Exegesis for the story of the Israelites escaping Egypt
The story of Moses and the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 13:17-14:31) was one of the most remarkable stories in the Bible to date. ... This act is contained in the story of the Exodus. The Exodus is the most profound and amazing story in the Old Testament. The Exodus is the story of Moses conquest to rescue the Israelites from Egypt and the power of the pharaoh was truly an intense battle for the Israelites right for freedom. I will focus on the Israelites journey through the wilderness to the Red Sea and Joseph’s wish with the help of the Bible and commentaries. Before the Israelites were even free from the torment of the pharaoh and his servants, Moses went through some intense trials to overcome the wrath of the pharaoh. Both he and pharaoh had some amazing “power” battles in Egypt. ... Then finally, after the plague of the death of the first-born, pharaoh decided to let the people of the land of Israel leave the country of Egypt. “And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Let’s peradventure and return to the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 13:17)# In this Bible scripture, God leads Moses and the Israelites out of Egypt. But when they get half-way to the land of the Philistines, God tells them to turn back and return to the land of Egypt because he does not want them to pass through their land. ... # There were two paths to get to Canaan from Egypt. One was a short cut from the north of Egypt to the south of Canaan. ... For there was a logical reason for God telling Moses, to tell the Israelites that they would avoid the easiest route for a more challenging path. ... One, God picked the longest path because if the Israelites took the short-cut, they would enter into the land of the Philistines. If the Israelites entered the land of the Philistines, then a war would break out between the two camps. ... That is why he avoided the path in which the Philistines lived, because the Israelites were not ready. Another knowledgeable reason for choosing this path were the events of the Egyptians and the Pharaoh drowning in the Red Sea, that come later on in the story. There I wonder what were the thoughts of the Israelites. They had just been freed from slavery in Egypt and were free to leave, but half way to another land God tells them to go back and return to Egypt.