Charles Ellicott Commentary Exodus 14:19-20

"And the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud removed from before them, and stood behind them: and it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud and the darkness, yet gave it light by night: and the one came not near the other all the night." — Exodus 14:19-20 (ASV)

The angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel —The “Jehovah” of Exodus 13:21 becomes here “the angel of God,” as “the angel of Jehovah” in the burning bush (Exodus 3:2) becomes “God” (Exodus 14:4), and “Jehovah” (Exodus 14:7). The angel is distinguished from the cloud, and represented as antedating its movements and directing them.

It is clear that the purpose of the movement now made was double:

1. to hinder and trouble the Egyptians by involving them in cloud and darkness;
2. to cheer and assist the Israelites by providing them with abundant light for all their necessary arrangements.

Although there is nothing in the original corresponding to our translators’ expressions, “to them,” “to these,” yet those expressions seem to do no more than bring out the true sense. (Compare the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, the Syriac Version, and the Commentaries of Rosenmüller, Maurer, Knobel, and Kalisch.)