¹⁸ So God led^(A) the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.^[a] The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.^(B)

²¹ By day the Lord went ahead^(A) of them in a pillar of cloud^(B) to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.

²² Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left^(A) its place in front of the people.