In The Bible, the Israelites wandered for forty years before they entered Canaan.In history, on the other hand, there was no Exodus from Egypt and no militiary conquest of Canaan as described in the Bible. The Israelites did not travel from Egypt to Canaan.
Famine in Canaan. Much the same as what caused many Oklahomans, Texans, and New Mexicans to leave the plains and travel to California in the 1930s.
It took 40 years for the Israelites to travel from Egypt to Canaan. Had there been no delays, most could have made the trip in 11 days (Deuteronomy 1). The main delay is explained in Numbers ch.13 and 14.
They were going to the promised land, flowing with milk and honey, Canaan.
The trip from Canaan to Egypt was short and direct, and members of Jacob's family did it several times. Beersheva to Cairo, or wherever the seat of power was at that time, along the trading route, may have been less than 250 miles ... a week's travel. It was on the way back that the route taken was less direct, for a variety of reasons.
to the Promised Land, Canaan.
There is no information regarding the distance the Israelites traveled with Moses in the desert. It is said that they traveled for forty years.
Upon exiting Egypt the Israelites traveled to Mt. Sinai, which the bible informs is in nothern Arabia, most likely in the eastern part of the land of Median, the country of Moses' father in law. From there they travel to the area around the Jordan River. Here they failed in faith and for forty years they wandered in the wilderness until God brought the remnant back to the promised land.
Because of famine (Genesis ch.42).
40 years of wandering in the desert.
The shape of the boat hull, the gearing, the propeller size and pitch, the draught, the tide all influence the speed a vessel will travel.
The Torah doesn't describe how the Israelites approached the see of reeds.