Exodus 13:17

King James Version (KJV)

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, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

Translations

Exodus 13:17 - Amplified Bible

When Pharaoh let the people go, God led them not by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was nearer; for God said, Lest the people change their purpose when they see war and return to Egypt.

Exodus 13:17 - American Standard Version

And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

Exodus 13:17 - Bible in Basic English

Now after Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not take them through the land of the Philistines, though that was near: for God said, If the people see war, they may have a change of heart and go back to Egypt.

Exodus 13:17 - Darby Bible

And it came to pass, when Pharaoh let the people go, that God did not lead them the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, That the people may not repent when they see conflict, and return to Egypt.

Exodus 13:17 - English Standard Version

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, "Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt."

Exodus 13:17 - King James Version

Exodus 13:17 - La Biblia de las Americas

Y sucediò que cuando Faraòn dejò ir al pueblo, Dios no los guiò por el camino de la tierra de los filisteos, aunque estaba cerca, porque dijo Dios: No sea que el pueblo se arrepienta cuando vea guerra y se vuelva a Egipto.

Exodus 13:17 - The Message

It so happened that after Pharaoh released the people, God didn’t lead them by the road through the land of the Philistines, which was the shortest route, for God thought, "If the people encounter war, they’ll change their minds and go back to Egypt."

Exodus 13:17 - New American Standard Bible

Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, "The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt."

Exodus 13:17 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

Cuando Faraòn dejò ir al pueblo, Dios no los guiò por el camino de la tierra de los Filisteos, aunque estaba cerca, porque dijo Dios: "No sea que el pueblo se arrepienta cuando vea guerra y se vuelva a Egipto."

Exodus 13:17 - World English Bible

It happened, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that 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;"

Exodus 13:17 - Young's Living Translation

And it cometh to pass in Pharaoh`s sending the people away, that God hath not led them the way of the land of the Philistines, for it [is] near; for God said, `Lest the people repent in their seeing war, and have turned back towards Egypt;`

Exodus 13:17 - Additional Comments

There were 3 main trade routes from Egypt to Canaan. The trip was about 200 miles. The northern route was along the sea - that was the route through the Philistines. Probably all 3 routes were protected by the Egyptians. That being the case, and since the Israelites had to get their own food and water, they certainly did not go via a normal route. They travelled near the south edge of the Sinai Peninsula.
He does promise that he won't lead us where we will be tempted beyond what we are able (1 Cor 10:13), and it sounds like that would have been the case if Israel had gone into the land of the Philistines. The Israelites would've gone back to Egypt. Even the route they took, they regretted leaving Egypt (Exo 16:3).
The journey through the wilderness provided many things for the new nation:
1. It helped to solidify them as a nation, to help define who they were.
2. The wilderness gave them time to establish national laws and ordinances.
3. From slavery they were too humble to be ready to fight as an army, so the wilderness toughened their character, and taught them dependence on God - He was the one to deliver them. This was their boot camp.
4. The wilderness gave them time to establish an army. They would not have been organized to fight as they eventually did in the land of Canaan (even though they did along the way, against the Amalekites).
Does it ever feel like the path you have been going through, or have gone through, is really tough, and curious that God would send you down that road? God doesn't always lead us in the easiest or quickest path, for reasons that we may not know. But we can be comforted it is the best path. If only we could hear God talk to us as He did here - "I am you taking you down this odd path, for these purposes, and to avoid these problems..."

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