Numbers 9:22

22 Whether in two months, either in one month, either in longer time, the cloud had been upon the tabernacle, the sons of Israel dwelled in the same place, and went not forth; but anon as it had gone away, they moved the tents. (Or when for one month, or two months, or for an even longer time, the cloud stood over the Tabernacle, the Israelites remained in the same place, and they went not forth; but as soon as it had gone away, then they moved the tents.)

Numbers 9:22 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 9:22

Or [whether it were] two days, or a month, or a year, that
the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle
Sometimes it tarried but half a day, sometimes a whole day, sometimes two days, at other times a whole month, and even a year; a full year, as the Targum of Jonathan and Aben Ezra; or a longer time, as the Vulgate Latin version, for in one place it tarried eighteen years, as Maimonides says ^F7; some say

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 nineteen years, as in Kadeshbarnea:

remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and
journeyed not;
so that, as the same writer observes, it was not because the children of Israel lost their way in the wilderness and wandered about, not knowing where they were, or which way they should go; hence the Arabians call the wilderness, the wilderness of wandering, nor that they were so long wandering in it as forty years, but because it was the will of God that should stay so long at one place, and so long at another, whereby their stay in it was protracted to such a length of time, according to his sovereign will:

but when it was taken up they journeyed;
though they had continued ever so long, and their situation ever so agreeable.

F7 Moreh Nevoch. par. 2. c. 50. p. 512.
F8 Seder Olam Rabba, c. 8. p. 24.

Numbers 9:22 In-Context

20 in how many ever days the cloud was upon the tabernacle. At the commandment of the Lord they raised [the] tents, and at his commandment they did them down. (for however many days the cloud stood over the Tabernacle. At the Lord's command they raised the tents, and at his command they did them down.)

21 If the cloud was standing upon the tabernacle from the eventide unto the morrowtide, and anon in the morrowtide had left, or gone thence, they went forth; and if, after a day and a night, the cloud had gone away, they scattered, either did down, the tents. (If the cloud stood over the Tabernacle from the evening until the morning, and then in the morning had left, or had gone away, they went forth at once; or if, after only a day, or only a night, the cloud went away, then they scattered, or did down, the tents, and they moved on.)

22 Whether in two months, either in one month, either in longer time, the cloud had been upon the tabernacle, the sons of Israel dwelled in the same place, and went not forth; but anon as it had gone away, they moved the tents. (Or when for one month, or two months, or for an even longer time, the cloud stood over the Tabernacle, the Israelites remained in the same place, and they went not forth; but as soon as it had gone away, then they moved the tents.)

23 By the word of the Lord they setted (up) their tents, and by his word they went forth; and they were in the watches of the Lord, by his commandment, by the hand of Moses. (By the word of the Lord they pitched their tents, and by his word they went forth; they kept watch for the Lord's command, spoken by Moses.)