Exodus 14:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

According to the account in Exodus, as the Egyptian leader and his troops chased the Israelites, an angel of the Lord positioned himself among both the Israelites and the Egyptians, preventing them from clashing in battle throughout the night. It is not unreasonable to believe that an angel intervened before the congregation to intercede on their behalf.

This explains why the corporeal shadow separates us from the Divine, akin to how a cloud loomed between the Egyptians and the Israelites in antiquity. This clearly refers to the obscurity that He has chosen as His veil (Psalm 17:12), representing our physical existence, which increasingly fewer are able to perceive.

The angel removed the cloud from before the Israelites and positioned it between the Hebrew warriors and the Egyptians. When the cloud, which provided shade to the Hebrews during the day, was placed between the two groups during the night, it brought a thick darkness upon the Egyptians, similar to the darkness they had experienced for three days and three nights. Meanwhile, the Israelites were illuminated by the fiery pillar that shone upon them. This situation served to instill fear in the Egyptians while offering reassurance to the Hebrews. Had the Egyptians recognized the significance of this darkness, they would have hesitated to enter the sea.

The cloud formed a barrier between the Egyptians and the Israelites, causing various phenomena for both groups. A thick darkness descended as night arrived. The Synodal Russian translation states, “and was a cloud and darkness to some, and lighted the night to others.” This indicates that the side of the cloud confronting the Egyptians was enveloped in such deep darkness that they could neither see the Hebrews nor approach them, as they were paralyzed by the fear of moving incorrectly in the dense gloom. In contrast, the side of the cloud directed toward the Israelites illuminated their path throughout the night, granting them the freedom to move unhindered, as the way would be made clear to them by the Lord. The two groups remained completely separated throughout the night, with neither the pursuers nor the pursued coming close to each other.

The Egyptians are gathered in their camp, seeking rest after a long and arduous journey before initiating their assault. However, as they prepare for bloodshed and violence, darkness envelops them, blocking their view of the Israelites and halting their advance. By comparing this verse to verse 24 of the chapter, one might conclude that the Israelites journeyed through the sea throughout the night, and it was only at dawn, through a special act of God, that the Egyptians contemplated their movement and chose to pursue them.