> <a href="/genesis/49-17.htm">Road</a> <a href="/exodus/7-24.htm">Round</a> <a href="/exodus/10-19.htm">Sea</a> <a href="/exodus/10-19.htm">Turneth</a> <a href="/exodus/8-28.htm">Waste</a> <a href="/exodus/13-17.htm">Way</a> <a href="/exodus/8-28.htm">Wilderness</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/numbers/21-24.htm">Armed</a> <a href="/joshua/4-12.htm">Array</a> <a href="/judges/20-20.htm">Arrayed</a> <a href="/exodus/15-3.htm">Battle</a> <a href="/exodus/13-19.htm">Children</a> <a href="/exodus/13-20.htm">Desert</a> <a href="/exodus/14-5.htm">Egypt</a> <a href="/joshua/4-13.htm">Equipped</a> <a href="/exodus/18-21.htm">Fifties</a> <a href="/exodus/14-25.htm">Fighting</a> <a href="/songs/1-9.htm">Harnessed</a> <a href="/exodus/13-19.htm">Hence</a> <a href="/exodus/13-19.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/exodus/14-2.htm">Israelites</a> <a href="/exodus/14-11.htm">Led</a> <a href="/exodus/14-15.htm">Order</a> <a href="/exodus/15-4.htm">Red</a> <a href="/numbers/20-19.htm">Road</a> <a href="/exodus/16-13.htm">Round</a> <a href="/exodus/14-2.htm">Sea</a> <a href="/exodus/14-25.htm">Turneth</a> <a href="/exodus/13-20.htm">Waste</a> <a href="/exodus/13-21.htm">Way</a> <a href="/exodus/13-20.htm">Wilderness</a><div class="vheading2">Exodus 13</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/13-1.htm">The firstborn are sanctified to God</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/13-3.htm">The memorial of the Passover is commanded</a></span><br><span class="reftext">11. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/13-11.htm">The firstborn of man and beast are set apart</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/13-17.htm">The Israelites go out of Egypt, and carry Joseph's bones with them.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/13-20.htm">They come to Etham</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/13-21.htm">God guides them by a pillar of a cloud, and a pillar of fire</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/exodus/13.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/exodus/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/exodus/13.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>So God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea.</b><br>This phrase highlights God's direct involvement in guiding the Israelites. The "wilderness" refers to the desert regions east of Egypt, a challenging terrain that required divine guidance. The route through the wilderness was not the most direct path to Canaan, but it was chosen by God to avoid immediate conflict with the Philistines (<a href="/exodus/13-17.htm">Exodus 13:17</a>). The "Red Sea" is traditionally understood as the body of water the Israelites would miraculously cross, symbolizing deliverance and foreshadowing baptism (<a href="/1_corinthians/10.htm">1 Corinthians 10:1-2</a>). This journey through the wilderness also serves as a period of testing and preparation for the Israelites, paralleling Jesus' time in the wilderness (<a href="/matthew/4.htm">Matthew 4:1-11</a>).<p><b>And the Israelites left the land of Egypt arrayed for battle.</b><br>The phrase "arrayed for battle" suggests that the Israelites were organized and prepared, though they were not yet a trained military force. This preparation indicates a readiness to follow God's commands and face future challenges. The departure from Egypt marks the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham (<a href="/genesis/15-13.htm">Genesis 15:13-14</a>) and the beginning of the nation's journey to the Promised Land. The imagery of being "arrayed for battle" also points to the spiritual battles believers face, with God as their leader and protector (<a href="/ephesians/6-10.htm">Ephesians 6:10-18</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The divine leader and guide of the Israelites, orchestrating their journey from Egypt.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a></b><br>The descendants of Jacob, who were enslaved in Egypt and are now being led to freedom.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_wilderness.htm">The Wilderness</a></b><br>The desert area through which God led the Israelites, symbolizing a place of testing and reliance on God.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_red_sea.htm">The Red Sea</a></b><br>A significant body of water that the Israelites would miraculously cross, marking a pivotal moment in their exodus.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/e/egypt.htm">Egypt</a></b><br>The land of bondage from which the Israelites are being delivered.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/d/divine_guidance.htm">Divine Guidance</a></b><br>Trust in God's leading, even when the path seems indirect or challenging. God's ways are higher than ours, and He sees the bigger picture.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/preparation_for_battle.htm">Preparation for Battle</a></b><br>The Israelites were "arrayed for battle," symbolizing readiness and trust in God's protection. We must be spiritually prepared for the battles we face.