Exodus 14:20
in Exodus 14so that it came between the camps of Egypt and Israel. The cloud was there in the darkness, but it lit up the night. So all night long neither camp went near the other.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud and the darkness, yet gave it light by night: and the one came not near the other all the night.
KJV
And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
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This verse in Exodus 14
Commentary
8 notes on this verseTherefore this darkness of the body has been placed between us and God, like the cloud of old between the Egyptians and the Hebrews. This is perhaps what is meant by "He made darkness his separate place," namely, our dullness, through which few can see even a little.
This site's exposition
the angel of God
on Exodus 14:19-20
The pillar that has led since 13:21 moves to the rear as a barrier, beside the angel of God. One cloud works opposite ways, darkness to Egypt and light to Israel, and all night long neither camp went near the other. Gill and other older writers read the angel of God as the figure who spoke from the bush at 3:2, and Exodus gives him no further name.
This site's exposition
it lit up the night
The cloud gave Israel light for a night march. John Wesley counts that night seven days after the full moon, leaving the pillar as the only light, while Albert Barnes sets the crossing at the full moon. Gregory of Nazianzus took the cloud between the camps as a picture of the bodily darkness that stands between a man and God.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
And it is written also in Exodus that when the ruler of the land of the Egyptians with his warriors was pursuing after the Israelites and was already upon the point of engaging with them in battle, the angel of God stood between the camp of the Israelites and of the Egyptians, and the one came not near the other all the night. There is therefore nothing unbefitting in supposing here also that the holy angel who was the guardian of the synagogue offered supplications in its behalf and prayed for a respite, if perchance yielding to better influence it might yet bring forth fruit.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
The word and providence of God have a black and dark side towards sin and sinners, but a bright and pleasant side towards those that are Israelites indeed. That which is a savour of life unto life to some is a savour of death unto death to others.
And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel,....
Note, It is very common, but very absurd and criminal, for people to repent of their good deeds; their justice and charity, and even their repentance, are repented of.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
It was a cloud and darkness to them, etc. - That the Israelites might not be dismayed at the appearance of their enemies, and that these might not be able to discern the object of their pursuit, the pillar of cloud moved from the front to the rear of the Israelitish camp, so as perfectly to separate between them and the Egyptians.
The words behind it
20 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיָּבֹ֞א | vaiyavo' | and it went | H935 → | 2568 times |
| בֵּ֣ין׀ | bein | between | H996 → | 407 times |
| מַחֲנֵ֣ה | machaneh | [the] camp of | H4264 → | 215 times |
| מִצְרַ֗יִם | mitzrayim | Egypt | H4714 → | 641 times |
| וּבֵין֙ | uvein | and between | H996 → | 407 times |
| מַחֲנֵ֣ה | machaneh | [the] camp of | H4264 → | 215 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| וַיְהִ֤י | vayhi | and it was | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| הֶֽעָנָן֙ | heanan | the cloud | H6051 → | 87 times |
| וְהַחֹ֔שֶׁךְ | vehachoshekh | and the darkness | H2822 → | 80 times |
| וַיָּ֖אֶר | vaiyaer | and it lit up | H215 → | 43 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הַלָּ֑יְלָה | halayelah | the night | H3915 → | 233 times |
| וְלֹא־ | velo'- | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| קָרַ֥ב | karav | it drew near | H7126 → | 280 times |
| זֶ֛ה | zeh | this | H2088 → | 1180 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| זֶ֖ה | zeh | this | H2088 → | 1180 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| הַלָּֽיְלָה׃ | halayelah | the night | H3915 → | 233 times |
וַיָּבֹ֞אand it went
vaiyavo'H935 →2568 times
בֵּ֣ין׀between
beinH996 →407 times
מַחֲנֵ֣ה[the] camp of
machanehH4264 →215 times
מִצְרַ֗יִםEgypt
mitzrayimH4714 →641 times
וּבֵין֙and between
uveinH996 →407 times
מַחֲנֵ֣ה[the] camp of
machanehH4264 →215 times
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsrael
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
וַיְהִ֤יand it was
vayhiH1961 →3559 times
הֶֽעָנָן֙the cloud
heananH6051 →87 times
וְהַחֹ֔שֶׁךְand the darkness
vehachoshekhH2822 →80 times
וַיָּ֖אֶרand it lit up
vaiyaerH215 →43 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
הַלָּ֑יְלָהthe night
halayelahH3915 →233 times
וְלֹא־and not
velo'-H3808 →5168 times
קָרַ֥בit drew near
karavH7126 →280 times
זֶ֛הthis
zehH2088 →1180 times
אֶל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
זֶ֖הthis
zehH2088 →1180 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
הַלָּֽיְלָה׃the night
halayelahH3915 →233 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 8:14And He will be a sanctuary—but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 2:8
and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.
- Romans 9:32–33
Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,
- Isaiah 28:16
So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.
- Luke 2:34
Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: “Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken…
- Ezekiel 11:16
Therefore declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a…
- 1 Peter 2:8
Through
Psalms 18:11He made darkness His hiding place, and storm clouds a canopy around Him.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 4:11
You came near and stood at the base of the mountain, a mountain blazing with fire to the heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness.
- Psalms 97:2
Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are His throne’s foundation.
- Psalms 81:7
You called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the cloud of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
- Deuteronomy 4:11
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
About Exodus
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Cyril of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 96; Gregory of Nazianzus, THEOLOGICAL ORATION 2:12; Gregory of Nazianzus, Theological Oration 2.12; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.