Parshat B'Shallah
The Israelites "went up armed out of the land of Egypt", Moses carrying with him the bones of Joseph, as an earlier generation of Israelites had promised Joseph on his deathbed. "The Lord went before them in a pillar of cloud by day, to guide them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, that they might travel day and night." G-d is their spiritual tour guide but their literal one as well, directing the Israelites in a more circuitous route, "... r