19. Moses carried the bones of Joseph with him, because before Joseph died, he had made the Israelites promise to do this. He had said, “When God saves you, remember to carry my bones with you out of Egypt.”
20. The Israelites left Succoth and camped at Etham, on the edge of the desert.
21. The Lord showed them the way; during the day he went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud, and during the night he was in a pillar of fire to give them light. In this way they could travel during the day or night.
22. The pillar of cloud was always with them during the day, and the pillar of fire was always with them at night.