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/w/wilderness_as_a_place_of_growth.htm">Wilderness as a Place of Growth</a></b><br>The wilderness journey was not just a physical path but a spiritual one, teaching reliance on God. Embrace times of trial as opportunities for spiritual growth.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_in_action.htm">Faith in Action</a></b><br>The Israelites' journey required faith in God's promises. Our faith should be active, trusting God to lead us through life's challenges.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/remembering_deliverance.htm">Remembering Deliverance</a></b><br>Just as the Israelites remembered their deliverance from Egypt, we should remember and celebrate God's deliverance in our lives.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_exodus_13.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Exodus 13</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_it_'red_sea'_or_'reed_sea'.htm">Is "Red Sea" or "Reed Sea" the correct translation?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_israelites_detour_to_canaan.htm">Why did Israelites take a longer route to Canaan?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_psalm_78_align_with_archaeology.htm">How do the events recounted in Psalm 78 compare with archaeological findings regarding the Israelites' wilderness journey?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_was_the_guided_journey_so_long.htm">Exodus 13:17-18 - How can we reconcile the claim of divine guidance with the prolonged journey that should have been much shorter?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/exodus/13.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(18) <span class= "bld">But God led the people about.</span>--Or, <span class= "ital">led the people a circuit</span>--took them, not by the direct route, through Pelusium, past Lake Serbonis, to Rhinocolura and Gaza, but led them by the most circuitous route possible--the way of the Red Sea and the wilderness of Sinai to the Transjordanic region, the land of the Amorites, and so across Jordan to Canaan proper. The passage seems to dispose altogether of Dr. Brugsch's theory, that the "Red Sea" of the writer of Exodus was the Lake Serbonis, and that it was not until after this lake was passed that their journey was deflected to the south.<p><span class= "bld">The children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.</span>--It is generally agreed that this is a wrong translation. Very few of the Israelites can have possessed suits of armour until after the passage of the Red Sea, when they may have stripped the bodies of the slain Egyptians. Nor has the word used ever the force of "harnessed." It might mean "with their loins girded," but such an exposition would deprive the statement made of any force. Loins were always girded in preparation for a journey, and there would be no need to mention the fact. The best explanation is, that the word here means "organised," "in military order" (Saadia, Gesenius, Lee, Knobel, Cook). It was clearly necessary, to prevent confusion, that a military order should have been adopted, and there are not wanting indications that during the year of contention with Pharaoh such an organisation was introduced and proceeded with. (See <a href="/exodus/4-29.htm" title="And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:">Exodus 4:29</a>; <a href="/exodus/4-31.htm" title="And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.">Exodus 4:31</a>; <a href="/exodus/6-26.htm" title="These are that Aaron and Moses, to whom the LORD said, Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies.">Exodus 6:26</a>; <a href="/exodus/12-3.htm" title="Speak you to all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:">Exodus 12:3</a>; <a href="/exodus/12-21.htm" title="Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said to them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.">Exodus 12:21</a>; <a href="/exodus/12-51.htm" title="And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.">Exodus 12:51</a>.) It must have been brought to a high pitch of perfection for the Exodus to have taken place, as it seems to have done, without serious confusion or entanglement. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/13.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 18.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">God led the people about</span>. Or "led the people a circuit," <span class="accented">i.e.</span>, <span class="accented">made</span> them take a circuitous route to Canaan, <span class="cmt_word">the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea</span> - <span class="accented">i.e.