“God led the people around, via the wilderness by the Red Sea, and the children of Israel ascended armed [ḥamushim] from the land of Egypt” (Exodus 13:18). “God led the people around [vayasev].” Like a merchant who purchased a cow as property,17For domestic purposes rather than for slaughter. and his house was near a slaughterhouse. He said: ‘If I take it on the path to my house, it will see the slaughterhouse and the blood and it will flee.
Rather, I will take it on an alternative path.’ So too, the residents of Gaza and Ashkelon and the entire land of the Philistines were destined to confront Israel when they departed from Egypt. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Israel should not see the war and return to Egypt,’ as it is stated: “Lest the people reconsider when they see war, and return to Egypt” (Exodus 13:17). What did the Holy One blessed be He do? He took them on an alternative route, as it is stated: “God led the people around.”