When Pharaoh had let the people go, God didn’t lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and they return to Egypt”;
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 17. Lest. God maketh use of precautions, to shew the free-will of man. Worthington.—The Philistines had before made a great slaughter of the Ephraimites, 1 Chronicles 7:21. The Chanaanites would also be ready to oppose the Hebrews, if they had attempted to enter by the road of Pelusium, and perhaps the Idumeans and Amalecites also would have met them in front, while the Egyptians attacked their rear. Calmet.—This journey, Philo says, would not have taken up above three days. The battle with Amalec took place only 40 days afterwards, and God protected his people. Menochius.