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"And Yahveh shall return you to Egypt in boats on the way that I told you that you shall never
see again and you shall be sold there to your enemies but there will be no purchaser." Deuteronomy
28:68
The exodus from Egypt took place against the background of the great miracle of the splitting of the sea, which allowed
Israel to flee Egypt by crossing the sea on dry land. This verse emphasizes that their return to Egypt will not be accompanied
by another miracle of the splitting of the sea, but rather will be accomplished by boats, which are in fact boats of slavery.
While the exodus was accomplished by the exalted state of walking on dry land through the sea with the waters as a wall on
their right and on their left, their return to Egypt will be on boats. This contrast expresses the distinction between redemption
and bondage.
The return to Egypt will be "on the way that I told you that you shall never see again" - teaching that this promise
was conditional. Non-compliance with the conditions of the covenant would cancel this promise. Yahveh, who took them out of
Egypt, will send them back to Egypt on the very same path by which they had left, to emphasize the significance of this return.
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