Exodus 40:36

36 And when the cloud was lifted from the tabernacle, the {Israelites} set out on 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 And the cloud covered the tent of assembly, and the glory of Yahweh filled the tabernacle.
35 And Moses was unable to go into the tent of assembly because the cloud settled on it and the glory of Yahweh filled the tabernacle.
36 And when the cloud was lifted from the tabernacle, the {Israelites} set out on all their journeys.
37 But if the cloud was not lifted, they did not set out until the day of its being lifted.
38 For the cloud of Yahweh [was] on the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it [by] night before the eyes of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.