Israel Leaves Egypt
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with them into Egypt. The children of Israel had become exceedingly
numerous, and their flocks and herds had greatly increased. God had
judged the Egyptians by sending the plagues upon them, and made
them hasten his people out of Egypt, with all that they possessed.
“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. But God led the people
about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the
children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt. And
Moses took the bones of Joseph with him; for he had straitly sworn
the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall
carry up my bones away hence with you. And they took their journey
from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead
them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, to go
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by day and night. He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor
the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.”
The Lord knew that the Philistines would oppose their passing
through their land. They would say of them, They have stolen away
from their masters in Egypt, and would have made war with them.
Thus God, by bringing them by the way of the sea, revealed himself a
compassionate God, as well as a God of judgment. The Lord informed
Moses that Pharaoh would pursue them, and he directed him just where
to encamp before the sea. He told Moses that he would be honored
before Pharaoh and all his host. After the Hebrews had been gone
from Egypt some days, the Egyptians told Pharaoh that they had fled
and would never return to serve him again. And they mourned because
they had permitted them to leave Egypt. It was a very great loss for
them to be deprived of their services, and they regretted that they
had consented to let them go. Notwithstanding all they had suffered
with the judgments of God, they were so hardened by their continual
rebellion that they decided to pursue the children of Israel and bring
them back by force into Egypt. The king took a very large army, and
six hundred chariots, and pursued after them and overtook them while
encamped by the sea.
“And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their
eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were
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