17. Source Text: Hebrew (WLC) Exodus 13:17:1 ⧉וַיְהִ֗יvayehi{And} it happened Exodus 13:17:2 ⧉בְּשַׁלַּ֣חbeshalakhwhen sending away Exodus 13:17:3 ⧉פַּרְעֹה֮paroPharaoh Exodus 13:17:4 ⧉אֶת־הָעָם֒ethaamthe people Exodus 13:17:5 ⧉וְלֹא־נָחָ֣םvelonakham{And He} did not lead Exodus 13:17:6 ⧉אֱלֹהִ֗יםelohimGod Exodus 13:17:7 ⧉דֶּ֚רֶךְderekhway of Exodus 13:17:8 ⧉אֶ֣רֶץeretsland of Exodus 13:17:9 ⧉פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔יםpelishteemPhilistines Exodus 13:17:10 ⧉כִּ֥יkifor Exodus 13:17:11 ⧉קָר֖וֹבkarovnear Exodus 13:17:12 ⧉ה֑וּאhuit Exodus 13:17:13 ⧉כִּ֣יkifor Exodus 13:17:14 ⧉אָמַ֣רamar{He} said Exodus 13:17:15 ⧉אֱלֹהִ֗יםelohimGod Exodus 13:17:16 ⧉פֶּֽן־יִנָּחֵ֥םpenyinnakhemlest reconsider Exodus 13:17:17 ⧉הָעָ֛םhaamthe people Exodus 13:17:18 ⧉בִּרְאֹתָ֥םbirotamwhen they see Exodus 13:17:19 ⧉מִלְחָמָ֖הmilkhamawar Exodus 13:17:20 ⧉וְשָׁ֥בוּveshavu{And} return Exodus 13:17:21 ⧉מִצְרָֽיְמָה׃mitsraimato Egypt |
17. Formal Translation And it happened that when Pharaoh dismissed the people, God {Elohim, Protector} did not guide them by the Philistine road, though it lay close by; for He said, “Lest the people reconsider when they see war and turn back to Egypt.” |
17. Dynamic Translation When Pharaoh released the people, God {Elohim, Strategic Guide} declined to lead them through the land of the Philistines, even though it was the shorter route. He reasoned that if they encountered battle, the people might turn back to Egypt. |