The Wilderness Way
17 Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, "Lest perhaps the people Ex. 14:11; Num. 14:1–4change their minds when they see war, and Deut. 17:16return to Egypt." 18 So God Ex. 14:2; Num. 33:6led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.
19 And Moses took the Gen. 50:24, 25; Josh. 24:32bones of Ex. 1:6; Deut. 33:13–17Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, Ex. 4:31"God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you."
20 So Num. 33:6–8they took their journey from Ex. 12:37Succoth and camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness. 21 And Ex. 14:19, 24; 33:9, 10; Num. 9:15; 14:14; Deut. 1:33; Neh. 9:12; Ps. 78:14; 99:7; 105:39; (Is. 4:5); 1 Cor. 10:1the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. 22 He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.