What is “led the people around [vayasev]”? The Holy One blessed be He encompassed them, just as He says: “I will be for it, the utterance of the Lord, a wall of fire around” (Zechariah 2:9) – like a shepherd who was herding his flock and saw wolves coming to attack the flock, and he encircled the flock so they would not be harmed. So too, when Israel departed from Egypt, there were chieftains of Edom, Moav, and Canaan standing and giving counsel [as to] how to come and attack Israel.
When the Holy One blessed be He saw that it was so, He encircled [Israel] so they would not come and attack them, as it is stated: “God led the people around [vayasev].” Not only in this world, but so it will be in the World to Come. From where [is this derived?] It is as David says: “Jerusalem, mountains surround it and the Lord surrounds His people” (Psalms 125:2).
Alternatively, “God led the people around [vayasev]” – from here our Rabbis said: “Even the poor of Israel may not eat until he reclines [yasev]” (Mishna Pesaḥim 10:1) as that is what the Holy One blessed be He did to them, as it is stated: “God led [the people] around [vayasev].”