“God did not lead them via the land [derekh eretz]” (Exodus 13:17) – he did not conduct himself in the standard manner [kederekh kol haaretz]. What is the standard manner? One who purchases slaves, purchases them so they will bathe him, smear him with oil, clothe him, transport him, and illuminate [the way] before him. But the Holy One blessed be He did not do this with Israel.
Rather, God did not lead them in the standard manner, but He would bathe them, as it is stated: “I bathed you in water” (Ezekiel 16:9). He smeared oil on them, as it is stated: “I smeared them with oil” (Ezekiel 16:9). He clothed them, as it is stated: “I clothed you in embroidery” (Ezekiel 16:10). He transported them, as it is stated: “I bore you on eagles’ wings” (Exodus 19:4).
He illuminated [the way] before them, as it is stated: “The Lord went before them by day…[to give them light]” (Exodus 13:21). That is why it is stated: “God did not lead them via the land [derekh eretz].” “ Philistines.” Why? The tribe of Ephraim had erred and departed from Egypt before the appointed time, and three hundred thousand of them were killed.
Why were they killed? It is because they calculated from the day that Abraham was spoken to [during the Covenant] between the Parts12See Genesis chapter 15. In verses 13-14, Abraham is told that his descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, and will be afflicted for four hundred years, and then will emerge with great wealth. and erred by thirty years, as it is stated: “The children of Ephraim were as archers handling the bow [that turned back on the day of battle; they did not keep the covenant of God]” (Psalms 78:9–10).
Had it not been that they erred, they would not have departed, [for] who would desire to bring out his descendants to be killed, [as seemingly attributed to] Ephraim, as it is stated: “But Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the killer” (Hosea 9:13)? The Philistines killed them, as it is stated: “And the sons of Ephraim…Shutelaḥ… and the people of Gat killed them” (I Chronicles 7:20–21). Their bones were scattered along the way in piles, as it had already been thirty years from when they departed until their brethren departed from Egypt.
The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Were Israel to see the bones of the Ephraimites scattered on the way, they would return to Egypt.’ To what is this matter comparable? It is to a king who married a woman and sought to go to his province. He sat her in a litter, but did not manage to enter the province until his wife died.
He buried her at the entrance to the province. Then, he married her sister. The king said: ‘I will take her on a circuitous route so that she will not see her sister’s grave and return.’ What did he do?
He took her on a circuitous route from the other side of the province. So too, the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Let them take a circuitous path so that they will not see the bones of their brethren scattered along the way and return to Egypt.’ What did the Holy One blessed be He do? He took the blood of the Ephraimites and, as it were, dipped His garments in them, as it is stated: “Why is Your garment red?” (Isaiah 63:2).
The Holy One blessed be He said: I will not be consoled [mitnaḥem] until I take the vengeance of the Ephraimites, as it is stated: “God did not lead them [naḥam].”