Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
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That therefore there might be no scruple nor dissatisfaction about it, Moses is told before,
1. Whither they must go, Ex 14:1, 2. They had got to the edge of the wilderness (Ex 13:20), and a stage or two more would have brought them to Horeb, the place appointed for their serving God; but, instead of going forward, they are ordered to turn short off, on the right hand from Canaan, and to march towards the Red Sea. Where they were, at Etham, there was no sea in their way to obstruct their passage: but God himself orders them into straits, which might give them an assurance that when his purposes were served he would without fail bring them out of those straits. Note, God sometimes raises difficulties in the way of the salvation of his people, that he may have the glory of subduing them, and helping his people over them.
2. What God designed in these strange orders. Moses would have yielded an implicit obedience, though God had given him no reason; but shall he hide from Moses the thing that he does? No, Moses shall know,
(1.) That Pharaoh has a design to ruin Israel, Ex 14:3.
(2.) That therefore God has a design to ruin Pharaoh, and he takes this way to effect it, Ex 14:4. Pharaoh's sagacity would conclude that Israel was entangled in the wilderness and so would become an easy prey to him; and, that he might be the more apt to think so, God orders them into yet greater entanglements; also, by turning them so much out of their road, he amazes him yet more, and gives him further occasion to suppose that they were in a state of embarrassment and danger. And thus (says God) I will be honoured upon Pharaoh. Note,