Numbers 9:18-23

18 At the mitzvah of the LORD, the children of Yisra'el journeyed, and at the mitzvah of the LORD they encamped. As long as the cloud remained on the tabernacle they remained encamped.

19 When the cloud stayed on the tabernacle many days, then the children of Yisra'el kept the charge of the LORD, and didn't travel.

20 Sometimes the cloud was a few days on the tabernacle; then according to the mitzvah of the LORD they remained encamped, and according to the mitzvah of the LORD they journeyed.

21 Sometimes the cloud was from evening until morning; and when the cloud was taken up in the morning, they journeyed: or by day and by night, when the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.

22 Whether it was two days, or a month, or a year that the cloud stayed on the tabernacle, remaining on it, the children of Yisra'el remained encamped, and didn't travel; but when it was taken up, they traveled.

23 At the mitzvah of the LORD they encamped, and at the mitzvah of the LORD they journeyed. They kept the charge of the LORD, at the mitzvah of the LORD by Moshe.

Numbers 9:18-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 9

In this chapter the command for keeping the passover is repeated, and it was accordingly kept, Nu 9:1-5; but some persons being defiled and disqualified for observing it, Moses inquires of the Lord, on their solicitation, what should be done in such a case, Nu 9:6-8; when it was ordered to be kept by such, and those on journeys, on the fourteenth day of the second month, but not by others, who were to observe it according to its first appointment, Nu 9:9-14; and an account is given of the appearance of the cloud by day, and fire by night, upon the tabernacle, which directed the children of Israel when to journey, and when to pitch their tents, Nu 9:15-23.