God Leads by the Wilderness Road, Cloud, and Fire
When Pharaoh lets Israel go, God does not lead the people by the shorter road through the land of the Philistines. Exodus gives the reason: God says the people might change their minds and return to Egypt if they encounter war. Instead, God leads them by the wilderness route toward the Red Sea. The Hebrew description of Israel leaving “harnessed” or “armed” is difficult; translations such as equipped, armed, or in battle formation reflect the uncertainty rather than a single proven military arrangement.
Moses takes Joseph’s bones because Joseph had made Israel swear that they would carry his bones up when God visited them. Hebrews 11 later explicitly interprets Joseph’s instruction about his bones as an act of faith, and Joshua 24 eventually records Joseph’s burial at Shechem.