Exodus 13:17-21

Pillars of Cloud and Fire

17 Now it happened that when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not guide them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “^aLest the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” 18 Hence God turned the people to the way of the wilderness to the ¹Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up ^ain battle array from the land of Egypt. 19 And Moses took ^athe bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely ¹take care of you, and you shall bring up my bones from here with you.” 20 Then they set out from ^aSuccoth and camped in Etham on the edge of the wilderness. 21 ^aAnd Yahweh was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to guide them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might go by day and by night.