If the map be consulted which points to the situation of Canaan, it will appear that from Egypt, the direct road was from the northern part of Egypt to the southern part of Canaan, and this was a short way of not above a week's journey. But then the Philistines, a warlike people, occupied the intermediate land. The Lord therefore caused the people to go a long circuitous way. See Psalms 107:1-19. Besides the wisdom of this, there was much mercy in it also. Egypt was to be destroyed. See Exodus 9:15-16. And therefore the Red Sea was to be made a port of safety to Israel, and the grave of Egypt. See Exodus 14:3-4. Neither was this all. Israel was to be proved by a wilderness state before entering upon the promised land. See Deuteronomy 8:2; Exodus 3:12.
Related Commentaries of Exodus 13:17
Exodus 13:17
17 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: