Exodus 13:21-22 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 13:17-22

Here is, I. The choice God made of their way, Exod. 13:17, 18. He was their guide. Moses gave them direction but as he received it from the Lord. Note, The way of man is not in himself, Jer. 10:23. He may devise his way, and design it; but, after all, it is God that directs his steps, Prov. 16:9. Man proposes, but God disposes, and in his disposal we must acquiesce, and set ourselves to follow providence. There were two ways from Egypt to Canaan. One was a short cut from the north of Egypt to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 13:21

And the Lord went before them ,.... Who is called the Angel of the Lord, Exodus 14:19 , 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 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,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 13:22

He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day ,.... It always appeared in the daytime, and was a guide and shelter: nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people ; this continued till they came through the wilderness to the borders of the land of Canaan, when they needed it no longer, and then it left them; for when they passed over Jordan the ark went before them, Joshua 3:6 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:21

The Lord went before them - That by the Lord here is meant the Lord Jesus, we have the authority of St. Paul to believe, 1 Corinthians 10:9 ; : it was he whose Spirit they tempted in the wilderness, for it was he who led them through the desert to the promised rest. Pillar of a cloud - This pillar or column, which appeared as a cloud by day, and a fire by night, was the symbol of the Divine presence. This was the Shechinah or Divine dwelling place, and was the continual proof of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:22

He took not away the pillar of the cloud - Neither Jews nor Gentiles are agreed how long the cloud continued with the Israelites. It is very probable that it first visited them at Succoth, if it did not accompany them from Rameses; and that it continued with them till they came to the river Jordan, to pass over opposite to Jericho, for after that it appears that the ark alone was their guide, as it always marched at their head. See Joshua 3:10-11 , etc. But others think that it went no... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:21

Verse 21 21.And the Lord went before them. Moses here proclaims another of God’s mercies, that, having redeemed His people, He was their constant leader and guide; as the Prophet also in the Psalms distinctly makes reference to both. (Psalms 77:15; and Psalms 78:14.) It was indeed a marvelous act of loving-kindness that, accommodating Himself to their ignorance, he familiarly presented Himself before their eyes. He might, indeed, have protected them in some other way from the heat of the sun,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 13:17-21

The way of the wilderness by the Red Sea. The direct road to Canaan lay through the land of the Philistines. God, however, did not lead the people by this way, but round by the Red Sea. "For God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt" ( Exodus 13:17 ). Another reason was that he designed to make his covenant with them, and give them laws, in the solitude of the "mountain of God" ( Exodus 3:12 ). I. REDEEMED FROM EGYPT , THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 13:17-22

Israel's journey the emblem of the Christian's pilgrimage. I. GOD 'S TENDER CARE FOR HIS PEOPLE . 1 . Trials and temptations are proportioned to their ability to-bear them. "He led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines." The conflict with these was not too much for his strength, but it was too much for Israel's faith. They would have made shipwreck at the very outset. He will not suffer us to be tempted beyond that we are able to bear. 2 . It "was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 13:17-22

Fire and cloud. "And the Lord went before them," etc. ( Exodus 13:21 ). Israel might have been in Canaan within ten days. Reason why not is given Exodus 13:17 . This however, not a reason for the forty years wandering: but only for the circuitous route by the desert of Sinai. The line of Israel's march for the first two days is soon given. They start from Rameses , capital of Goshen, a store city, recently built by the Hebrews, the king there possibly. The first stage was Succoth ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 13:18-21

It is the method of the Divine action to accomplish ends by circuitous means. God "led the Israelites about." Instead of conducting them straight from Tanis to Canaan in the course of six or seven days, he carried them down nearly to the furthest point of the Sinaitic peninsula, at least two hundred miles out of the direct line of route. He afterwards made them occupy in desert wanderings the space of forty years, and brought them into Canaan on the side furthest from Egypt—that which... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 13:17-22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 13:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 13:22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:22

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:21

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 13:17-21

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 13:17-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 13:17-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 13:18-21

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