Leaving Egypt

All the Israelites did
just what the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron.
And on that very day
the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt
by their divisions.
(Genesis 12:50-51)

When Pharaoh let the people go,
God did not lead them
on the road through the Philistine country,
though that was shorter.
For God said, "If they face war,
they might change their minds and return to Egypt."
So God led the people
around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.
The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.

After leaving Succoth
they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert.
By day the Lord went ahead of them
in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way
and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light,
so that they could travel by day or night.
Neither the pillar of cloud by day
nor the pillar of fire by night
left its place in front of the people.
(Genesis 13:17-18, 20-22)