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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Numbers 9:15 - 9:23
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The Cloud of the Lord's Presence
v. 15. And on the day that the Tabernacle was reared up, the cloud covered the Tabernacle, namely, the Tent of the Testimony, Exo_40:34; and at even there was upon the Tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire until the morning. It was not a pillar of physical, earthly fire, but the brightness of the Lord's presence, as He kept watch over His people in the midst of the camp. The Tabernacle is called the Tent of Testimony because the two tables of the Law, of the witness of the Lord to His people, were kept in the Ark of the Covenant, in the Most Holy Place.
v. 16. So it was alway, not only on the day of the dedication of the Tabernacle; the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night.
v. 17. And when the cloud was taken up from the Tabernacle, immediately after its removal, which was a signal to all the people, then after that the children of Israel journeyed, they struck their tents and set forth in their armies; and in the place where the cloud abode, where it sank to the ground, there the children of Israel pitched their tents.
v. 18. At the commandment of the Lord the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the Lord they pitched, they observed the signals of the cloud as He had told them; as long as the cloud abode upon the Tabernacle, they rested in tents, they remained in camp.
v. 19. And when the cloud tarried long upon the Tabernacle many days, if it extended its resting over a long period of time, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the Lord, and journeyed not, they observed that which was given them to observe by the Lord, attending to His worship. Lev_8:35.
v. 20. And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the Tabernacle, a number of days which was quickly counted; according to the commandment of the Lord they abode in their tents, and according- to the commandment of the Lord they journeyed.
v. 21. And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, only overnight, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed; whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.
v. 22. Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the Tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not; but when it was taken up, they journeyed.
v. 23. At the commandment of the Lord they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed; they kept the charge of the Lord, at the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses. This detailed description of the manner of signaling to the entire host and of the unquestioning obedience rendered by the people serves to emphasize not only the dependence of the children of Israel upon the Lord, but especially His providential care for them. Every believer that places himself under the gracious direction of the Lord in all matters pertaining to his life will find this to his temporal and eternal advantage.