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Teaching the Bible
MOSES:
CLOUD AND FIRE
Notes on the Text
Chapter 13
| 13:17 |
If the Exodus took place in the 13th century BCE or earlier, the term 'land of the Philistines' is anachronistic as Philistines only settled in Canaan in large numbers after their defeat by Rameses III in 1188 BCE. The reference may reflect the situation at the time of the writer, rather than the actual time of the Exodus, although small groups of Philistines might have settled there earlier on. Philistia was on the Mediterranean coast, west of the land of Canaan. The people had come there from the Aegean Sea and especially from the island of Crete. (Deuteronomy 2:23).
The name 'Palestine' originated with the Philistines: literally it means 'the land of the Philistines'.
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| 13:18 |
Presumably the Israelites had some arms with which to combat resistance at the border fortresses. However, the word translated 'equipped for battle' may actually be another similar Hebrew word meaning 'free'.
Red Sea is literally 'Sea of Reeds' and the term was used by the Hebrews to refer to different locations:
- a series of lakes and marshes between the head of the Gulf of Suez and the Mediterranean
- the Gulf of Suez
- the Gulf of Aqaba.
The most likely point of crossing is the swamplands of Suez, the Sirbonian Sea.
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| 13:19 |
The mention of the bones of Joseph is an allusion to the oath of Genesis 50:25 which is quoted verbatim. His body was finally buried in Shechem (Joshua 24:32 and Acts 7:15-16).
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| 13:20 |
Etham is also referred to in Numbers 33:6,8. It may have been the site of an Egyptian fortress on the eastern border of Egypt. The presence of a fortress would explain why they turned back (Exodus 14:1).
Sukkoth means 'tents'. It may not be a proper name here.
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| 13:21-22 |
'to show them the way' - the precise route is uncertain.
The 'cloud': The different strands of tradition combined in these chapters have different
things to say about the cloud (see 'Theological Issues'). The origin of the idea of cloud and fire representing God's presence is uncertain but it is likely that the pillar of cloud and fire were already regarded by the Hebrews as symbols of divine presence, without deriving them specifically from the experience on Mount Sinai . The only volcanic region lies in a desolate part of NW Arabia and its distance from Egypt makes this an unlikely location for Mount Sinai.
The 'fire': The fire shows the nearness of God. The fire symbolism could well come from the custom of the Bedouin of carrying a brazier before an army or caravan on the march. This was apparently done not to show the way, but to honour important people. Here, the human custom would be transformed. It is used to show that God will lead and protect his people and will reveal himself to them.
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