Exodus 13:19

_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._ Took the bones of Joseph - in fulfillment of the oath he exacted from his brethren (Genesis 50:25). The remains of the other patriarchs-not noticed from their obscurity-were also carried out of Egypt (Acts 7:10), and there would be no difficulty as to the means of conveyance-a few camels bearing these precious relics would give a true picture of Oriental customs, such as is still to be seen in the immense pilgrimages to Mecca....

19._And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him. _Hence it appears, that even in their adversity the memory of their promised deliverance had never departed from the people, for had not the adjuration of Joseph been currently spoken of in common conversation, Moses would never have been able to imagine it; but he expressly states that he acted in obedience to the holy patriarch in carrying away his bones. It is, therefore, probable that they were so deposited, that the hope of the people might be kept alive by seeing daily the urn or coffer which contained them, as if the holy man even after death uplifted from his tomb a sign of their deliverance; for although by this symbolical act he cherished his own faith, when he desired that, though dead, he might enter on the possession of the promised land, yet there is no doubt that he had more regard to his brethren and the whole posterity of...

17-20 There were two ways from Egypt to Canaan. One was only a few days' journey; the other was much further about, through the wilderness, and that was the way in which God chose to lead his people Israel. The Egyptians were to be drowned in the Red sea; the Israelites were to be humbled and proved in the wilderness. God's way is the right way, though it seems about. If we think he leads not his people the nearest way, yet we may be sure he leads them the best way, and so it will appear when we come to our journey's end. The Philistines were powerful enemies; it was needful that the Israelites should be prepared for the wars of Canaan, by passing through the difficulties of the wilderness. Thus God proportions his people's trials to their strength, 1 Corinthians 10:13. They went up in good order. They went up in five in a rank, some; in five bands, so others, which it seems rather t...

Verse Exodus 13:19. _MOSES TOOK THE BONES OF JOSEPH_] Genesis 50:25, Genesis 50:25. It is supposed that the Israelites carried with them the bones or remains of _all the twelve sons of Jacob_, each tribe taking care of the bones of its own patriarch, while Moses took care of the bones of Joseph. St. Stephen expressly says, Acts 7:15, that not only Jacob, but the _fathers_ were carried from Egypt into Sychem; and this, as Calmet remarks, was the only opportunity that seems to have presented itself for doing this: and certainly the reason that rendered it proper to remove the bones of Joseph to the...

EXPOSITION THE DIRECTION OF THE JOURNEY.—The direct road from Tanis to Palestine—a road much frequented under the nineteenth dynasty—lay along the coast of the Mediterranean, and conducted to Philistia. If we look at the map, and observe the position of Tanis (now San) on the old Tanitic branch of the Nile, now nearly dried up, we shall see that the route which would naturally suggest itself to any one wishing to proceed to the Holy Land from Tanis would be one running almost due east, from Tanis to Pelusium, and from Pelusium, south of Lake Serbonis, to Rhinocolura; and thence, following the course of the coast to Gaza, Ascalon, and Ashdod, the chief towns of the Philistine country. It is true that a marsh region intervenes between Tanis and Pelusium which might seem to bar the route; but the Egyptian remains show that, in the times of the eighteenth and nineteenth dynasties,

AND MOSES TOOK THE BONES OF JOSEPH WITH HIM,.... And his remains might well be called bones, since at such a distance from his death the flesh must be gone, and nothing but bones left; of the place where Joseph's coffin was laid, Genesis 50:26. The Jews pretend, that Moses was informed where Joseph was buried by Sarah, the daughter of Asher, who they say was living at this time q; and many other fables they relate concerning the manner of finding him, which are not worthy of any notice. Jarchi thinks, that the bones of all the tribes, or of the sons of Jacob, were carried with them, but that does not appear from the text; though it seems, according to Stephen's account, that they were carried over to Canaan; but then, whether immediately after their death, or at this time, and also by whom, is not certain, see Acts 7

6. REDEMPTION BY POWER CHAPTER 13:17-22 From Succoth to Etham _ 1. God's leading (Exodus 13:17)_ 2. Joseph's bones carried away (Exodus 13:19) 3. The pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire (Exodus 13:20) Jehovah now begins to lead His redeemed people forward. God chose their way for them, as He chooses the way for us. He was with His people, therefore He led them in His way. If His people are in His way He is with them and all is well. If we are not in His way He cannot be with us in the fullness of His power. What grace and tenderness is revealed in the fact that the Lord did not permit them to go through the land of the Philistines! They had to learn lessons in God's way, which the

ROUTE OF THE EXODUS (Exodus 13:17 E, Exodus 13:20 P). The religious insight of the writer (God led the people) is sounder than his knowledge of history: the Philistines-' presence cannot have been the reason for avoiding the usual and shortest route, the N. or coast road, for they were immigrants of a later date (p. 56, Amos 9:7 *). The choice of the more easterly route, of the two now as then most practicable, probably arose from the aim to reach Kadesh. The host went by the way to the (Egyptian) wilderness to the Red Sea better Reed-sea, as Luther. The N.W. arm then probably extended from Sue z into Lake Timsâ h, which grows reeds, which are not now found in the salt Red Sea. (On the route see further p. 64.) It is not certain th

THE BONES OF JOSEPH. Another evidence of order. Compare Genesis 50:25. Joseph's faith exhibited 150 years before. Compare also Joshua 24:32 and Acts 7:15; Acts 7:16. SURELY VISIT YOU. See Genesis 50:25, and compare note on Genesis 26:28....

MOSES TOOK THE BONES OF JOSEPH— See Genesis 50:25. One would conclude from Acts 7:16 that the bones of _all the patriarchs,_ as well as of _Joseph,_ were, upon this occasion, removed out of Egypt; and the Jews have a tradition, that _every tribe_ brought the bones of the heads of their families with them. They tell us, too, that those of Joseph were placed in a new sumptuous cart, or open hearse, which they made to march under the guard and conduct of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. _STRAITLY SWORN_— Or, _strictly sworn._...