Deuteronomy 1:33

33 who went before you in the way, to seek you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to show you by what way ye should go, and in the cloud by day.

Deuteronomy 1:33 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 1:33

Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to
pitch your tents in
For when the cloud was taken up they journeyed, and when that rested, there they pitched their tents; and hereby they were directed to places the most convenient for water for them and their flocks, or for safety from those that might annoy them:

in fire by night, to show you by what way ye should go;
which otherwise they could not have found in dark nights, in which they sometimes travelled, and in, a wilderness where there were no tracks, no beaten path, no common way:

and in a cloud by day;
to shelter them from the scorching sun, where there were no trees nor hedges to shade them, only rocky crags and hills.

Deuteronomy 1:33 In-Context

31 and in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that Jehovah thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came unto this place.
32 Yet in this thing ye did not believe Jehovah your God,
33 who went before you in the way, to seek you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to show you by what way ye should go, and in the cloud by day.
34 And Jehovah heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying,
35 Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see the good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers,
The American Standard Version is in the public domain.