Numbers 9:17

17 When the Cloud lifted above the Tent, the People of Israel marched out; and when the Cloud descended the people camped.

Numbers 9:17 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 9:17

And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle
Or went up from it, higher than it was before, yet not out of sight, but hung as it were hovering in the air over the tabernacle, but at some distance from it; this was done by the Lord himself:

then after that the children of Israel journeyed;
as soon as they saw the cloud moving upwards, the Levites took down the tabernacle, and each took their post assigned them in the carriage of it, and the priests blew their trumpets mentioned in ( Numbers 10:2 Numbers 10:4 Numbers 10:8-10 ) , and the whole camp moved and marched on in their journey:

and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel
pitched their tents;
when it stopped and remained without any motion, it was a signal to the children of Israel to stop also, and to set up the tabernacle, and pitch their tents about it by their standards, and according to the order of encampment which had been given them.

Numbers 9:17 In-Context

15 The day The Dwelling was set up, the Cloud covered The Dwelling of the Tent of Testimony. From sunset until daybreak it was over The Dwelling. It looked like fire.

16 It was like that all the time, the Cloud over The Dwelling and at night looking like fire.

17 When the Cloud lifted above the Tent, the People of Israel marched out; and when the Cloud descended the people camped.

18 The People of Israel marched at God's command and they camped at his command. As long as the Cloud was over The Dwelling, they camped.

19 Even when the Cloud hovered over The Dwelling for many days, they honored God's command and wouldn't march.