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
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
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
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
God's guidance of his people. The Israelites had quitted Egypt, had broken off from their old life, were about to plunge into that wild waste of sand and rock which separates Africa from Asia by an almost impassable barrier. If they took the northern line of march, they would come upon the sandy desert. Before them would stretch "endless sands yielding nothing but small stunted shrubs—broad plains—newly reared hills—valleys dug out by the last week's storm; the hills, and the valleys, and... read more
The fiery-cloudy pillar. The visible pillar is no longer beheld, but God's fiery-cloudy presence still attends the Church in her wanderings, and confers upon her benefits analogous to those enjoyed by the ancient people. God's presence, as manifested in the pillar of cloud and fire, was— I. HOLY .— 1 . God is holy . Holiness is the principle which guards the distinction between the Creator and the creature. It eternally excludes everything evil and impure from the Divine nature... read more
He took not away . The last distinct mention of the cloud is in Numbers 16:42 , after the destruction of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. There is perhaps a later allusion to it in Numbers 20:6 . In Nehemiah it is said that "the pillar of the cloud departed not from them," so long as they were in the wilderness ( Nehemiah 9:19 ); and the same is implied, though not formally stated, in Numbers 9:15-23 . There is no mention of the pillar of the cloud as still with the Israelites in the Book... read more
Exodus 13:22. He took not away the pillar of the cloud No, not when they seemed to have less occasion for it: it never left them until it brought them to the borders of Canaan. It was a cloud which the wind could not scatter. There was something spiritual in this pillar of cloud and fire. 1st, The children of Israel were baptized unto Moses in this cloud, 1 Corinthians 10:2. By coming under this cloud they signified their putting themselves under the conduct and command of Moses. ... read more
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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