Exodus 13:17-22

Pillars of Cloud and Fire

17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did 1not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, "Lest the people 2change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt."
18 But God 3led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.
19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph[a] had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, 4"God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here."
20 And 5they moved on from Succoth and encamped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness.
21 And 6the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.
22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

Exodus 13:17-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 13

This chapter begins with an order to sanctify or set apart the firstborn of man and beast to the Lord, Ex 13:1,2 and the people of Israel are charged to keep the feast of unleavened bread in its season, from year to year, when they came into the land of Canaan, the reason of which they were to acquaint their children with, Ex 13:3-10 and they are also directed, when come into the land of Canaan, to set apart every firstling of a beast unto the Lord, and particularly the firstling of an ass was to be redeemed with a lamb, or its neck to be broke, and all the firstborn of men were to be redeemed also, Ex 13:11-13, and when their children inquired the reason of it, they were to be told it was on account of the Lord's slaying the firstborn of men and beast among the Egyptians, when Pharaoh would not let Israel go, and of saving the firstborn of his people, Ex 13:14-16, and it is observed, that when the children of Israel went out of Egypt, they were not led by the nearest way, the way of the land of the Philistines, but a round about way, the way of the wilderness of the Red sea, when they took the bones of Joseph with them, as he had adjured them to do, Ex 13:17-19, and the chapter is concluded with an account of their journeying from Succoth to Etham, the Lord going before them in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night, Ex 13:20-22.

Cross References 6

  • 1. [Psalms 107:7]
  • 2. Exodus 14:11, 12; [Nehemiah 9:17]; See Numbers 14:1-4
  • 3. Exodus 14:2; [Deuteronomy 32:10]; See Numbers 33:6-49
  • 4. Genesis 50:25; Joshua 24:32; Hebrews 11:22; [Acts 7:16]
  • 5. Exodus 12:37; Numbers 33:6
  • 6. Exodus 14:19, 24; Exodus 40:38; Numbers 10:34; Numbers 14:14; Deuteronomy 1:33; Nehemiah 9:12, 19; Psalms 78:14; Psalms 99:7; Psalms 105:39; 1 Corinthians 10:1; [Isaiah 4:5]; See Numbers 9:15-23

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Samaritan, Septuagint; Hebrew he
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.