Whether it was two days, or a month, or a year that the cloud stayed on the tabernacle, remaining on it, the children of Israel remained encamped, and didn’t travel; but when it was taken up, they traveled.
Parallel translations
- KJV 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.
- BSB Whether the cloud lingered for two days, a month, or longer, the Israelites camped and did not set out as long as the cloud remained over the tabernacle; but when it was lifted, they would set out.
- NKJV Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud remained above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would remain encamped and not journey; but when it was taken up, they would journey.
- NASB Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud lingered over the tabernacle, staying above it, the sons of Israel remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they did set out.
- NLT Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Whether the cloud stayed two days, a month, or a year, Israel waited until it lifted before traveling. Their movements were wholly surrendered to God's timing.
Overview
For any length of time, short or long, Israel remained encamped as long as the cloud did. This total dependence on God's signal teaches that the life of faith is paced by God, not self, and that He may call His people to wait far longer than they would choose.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Ps 32:8I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go. I will counsel you with my eye on you.
- Exod 40:36–37When the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys;
- Num 1:54Thus the children of Israel did. According to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so they did.
- Num 9:17Whenever the cloud was taken up from over the Tent, then after that the children of Israel traveled; and in the place where the cloud remained, there the children of Israel encamped.
- Ps 107:7he led them also by a straight way, that they might go to a city to live in.
- Deut 1:6–7“Yahweh our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying, ‘You have lived long enough at this mountain.
- Exod 40:16Moses did so. According to all that Yahweh commanded him, so he did.
- Num 23:21–22He has not seen iniquity in Jacob. Neither has he seen perverseness in Israel. Yahweh his God is with him. The shout of a king is among them.
- Prov 3:5–6Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.
- Num 8:20Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel did so to the Levites. According to all that Yahweh commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so the children of Israel did to them.
- Ps 77:20You led your people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
- Ps 143:10Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.
- Exod 39:42According to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work.
- Ps 73:24You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
- Deut 2:3–4“You have encircled this mountain long enough. Turn northward.
- Acts 1:4Being assembled together with them, he commanded them, “Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me.
- Ps 48:14For this God is our God forever and ever. He will be our guide even to death.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 9:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.