
Text -- Exodus 13:18 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley: Exo 13:18 - -- There were many reasons why God led them through the way of the wilderness of the red sea.
There were many reasons why God led them through the way of the wilderness of the red sea.

Wesley: Exo 13:18 - -- sea, the Israelites were to be humbled, and proved in the wilderness. Deu 8:2. God had given it to Moses for a sign, Exo 3:12, ye shall serve God in t...
sea, the Israelites were to be humbled, and proved in the wilderness. Deu 8:2. God had given it to Moses for a sign, Exo 3:12, ye shall serve God in this mountain. They had again and again told Pharaoh that they must go three days journey into the wilderness to do sacrifice, and therefore it was requisite they should march that way, else they had justly been exclaimed against as dissemblers. Before they entered the lifts with their enemies, matters must be settled between them and their God; laws must be given, ordinances instituted, covenants sealed; and for the doing of this it was necessary they should retire into the solitudes of a wilderness, the only closet for such a crowd; the high road would be no proper place for these transactions. The reason why God did not lead them the nearest way, which would have brought them in a few days to the land of the Philistines, was because they were not yet fit for war, much less for war with the Philistines. Their spirits were broke with slavery; the Philistines were formidable enemies; it was convenient they should begin with the Amalekites, and be prepared for the wars of Canaan, by experiencing the difficulties of the wilderness. God is said to bring Israel out of Egypt as the eagle brings up her young ones, Deu 32:11, teaching them by degrees to fly.

Wesley: Exo 13:18 - -- They went up by five in a rank, so some; in five squadrons, so others. They marched like an army with banners, which added much to strength and honour...
They went up by five in a rank, so some; in five squadrons, so others. They marched like an army with banners, which added much to strength and honour.
JFB: Exo 13:18 - -- This wondrous expanse of water is a gulf of the Indian ocean. It was called in Hebrew "the weedy sea," from the forest of marine plants with which it ...
This wondrous expanse of water is a gulf of the Indian ocean. It was called in Hebrew "the weedy sea," from the forest of marine plants with which it abounds. But the name of the Red Sea is not so easily traced. Some think it was given from its contiguity to the countries of Edom ("red"); others derive it from its coral rocks; while a third class ascribe the origin of the name to an extremely red appearance of the water in some parts, caused by a numberless multitude of very small mollusca. This sea, at its northern extremity, separates into two smaller inlets--the eastern called anciently the Elanitic gulf, now the gulf of Akaba; and the western the Heroopolite gulf, now the gulf of Suez, which, there can be no doubt, extended much more to the north anciently than it does now. It was toward the latter the Israelites marched.

JFB: Exo 13:18 - -- That is, girded, equipped for a long journey. (See Psa 105:37). The Margin renders it "five in a rank," meaning obviously five large divisions, under ...
That is, girded, equipped for a long journey. (See Psa 105:37). The Margin renders it "five in a rank," meaning obviously five large divisions, under five presiding officers, according to the usages of all caravans; and a spectacle of such a mighty and motley multitude must have presented an imposing appearance, and its orderly progress could have been effected only by the superintending influence of God.
Clarke: Exo 13:18 - -- 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...
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 Clarke’ s note on Exo 40:38

Clarke: Exo 13:18 - -- Went up harnessed - חמשים chamushim . It is truly astonishing what a great variety of opinions are entertained relative to the meaning of thi...
Went up harnessed -
Calvin -> Exo 13:18
Calvin: Exo 13:18 - -- 18.The children of Israel went up harnessed The word חמשים , 148 chemishim, is derived from “Five,” from whence some have explained it, t...
18.The children of Israel went up harnessed The word
TSK -> Exo 13:18

