Exodus 13:19 Explained in Context

Read It With

• Exodus 13:17–22

Read Exodus 13:19 with 13:17–22. The 13:19 wording “And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely…” carries one distinct piece of the unit's speech, case, ritual, action, or response. The whole unit shows: God avoids the Philistine route, Israel carries Joseph's bones, and cloud and fire lead day and night toward the wilderness by the sea.

Why This Verse Appears Here

After release and household memorial instruction, the cloud-and-fire guidance turns the story from departure preparation toward an actual route, pursuit, and sea crossing. Within the book's larger movement, this unit makes the following contribution: God avoids the Philistine route, Israel carries Joseph's bones, and cloud and fire lead day and night toward the wilderness by the sea. At 13:19, the wording “And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely…” makes this verse's contribution precise. The 13:19 wording “And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely…” carries one distinct piece of the unit's speech, case, ritual, action, or response.