Numbers 9:20

20 And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle, according to the commandment of the LORD they stayed in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed.

Numbers 9:20 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 9:20

And [so] it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the
tabernacle
Or "days of number", which were so few that they might be easily numbered: the Targum of Jonathan interprets them of the seven days of the week, as if the sense was, when the cloud rested a week on the tabernacle:

according to the commandment of the Lord they abode in their tents;
during these few days, be they a week, or more, or less:

and according to the commandment of the Lord they journeyed;
when it removed from the tabernacle.

Numbers 9:20 In-Context

18 At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched camp. As long as the cloud stayed upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents;

19 and when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD and journeyed not.

20 And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle, according to the commandment of the LORD they stayed in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed.

21 And so it was, when the cloud tarried from evening unto the morning, and 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.

22 Or whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel remained in their tents and journeyed not; but when it was taken up, they journeyed.