Exodus 13:21

“And the Lord went before them, etc.] Who is called the Angel of the Lord, (<021419>Exodus 14:19 23:20), not a created but the uncreated Angel, the Angel of Jehovah’s presence, in whom his name, nature, and perfections were, even the Word and Son of God, the Lord Christ, (see <461009> 1 Corinthians 10:9) who went before the armies of Israel, as their King, Leader, and Commander: by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; through the Red sea, and the wilderness, at the edge of which they now were, which was untrodden, and trackless, and the way through it very difficult to find; and being a sandy desert, as soon as a path was made, it was immediately covered with sand, and to be seen…”

“the Lord went before them--by a visible token of His presence, the Shekinah, in a majestic cloud (Psa 78:14; Neh 9:12; Co1 10:1), called "the angel of God" (Exo 14:19; Exo 23:20-23; Psa 99:6-7; Isa 63:8-9). Next: Exodus Chapter 14”

“Pillar of cloud - The Lord Himself did for the Israelites by preternatural means that which armies were obliged to do for themselves by natural agents. The Persians and Greeks used fire and smoke as signals in their marches, and in a well-known papyrus, the commander of an Egyptian expedition is called “A flame in the darkness at the head of his soldiers.” By this sign then of the pillar of cloud, the Lord showed Himself as their leader and general Exodus 15:3, Exodus 15:6. return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliographical Information Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on Exodus 13". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible".…”

“And the Lord went before them in a pillar - In the two first stages, it was enough that God directed Moses whither to march; he knew the country, and the road; but now they are come to the edge of the wilderness, they would have occasion for a guide, and a very good guide they had, infinitely wise, kind, and faithful, the Lord went up before them; The Shechinah or appearance of the divine Majesty, which was a precious manifestation of the eternal Word, who in the fulness of time was to be made flesh, and dwell among us. Christ was with the church in the wilderness, Co1 10:9. What a satisfaction to Moses and the pious Israelites, to be sure that they were under a divine conduct? They need not…”

“13:21 The pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire were to be the Israelites’ constant companions for the next forty years.”

“Exo 14:19-24, Exo 40:34-38; Num 9:15-23, Num 10:34, Num 14:14; Deu 1:33; Neh 9:12, Neh 9:19; Psa 78:14, Psa 99:7, Psa 105:39; Isa 4:5, Isa 4:6; Co1 10:1, Co1 10:2 Exodus 13:22”

“From Etham, at the edge of the desert which separates Egypt from Asia, the Israelites were to enter the pathless desert, and leave the inhabited country. Jehovah then undertook to direct the march, and give them a safe-conduct, through a miraculous token of His presence. Whilst it is stated in Exo 13:17, Exo 13:18, that Elohim led them and determined the direction of their road, to show that they did not take the course, which they pursued, upon their own judgment, but by the direction of God; in Exo 13:21, Exo 13:22, it is said that "Jehovah went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, to go by day and night,"…”