Bible Dictionaries
Pillar of Cloud and Fire

Holman Bible Dictionary

Visible evidence of God's presence with Israel during the Exodus and wilderness wanderings (Exodus 14:24; Exodus 33:9-10; Numbers 12:5; Deuteronomy 31:15 ). As a sign of God's presence, the pillar of cloud and fire was associated with divine actions: salvation (Exodus 14:19-20 ); revelation (Exodus 33:9-10; Psalm 99:7 ); judgment (Numbers 12:5 ); commissioning (Deuteronomy 31:15 ). Nehemiah used the pillar as a sign of God's faithfulness (Nehemiah 9:12 ,Nehemiah 9:12,9:19 ). Psalm 99:7 reflects an otherwise unknown tradition that the pillar abided with Israel until the time of Samuel. Jesus' self-presentation as the incarnate Light of the world ( John 8:12 ) recalls the guiding light of the wilderness wanderings. In Jesus' day, the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:2 ) included the lighting of great, golden lamps in the Temple court as a reminder of the pillar of fire and cloud. Jesus as the living Light challenged persons to follow Him as Israel had followed God's earlier light.