The Roundabout Route and The Road Not Traveled/3

The Roundabout Route and The Road Not Traveled

Points of Dispute

These are some of the central points of dispute (נקודות המחלוקת) between the various exegetes:

• Purpose of Yam Suf
  • To free the Israelites permanently – SefornoShemot 13:17-18About R. Ovadyah Seforno
  • To destroy the Egyptian army –
• Avoiding war with whom?
  • Egyptians – SefornoShemot 13:17-18About R. Ovadyah Seforno
  • Philistines
    
    • Previous War – opinion in Mekhilta DeRabbi YishmaelBeshalach VayehiAbout Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael, Targum Pseudo-JonathanShemot 13:17-18About Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, first opinion in Shemot Rabbah20:11-16About Shemot Rabbah
    • Future War – Akeidat Yitzchak39About R. Yitzchak Arama, AbarbanelShemot 13About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel
  • Canaanites –
  • Egyptians and Philistines – R. Yosef Bekhor ShorShemot 13:17-18About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor
• Meaning of "כִּי קָרוֹב הוּא"
  • Reason for not taking the Philistine Route
    
    • Close to Egypt –
    • Close to Canaan (and would arrive too quickly) –
  • Reason for considering taking the Philistine Route (quicker to arrive in Canaan) –