'Nearer' in the Bible

And when Pharaoh released the people, God did not lead them the way of the land of the Philistines, though it [was] nearer, because God said, "Lest the people change their mind when they see war and return to Egypt."

Then the Philistine {came on, getting nearer and nearer} to David, with {his shield bearer} in front of him.

And [do] this [because you] know the time, that [it is] already the hour for you to wake up from sleep. For our salvation [is] nearer now than when we believed.