What does Exodus 13:22 mean?

Israel is free from slavery (Exodus 12:40–41). But they need to travel along a specific path (Exodus 13:17–18). God's guiding method is dramatic. The literal words used here could be taken to mean there were two separate columns: a single daytime pillar of clouds and a single nighttime pillar of fire. However, this phrasing seems poetic, as other verses strongly suggest this was a single, never-changing combination of clouds and fire (Exodus 14:19–20, 24; 40:38). The Hebrew word for "fire" here is ēs', which can mean the flames of a burning fire. At times, however, it can be used to describe lightning (Exodus 9:23). Some artists imagine these as something like a tornado, but Scripture does not use such words and gives no details. Either way, this guiding pillar is easy to see during the day and the night.

The divine pillar is constant. It does not come and go, rather it is always leading Israel. Next, God guides the people to the seashore (Exodus 14:1–2), and the Egyptians pursue (Exodus 14:3–14). The pillar will move around for protection (Exodus 14:19–20) while Israel crosses the parted sea (Exodus 14:21–22). This constant and protective presence is a clear and obvious sign of the Lord's involvement in Israel's rescue (Numbers 14:14).