Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
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(1.) It led the way in that vast howling wilderness, in which there was no road, no track, no way-mark, of which they had no maps, through which they had no guides. When they marched, this pillar went before them, at the rate that they could follow, and appointed the place of their encampment, as Infinite Wisdom saw fit, which both eased them from care, and secured them from danger, both in moving and in resting.
(2.) It sheltered them by day from the heat, which, at some times of the year, was extreme.
(3.) It gave them light by night when they had occasion for it, and at all times made their camp pleasant and the wilderness they were in less frightful.
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; to go 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.
These were constant standing miracles (Ex 13:22): He took not away the pillar of cloud; no, not when they seemed to have less occasion for it, travelling through inhabited countries, no, not when they murmured and were provoking; it never left them, till it brought them to the borders of Canaan. It was a cloud which the wind could not scatter. This favour is acknowledged with thankfulness long afterwards, Ne 9:19, Ps 78:14. There was something spiritual in this pillar of cloud and fire.
1 The children of Israel were baptized unto Moses in this cloud, which, some think, distilled dew upon them, 1Co 10:2. By coming under this cloud, they signified their putting themselves under the divine guidance and command by the ministry of Moses. Protection draws allegiance; this cloud was the badge of God's protection, and so became the bond of