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Exo 13:18
Barnes: Exo 13:18 - -- Harnessed - More probably, "marshalled"or "in orderly array."There is not the least indication that the Israelites had been disarmed by the Egy...
Harnessed - More probably, "marshalled"or "in orderly array."There is not the least indication that the Israelites had been disarmed by the Egyptians, and as occupying a frontier district frequently assailed by the nomads of the desert they would of necessity be accustomed to the use of arms. Compare Exo 1:10.
Poole -> Exo 13:18
Poole: Exo 13:18 - -- Or, armed , or girt with swords and belts about the fifth rib, as the Hebrew word may imply. But it doth not appear how or whence they should get...
Or, armed , or girt with swords and belts about the fifth rib, as the Hebrew word may imply. But it doth not appear how or whence they should get their arms, nor how the Egyptians would permit so numerous a people to have and to keep arms, especially when they had a long time oppressed and exasperated them, and made them desperate. It is true, some few of them might procure arms, but this word is here used concerning the whole body of them. Others render it by fives , five and five in a rank, that is, by a usual synecdoche, in military order, not doubtfully and fearfully, but confidently and courageously; not confusedly, as men that steal or run away, but in good order, so as one might not hinder another. Which interpretation is strengthened by comparing Jos 1:14 . It may be rendered girt , to wit, about the fifth rib, as the word implies, the place where men used to gird their garments, this being the usual posture for travellers: he implies that they went out resolved upon and prepared for their journey.
Haydock -> Exo 13:18
Haydock: Exo 13:18 - -- Armed, in order of battle. Hebrew chamushim , "by fives," or in five battalions. (Josue i. 14; Judges viii. 11.) (Calmet) ---
Calvin asks where t...
Armed, in order of battle. Hebrew chamushim , "by fives," or in five battalions. (Josue i. 14; Judges viii. 11.) (Calmet) ---
Calvin asks where the Hebrews could procure arms, as if to cavil with this translation. But surely they might get them in the same manner as the vessels of gold; and they undoubtedly were not destitute of arms when they encountered the Amalecites, ver. 17. (Haydock)
Gill -> Exo 13:18
Gill: Exo 13:18 - -- But God led the people about,.... Instead of their going to the west, or northwest, towards Gaza, &c. and the Mediterranean sea, the Lord going before...
But God led the people about,.... Instead of their going to the west, or northwest, towards Gaza, &c. and the Mediterranean sea, the Lord going before them in a pillar of cloud and fire, as after related, directed them to turn off to the right, between the east and south, to the southeast:
through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: the wilderness of Etham, by the Red sea:
and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt or "girt" m about the loins under the fifth rib; not with armour, as some n understand it, for it is not likely that they could, or that Pharaoh would suffer them to be furnished with armour, but their garments were girt about them, and so fit for travelling; or they went up "by fives" o, as it may be rendered, either by five in a rank, or rather in five bodies or squadrons, and so marched out, not in a disorderly and confused way, but in great order and regularity. The latter is much more reasonable to suppose, for five in a rank is too small a number for an army of 600,000 men to march in; since allowing the ranks to be but three feet asunder, and a mile to consist of about two thousand yards, the front and rear of the army would be sixty miles distant from each other p.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: Exo 13:18 The term חֲמֻשִׁים (khamushim) is placed first for emphasis; it forms a circumstantial clause, e...
Geneva Bible -> Exo 13:18
Geneva Bible: Exo 13:18 But God led the people about, [through] the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up ( k ) harnessed out of the land o...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Exo 13:1-22
TSK Synopsis: Exo 13:1-22 - --1 The firstborn are sanctified to God.3 The memorial of the passover is commanded.11 The firstlings of man and beast are set apart.17 The Israelites g...
MHCC -> Exo 13:17-20
MHCC: Exo 13:17-20 - --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...
Matthew Henry -> Exo 13:17-22
Matthew Henry: Exo 13:17-22 - -- Here is, I. The choice God made of their way, Exo 13:17, Exo 13:18. He was their guide. Moses gave them direction but as he received it from the Lor...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Exo 13:17-19
Keil-Delitzsch: Exo 13:17-19 - --
Journey from Succoth to Etham. - Succoth, Israel's first place of encampment after their departure, was probably the rendezvous for the whole nation...
Constable: Exo 1:1--15:22 - --I. THE LIBERATION OF ISRAEL 1:1--15:21
"The story of the first half of Exodus, in broad summary, is Rescue. The ...

Constable: Exo 13:17--15:22 - --D. God's completion of Israel's liberation 13:17-15:21
The Israelites now began their migration from Gos...
