OU TORAH YU TORAH NAALEH.COM Reconsidering Return Shira Smiles

Adapted by Channie Koplowitz Stein Parshat Beshalach begins with a curious statement: “…When Pharaoh sent the people out… God did not lead them by way of the Land of the Philistines, because it was close, for God said, ‘Perhaps the people will reconsider when they see a war and they will return to Egypt.’…The Children of Israel were armed when they went out from Egypt.”