Exodus 40:37

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

Exodus 40:37 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 40:37

But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed
not
Even if it continued so two days, or a month, or a year, as very probably it sometimes did; which will in some measure account for the long continuance of the Israelites in the wilderness, see ( Numbers 9:22 )

till the day that it was taken up:
or, "of its ascent" ^F6, being "lifted up", or going upwards, higher in the air, right over the tabernacle, or perhaps more to the front of it; the word used before in this and the preceding verse has the signification of ascending upwards.

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 (wtleh) "sustolli ejus", Montanus.

Exodus 40:37 In-Context

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.