Exodus 14: The Malach of God

YINR 929: Tanach Yomi · Nov 26, 2025 · 2m

When the Israelites stood trapped between the sea and the Egyptian army, the Torah describes a striking shift: “The malach of Hashem, who had been going ahead of the Israelite army, now moved and followed behind them; and the pillar of cloud shifted from in front of them and took up a place behind them” (וַיִּסַּע מַלְאַךְ הָאֱלֹהִים הַהֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵי מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֵּלֶךְ מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶם וַיִּסַּע עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן מִפְּנֵיהֶם וַיַּעֲמֹד מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶם, Shemot 14:19). This contrasts with an earlier verse: “Hashem went before them in a pillar of cloud by day, to guide them along the way, and…