And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.
19. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him. Hence it appears, that even in their adversity the memory of their promised deliverance had never departed from the people, for had not the adjuration of Joseph been currently spoken of in common conversation, Moses would never have been able to imagine it; but he expressly states that he acted in obedience to the holy...
God chose the longer wilderness route, not the shorter northern path. Before Israel entered battle with enemies, their covenant with God had to be settled in solitude: laws given, ordinances instituted, the original contract ratified. The high road was no fit place for such crowded, solemn transactions.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 13:17-22
And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him,.... And his remains might well be called bones, since at such a distance from his death the flesh must be gone, and nothing but bones left; of the place where Joseph's coffin was laid; see Gill on Gen 50:26.