Exodus 40:36

36 And when the cloud lifted itself up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel went onward in all their journeys;

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 a cloud covered the tabernacle of the testimony, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tabernacle of the testimony because the cloud was upon it, and the glory of the LORD had it full.

36 And when the cloud lifted itself up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel went onward in all their journeys;

37 but if the cloud did not lift itself up, then they did not journey until the day that it lifted itself up.

38 For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and the fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.