(36) When the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the Israelites would set out, on their various journeys; (37) but if the cloud did not lift, they would not set out until such time as it did lift. (38) For over the Tabernacle a cloud of God rested by day, and fire would appear in it by night, in the view of all the house of Israel throughout their journeys.
(21) God 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.
(20) They set out from Succoth, and encamped at Etham, at the edge of the wilderness. (21) God 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.
זֶה הַכְּלָל: כׇּל דָּבָר שֶׁמְּקַבֵּל טוּמְאָה כּוּ׳. מְנָא הָנֵי מִילֵּי? אָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ, אָמַר קְרָא: ״וְאֵד יַעֲלֶה מִן הָאָרֶץ״. מָה אֵד — דָּבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְקַבֵּל טוּמְאָה וְגִידּוּלוֹ מִן הָאָרֶץ, אַף סוּכָּה — דָּבָר שֶׁאֵין מְקַבֵּל טוּמְאָה וְגִידּוּלוֹ מִן הָאָרֶץ. הָנִיחָא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר עַנְנֵי כָבוֹד הָיוּ. אֶלָּא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר סוּכּוֹת מַמָּשׁ עָשׂוּ לָהֶם, מַאי אִיכָּא לְמֵימַר? דְּתַנְיָא: ״כִּי בַסּוּכּוֹת הוֹשַׁבְתִּי אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל״, עַנְנֵי כָבוֹד הָיוּ, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר. רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר: סוּכּוֹת מַמָּשׁ עָשׂוּ לָהֶם.
§ This is the principle with regard to the roofing of a sukka: One may not roof the sukka with anything that is susceptible to ritual impurity. From where are these matters derived? Reish Lakish said that the verse states: “And there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the entire face of the ground” (Genesis 2:6); just as mist is a substance not capable of contracting ritual impurity, and its growth is from the ground, so too, the roofing of the sukka must consist of a substance that is not susceptible to ritual impurity and its growth is from the ground.
This works out well according to the one who said that the sukkot mentioned in the verse: “I made the children of Israel to reside in sukkot” (Leviticus 23:43), were clouds of glory. However, according to the one who said that the children of Israel established for themselves actual sukkot, what can be said? As it is taught in a baraita that the verse states: “I made the children of Israel to reside in sukkot”; these booths were clouds of glory, this is the statement of Rabbi Eliezer. Rabbi Akiva says: They established for themselves actual sukkot.
Onkelos bar Kelonimos converted to Judaism. The Roman emperor sent a troop [gunda] of Roman soldiers after him. Onkelos drew them toward him with verses that he cited and learned with them, and they converted. The emperor then sent another troop of Roman soldiers after him, and said to them: Do not say anything to him. When they were walking, Onkelos said to the troop of soldiers: I will say a mere statement to you: A minor official [nifyora] holds a torch before a high official [apifyora], the high official holds a torch for a duke [dukasa], a duke for the governor, and the governor for the ruler [koma]. Does the ruler hold a torch before the common people? The soldiers said: No. Onkelos said to them: Yet the Holy One, Blessed be He, holds a torch before the Jewish people, as it is written: “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light” (Exodus 13:21). They all converted.
דְּתַנְיָא כׇּל אוֹתָן אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה שֶׁהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּמִּדְבָּר לֹא נָשְׁבָה לָהֶם רוּחַ צְפוֹנִית מַאי טַעְמָא אִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא מִשּׁוּם דִּנְזוּפִים הָווּ וְאִי בָּעֵית אֵימָא דְּלָא נִבַּדּוּר עַנְנֵי כָבוֹד
As it is taught in a baraita: All those forty years that the Jewish people were in the wilderness, the north wind did not blow for them. What is the reason? If you wish, say it was because they were under censure following the sin of the spies. And if you wish, say that the clouds of glory covering the Tabernacle should not disperse.