Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days.
Then we turned, and took our journey ... by the way of the Red sea. After their unsuccessful attack upon the Canaanites, the Israelites broke up their encampment at Kadesh, and journeying southward over the west desert of Tih, as well as through the great valley of the Arabah, they extended their removals as far as the Gulf of Akaba.
We compassed mount Seir many days. In these few words Moses comprised the whole of that wandering nomadic life which they passed during 38 years, shifting from place to place, and regulating their stations by the prospect of pasturage and water. Within the interval they went northward a second time to Kadesh; but being refused a passage through Edom, and opposed by the Canaanites and Amalakites, they again had no alternative but to traverse once more the great Arabah southwards to the Red Sea, where, turning to the left and crossing the long, lofty mountain chain to the eastward of Ezion-gaber (Numbers 21:4-5), they issued into the great and elevated plains which are still traversed by the Syrian pilgrims on their way to Mecca; and appear to have followed northward nearly the same route which is now taken by the Syrian Hadj, along the western skirts of this great desert, near the mountains of Edom (Robinson). It was on entering these plains they received the command, "Ye have compassed this mountain (this hilly tract, now Jebel Sherah) long enough, turn you northward."