Exodus 40:36

36 If any time the cloud left the tabernacle, the sons of Israel went forth by their companies; (And any time that the cloud left the Tabernacle, the Israelites went forth on their journey;)

Exodus 40:36 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 40:36

And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle,
&c.] By the Lord himself, or it removed by his order, that is, rose up and stood above the tabernacle, and appeared in the form of a pillar, and went before it:

the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys;
the motion of the cloud was a direction to set forward and continue their journey as long as it lasted; but when it rested and abode upon the tabernacle, then they stopped and rested also, as is suggested in the following verse ( Exodus 40:37 ) , see ( Numbers 9:17-23 ) thus the saints are to be followers of God as dear children, and to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes or directs, and walk after the Spirit, the dictates and directions thereof; so the wheels in Ezekiel's vision went and stood, as did the living creatures, and the spirit in them, ( Ezekiel 1:19-21 ) .

Exodus 40:36 In-Context

34 After that all things were perfectly made, a cloud covered the tabernacle of witnessing, and the glory of the Lord filled it; (And when all things were completed, a cloud covered the Tabernacle of the Witnessing, and the glory of the Lord filled it;)

35 neither Moses might enter into the tabernacle of the bond of peace (and Moses could not go into the Tabernacle of the Covenant, that is, the Tabernacle of the Witnessing), while the cloud covered all things, and the majesty of the Lord shined, for the cloud covered all things.

36 If any time the cloud left the tabernacle, the sons of Israel went forth by their companies; (And any time that the cloud left the Tabernacle, the Israelites went forth on their journey;)

37 (but) if the cloud hanged thereabove, they dwelled in the same place;

38 for the cloud of the Lord rested on the tabernacle by day, and fire (was on it) in the night, in the sight of the people of Israel, by all their dwellings. (for the cloud of the Lord rested on the Tabernacle by day, and a fire was over it in the night, before the people of Israel, during all of their journey.)