Exodus 13:17-22

Exodus 13:17-22

[17] And it came to pass, when Pharaoh  had let the people  go,  that God  led  them not through the way  of the land  of the Philistines,  although  that was near;  for God  said,  Lest peradventure the people  repent  when they see  war,  and they return  to Egypt:  [18] But God  the people  about,  through the way  of the wilderness  of the Red  sea:  and the children  of Israel  went up  harnessed  out of the land  of Egypt.  [19] And Moses  took  the bones  of Joseph  with him: for he had straitly  the children  of Israel,  saying,  God  will surely  my bones  away  [20] And they took their journey  from Succoth,  and encamped  in Etham,  in the edge  of the wilderness.  [21] And the LORD  went  before  them by day  in a pillar  of a cloud,  to lead  them the way;  and by night  in a pillar  of fire,  to give them light;  by day  and night:  [22] He took not away  the pillar  of the cloud  by day,  nor the pillar  of fire  by night,  from before  the people. 

What does Exodus 13:17-22 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

"The way of the land of the Philistines" refers to the most northern of three routes travelers took from Egypt to Canaan ( Exodus 13:17). The others lay farther south. The Egyptians had heavily fortified this caravan route, also called the Via Maris (the way of the sea). The Egyptians would have engaged Israel in battle had the chosen people gone that way.
The people marched in an orderly fashion ( Exodus 13:18). This is the meaning of "martial array." Moses had not yet organized them as an army.
Succoth was evidently north and west of the Bitter Lakes ( Exodus 13:20). Today the Suez Canal connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean by way of the Bitter Lakes. Archaeologists have not yet identified certainly the sites referred to here such as Succoth and Etham, as well as many of those mentioned in the records of the Israelites" journey (e.g, Numbers 33). Consequently it is virtually impossible to pin down their exact locations. Many of these sites were nothing more than stopping points or oases; they were not established towns. Kaiser wrote concerning their locations, "Everyone is guessing!" [1] The only stopping-place in the wilderness wanderings that scholars have been able to identify without dispute is Kadesh Barnea.
The wilderness referred to in this verse would have been the wilderness of Shur located to the east of the Nile delta.
There was only one cloudy pillar ( Exodus 13:21; cf. Exodus 14:24). Sailhamer believed there was one pillar of cloud and another pillar of fire, but this is a rare view. [2]
"Like the burning bush ( Exodus 3:2), the pillar was the visible symbol of God"s presence among His people. The Lord Himself was in the pillar ( Exodus 13:21; Exodus 14:24) and often spoke to the people from it ([3] Numbers 12:5-6; Deuteronomy 31:15-16; Psalm 99:6-7). The later hymn-writers of Israel fondly remembered it ( Psalm 78:14; Psalm 105:39). A similar cloud of smoke came to represent the glory of the Lord in the sanctuary throughout much of Israel"s history ( Exodus 40:34-35; 1 Kings 8:10-11; Isaiah 4:5; Isaiah 6:3-4)." [4]
The pillar of cloud and fire remained over the Israelites until they entered Canaan under Joshua"s leadership ( Exodus 13:22). Perhaps it appeared as Meyer imagined it.
"When the excessive heat made it necessary for Israel to march at night, the light of the Fiery Pillar was enough to light the way: and when in the day the scorching glare of the sun was blinding, the cloud spread itself abroad like a great umbrella, so that the women and children could travel in comparative comfort [5]." [6]