Exo 13:17-14:4 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Exod 13:17-14:4: 13:17–14:4 The Lord’s redemptive power was demonstrated as he brought Israel into a place where they were completely helpless and had to either rely on him for rescue or die. Although at the time it must have seemed completely foolish, Israel would thank God for the rest of its history for maneuvering them into such a spot (see Ps 106:7-12 ; cp. Isa 12:2-6 ). Summary for Exod 13:17-18: 13:17-18 faced with a battle: 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.

Summary for Exod 13:17-14:4: 13:17–14:4 ^a The Lord’s redemptive power was demonstrated as he brought Israel into a place where they were completely helpless and had to either rely on him for rescue or die. Although at the time it must have seemed completely foolish, Israel would thank God for the rest of its history for maneuvering them into such a spot (see Ps 106:7-12 ^b; cp. Isa 12:2-6 ^c).
Summary for Exod 13:17-18: 13:17-18 ^d faced with a battle: The Israelites had not yet seen God fight on their behalf. Even though they left Egypt like an army ready for battle (13:18 ^e; see also 12:51 ^f), it was only an appearance. Until they experienced the Lord as fighting for them (14:14 ^g) in the crossing of the sea, they were not ready to face enemies in the Promised Land.
13:18 ^h roundabout way: There is disagreement among scholars about the identification of some of the sites mentioned (13:20 ⁱ; 14:2 ^j), so there is little consensus about the precise route the Israelites took.

• Red Sea: Literally sea of reeds. The Red Sea proper is too far south. The Sea of Reeds was part of the Red Sea, probably located at the northern end of the Gulf of Suez.
13:19 ^k Joseph had recognized that God would not leave his people in Egypt indefinitely because he had promised Canaan to them (see Gen 50:24-25 ^l).
13:20 ^m The locations of Succoth and Etham are uncertain, although the reference to the edge of the wilderness suggests that they were in the region southeast of the Nile delta toward the Gulf of Suez.
13:21 ⁿ The pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire were to be the Israelites’ constant companions for the next forty years.

‏ Exodus 14:1-4

14:2 ^o The precise locations of Pi-hahiroth, Migdol, and Baal-zephon are unknown.

• the sea: See study note on 13:18.
14:4 ^p know that I am the Lord: This event was the climactic demonstration of the Lord’s character and power in the Exodus. Rescue for humans is by means of God’s self-revelation as he incarnates himself in our life and experience.

• as they were told: In this part of the book, the Israelites were obedient to God’s commands (12:35 ^q, 50 ^r). Unfortunately, this was not their continued pattern after the crossing.