Pillars of Cloud and Fire

17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did (A)not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people (B)change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” 18 But God (C)led 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, (D)“God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here.” 20 And (E)they moved on from Succoth and encamped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. 21 And (F)the 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.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 13:19 Samaritan, Septuagint; Hebrew he

The Route of the Exodus

17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the road to the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearby; for God said, “The people will change their minds and return to Egypt if they face war.”(A) 18 So He led the people around toward the Red Sea along the road of the wilderness. And the Israelites left the land of Egypt in battle formation.(B)

19 Moses took the bones of Joseph(C) with him, because Joseph had made the Israelites swear a solemn oath, saying, “God will certainly come to your aid; then you must take my bones with you from this place.”

20 They set out from Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness. 21 The Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud(D) to lead them on their way during the day and in a pillar of fire to give them light at night, so that they could travel day or night. 22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night never left its place in front of the people.

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