Cloud (I)

I. CLOUD. When the Israelites departed out of Egypt, God gave them a Pillar of Cloud to direct them in their march. It attended them from the time of their leaving Succoth, according to S. Jerom in his Epistle to Fabiola, or from Ramesses, according to others, or only from Ethan, till the death of Aaron, as the Hebrews say, or as far as the Passage over Jordan, as the generality of Commentators will have it. This Pillar was commonly in the front of the Israelitish Army. But when they were come to the Red Sea over against Pihahiroth, and the Egyptian Army appeared before them, the Pillar of Cloud which stood before the Camp of Israel, placed itself between that and the Camp of the Egyptians, so that the Egyptians could not come near the Israelites all night.

But in the morning about break of day, seeing the Cloud moving on toward the Sea, and following the Israelites who had passed through its Channel, which was left dry for them in the night time, the Egyptians resolved upon pursuing them, and were all covered with the waters of the Red Sea, which returned upon them and destroyed them. This Cloud continued always from that time to attend the Israelites in the Wilderness. It was clear and bright during the night, in order to give them light when it grew dark, and in the day time it was thick and gloomy, the better to defend them from the excessive heats of the Arabian Desarts, through which they performed their Journey. It appears that the Angel of the Lord governed the motions of this Cloud, since it is said, Exod. xiv. 19. The Angel of God which went before the Camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them. Where we may observe, that the Angel and the Cloud made the same motion.

The same Cloud by its motions gave likewise the signal to the Israelites, either to encamp or to decamp; so that where that stayed, the People stayed, till it rose again, then they broke up their Camp, and Exod. xiii. 21, 22. Exod. xiv. 19, 20. Numb. ix. 15, 16, 17, &c. x. 34, 35. and Exod. xl. 34, 37. e Joseph. Antiq. l. xv. c. 2. In the year of the World 3969. before J. C. 31. before the vulg. Æra 35. f Joseph. de Bello l. i. c. 13. Antiq. l. xv. c. 5. and followed it till it stopped. It was called a Pillar by reason of its form, which was high and elevated as it were a Pile and Heap of Fogs. There are some Interpreters, who will have it, that there were two Clouds¹; one to give light to, the other to cover and shade the Camp of Israel1 Cor. x. 1, 2.. S. Paul says, that the Pillar of Cloud was a figure of Baptism. In effect it enlightned the Israelites in the night time, as Baptism enlightens us, and makes us Children of Light. It protected them, and was a continual earnest of God’s Power and Protection, in like manner as Baptism procures both these advantages for us. See the Commentators upon Exodus xiii. 21, 22. and xiv. 19, 20. and the Dissertation by Christian Mandenus, De Columna nubis & ignis. At Goslar 1712.

The Lord appeared at Sinai in the Exod. xix. 9. xxxiv. 5.midst of a Cloud; and after Moses had built and consecrated the Tabernacle, the Cloud filled the Court round about it, so that neither Moses nor the Priests could Exod. xl. 32, 33. 2 Chr. v. 13, and 1 Kings viii. 10.go in. The same thing happened at the dedication of the Temple of Jerusalem by Solomon. When the Cloud appeared upon the Tent, before which were held the Assemblies of the People in the Desart, it was then believed that God was present. Exod. xvi. 10. xxxiii. 9. Numb. xi. 25.The motion of the Cloud which rested upon this Tent, was the sign of God’s presence. The Angel descended in the Cloud, and from thence spoke to Moses, without being seen by the rest of the People. See Exod. xvi. 10. Numb. xi. 25. xxi. 5. It is common in Scripture, when there is any mention of God’s appearing, to represent him always, as incompassed with Clouds, which serve him for a Chariot, and cast a Veil before his dreadful Majesty, Job xxii. 14. Isai. xix. 1. Mat. xvii. 5. xxiv. 30, &c. Psal. xviii. 11, 12. xcvii. 2. civ. 3.

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