</span>, by the southern wilderness, or what is now called "the wilderness of Sinai." Kalisch shows the wisdom of this course - how it gave time for the nation to be "gradually accustomed to fatigues and hardships by a long and tiresome march in the desert" - to learn obedience to their chief - and finally to be "trained to military discipline and martial, virtue by occasional expeditions against the weaker tribes of the desert." He errs, however, in ascribing the wisdom of the course taken to Moses, since Moses expressly declares that the conception was not his, but God's. <span class="cmt_word">And the children of Israel went up harnessed</span>. The word here translated "harnessed," is generally thought to mean either "with their loins girded" (Onkelos, Kimchi, Kalisch) or "in military order" (Gesenius, Lee, Knobel). Ewald, who inclines to the latter of these two senses, suggests that, strictly, it means "in five divisions" - viz., van, centre, two wings, and rearguard. The word is, apparently, a derivative from <span class="accented">khamesh</span>, "five." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/exodus/13-18.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">So God</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלֹהִ֧ים ׀</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·lō·hîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><br /><span class="word">led the people</span><br /><span class="heb">הָעָ֛ם</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘ām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> </span><span class="str2">A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">around</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיַּסֵּ֨ב</span> <span class="translit">(way·yas·sêḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5437.htm">Strong's 5437: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn about, go around, surround</span><br /><br /><span class="word">by the way</span><br /><span class="heb">דֶּ֥רֶךְ</span> <span class="translit">(de·reḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1870.htm">Strong's 1870: </a> </span><span class="str2">A road, a course of life, mode of action</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the wilderness</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר</span> <span class="translit">(ham·miḏ·bār)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4057.htm">Strong's 4057: </a> </span><span class="str2">A pasture, a desert, speech</span><br /><br /><span class="word">toward the Red</span><br /><span class="heb">ס֑וּף</span> <span class="translit">(sūp̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5488.htm">Strong's 5488: </a> </span><span class="str2">A reed, the papyrus</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Sea.</span><br /><span class="heb">יַם־</span> <span class="translit">(yam-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3220.htm">Strong's 3220: </a> </span><span class="str2">A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin</span><br /><br /><span class="word">And the Israelites</span><br /><span class="heb">בְנֵי־</span> <span class="translit">(ḇə·nê-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">left</span><br /><span class="heb">עָל֥וּ</span> <span class="translit">(‘ā·lū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5927.htm">Strong's 5927: </a> </span><span class="str2">To ascend, in, actively</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the land</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵאֶ֥רֶץ</span> <span class="translit">(mê·’e·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Egypt</span><br /><span class="heb">מִצְרָֽיִם׃</span> <span class="translit">(miṣ·rā·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4714.htm">Strong's 4714: </a> </span><span class="str2">Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa</span><br /><br /><span class="word">arrayed for battle.</span><br /><span class="heb">וַחֲמֻשִׁ֛ים</span> <span class="translit">(wa·ḥă·mu·šîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2571.htm">Strong's 2571: </a> </span><span class="str2">Staunch, able-bodied soldiers</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/13-18.htm">Exodus 13:18 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/exodus/13-18.htm">Exodus 13:18 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/exodus/13-18.htm">Exodus 13:18 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/exodus/13-18.htm">Exodus 13:18 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/exodus/13-18.htm">Exodus 13:18 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/13-18.htm">Exodus 13:18 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/13-18.htm">Exodus 13:18 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/13-18.htm">Exodus 13:18 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/13-18.htm">Exodus 13:18 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/exodus/13-18.htm">Exodus 13:18 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/exodus/13-18.htm">OT Law: Exodus 13:18 But God led the people around (Exo. Ex) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/exodus/13-17.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Exodus 13:17"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Exodus 13:17" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/exodus/13-19.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Exodus 13:19"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Exodus 13:19" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>