Exodus 40:36

36 And whenever the cloud was taken up from the House, the children of Israel went forward 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 Then the cloud came down covering the Tent of meeting, and the House was full of the glory of the Lord;

35 So that Moses was not able to go into the Tent of meeting, because the cloud was resting on it, and the House was full of the glory of the Lord.

36 And whenever the cloud was taken up from the House, the children of Israel went forward on their journey:

37 But while the cloud was there, they made no move till it was taken up.

38 For the cloud of the Lord was resting on the House by day, and at night there was fire in the cloud, before the eyes of all the people of Israel, and so it was through all their journeys.