Zohar: Index - Pillar of Cloud

157. "And the pillar of cloud went from before their face" (Shemot 14:19). HE ASKS, What is this pillar of cloud? Rabbi Yosi said, This is the cloud that always appears with the Shechinah, WHO IS THE ANGEL MICHAEL, and this is the cloud into which Moses entered. Rabbi Aba said, It is written, "And Hashem went before them by day in a pillar of cloud," SO WE SEE THAT IT IS NOT MICHAEL WHICH IS THE ASPECT OF SHECHINAH, but rather it is the support of the righteous, THAT IS, YESOD IN ZEIR ANPIN. He spreads CHASSADIM of his imprint, FOR YESOD SPREADS OUT CHASSADIM OVER THE CHOCHMAH IN MALCHUT AND THEN SHE IS ABLE TO ILLUMINATE. Therefore, this cloud goes by day, WHICH IS THE TIME WHEN CHASSADIM SHINE, as it is written, "Yet Hashem commands his steadfast love (lit. 'Chesed') in the daytime" (Tehilim 42:9), because this cloud comes from the side of Chesed and is called 'Chesed.' A different cloud goes by night, and is called 'a pillar of fire,' WHICH IS FROM THE SIDE OF MALCHUT.

157. וַיִּסַּע עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן מִפְּנֵיהֶם, מַאן עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן דָּא. רִבִּי יוֹסֵי אָמַר, דָּא הוּא עֲנָנָא דְּאִתְחָזֵי תָּדִיר עִם שְׁכִינְתָּא. וְדָא הוּא עֲנָנָא דְּעָאל מֹשֶׁה בְּגַוֵּיהּ. רִבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר, כְּתִיב וַיְיָ' הוֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם יוֹמָם, אֶלָּא סִיוּעָא דְּצַדִּיק הוּא, וּפְרִישׂוּ דִּרְשִׁימוּ דִּילֵיהּ, וְע"ד אָזִיל הַאי עָנָן יוֹמָם, וּכְתִיב יוֹמָם יְצַוֶּה יְיָ' חַסְדּוֹ. וּמִסִּטְרָא דְּחֶסֶ"ד אָתָא עֲנָנָא דָּא, וְדָא חֶסֶד אִתְקְרֵי, וַעֲנָנָא אַחֲרָא אָזִיל בְּלֵילְיָא, וְאִתְקְרֵי עַמּוּד אֵשׁ.