VABM Beshalach

(21) The LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud by day, to guide them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, that they might travel day and night. (22) The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

[IN A PILLAR OF CLOUD.] Scripture reads, in a pillar of cloud because it was not shaped like other clouds but was in the form of a pillar stretching from the sky upon the earth. A pillar is called an ammud in Hebrew because the base (ma’amad) of the house is on it.

AND MOSES LED. I believe that the pillar of cloud, and likewise the pillar of fire, that went before the people when they left Egypt was to ensure that Israel was able to go by day and by night (Ex. 13:21). After Pharaoh and his hosts drowned, Israel was no longer frightened and did not travel at night. Indeed, we do not find it recorded in the Torah portion Be-Halotekha that Israel journeyed at night. Behold, Moses now led the people according to God’s command. There are only six journeys from the Red Sea until Mount Sinai lasting less than forty days. The air is then good. It is neither humid nor cold. He who does not have a tent can live outdoors without harm. When Israel came to the wilderness of Sinai they all erected booths, as they camped there for about year. Moses informed them that they would tarry there until they constructed the Tabernacle. It was for this reason that, as I will explain, Israel brought out acacia wood from Egypt. The festival of booths was established in commemoration of the booths that Israel made there, for Scripture states, that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt (Lev. 23:43). How can one maintain that Israel dwelt in clouds? For the booths do not resemble clouds. I will yet explain why the festival of Sukkot is observed in the seventh month. When the Tabernacle was erected God descended upon it in a pillar of cloud, as it is clearly written, and there was fire therein by night (Ex. 40:38). When the cloud journeyed the children of Israel went onward (Ex. 40:36). It is because of this that Scripture reads, and thou goest before them, in a pillar of cloud by day (Num. 14:14). There were thus two interchanging pillars over the Tabernacle. If the statement to the effect that there were seven interchanging pillars over the Tabernacle is based on tradition, then we will rely on tradition and set aside our own opinions.