Exodus 13:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Their reliability, sense of assurance, and awareness of their strength in the Lord, although renewed within their souls, remained fragile and susceptible to disruption at the slightest setback. This is why the Lord did not guide them straight to the Promised Land; instead, in the wilderness, He led them through various intentional trials designed to fortify their spirits. He often placed them in dire situations where death seemed inevitable, only to swiftly provide assistance, instilling in them the deep-seated realization that they were powerless on their own and that all their strength came from the Almighty. In that desolate place, God bestowed upon the people commandments and decrees, and there He tested them, as noted in Exodus 15:25. The essence of this test is the revelation of man's potential when anchored in God and his utter helplessness apart from Him.

The people known as the Philistines, not Canaanites, likely settled along the Canaan coast, which was probably already inhabited by them. These Philistines are recognized in Egyptian records as Pelesta and are thought to have originated from Crete. They may have established their settlement as a colony along the coastal regions of Palestine due to overpopulation in their homeland, which was a dominant maritime power during the time of the 17th dynasty. Notably, their connection to the Pelasgians is noted by Lenorman. Although the Philistines did not gain strength until later, following the Israelites' conquest of the mountainous regions of Judea, their presence is acknowledged in Canaan as early as the days of Abraham, as indicated in Genesis 26:1.