Another matter, “God did not lead them [naḥam].” Why [did God not lead them into the land immediately] via the land of the Philistines? Rabbi Shimon bar Abba said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: When the Canaanites heard that Israel would be entering the Land, they arose and chopped down the trees that they had.15God did not want to bring Israel into a land barren of trees. Consequently, He delayed them in the wilderness.
When they [the Canaanites] heard that they [the Israelites] were being delayed in the wilderness for forty years, they believed that the wilderness would be their residence. They arose and planted trees and grew them, and then He took them into the Land. Our great rabbi16Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi. says: Because the Holy One blessed be He sought to put the fear of Israel in the idolaters. He delayed them in the wilderness forty years and [directed them on their path and] illuminated [it] for them with a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night.
All the idolaters heard, and trembling beset them, as it is stated: “Terror and dread falls upon them” (Exodus 15:16), and what is written thereafter? “Bring them in and plant them” (Exodus 15:17).