Numbers 9:16-23

16 Thus it was done continually, a cloud covered it by day, and as the likeness of fire by night. (Thus it was done continually, that a cloud stood over it by day, and a brightness like fire during the night.)
17 And when the cloud that covered the tabernacle was taken away, then the sons of Israel went forth; and in the place where the cloud stood, there they setted tents. (And when the cloud that covered the Tabernacle lifted up, and moved away, then the Israelites went forth; and in the place where the cloud stopped, there they pitched their tents.)
18 At the commandment of the Lord they went forth, and at his commandment they setted (up) the tabernacle. In all the days in which the cloud stood upon the tabernacle, they dwelled in the same place. (At the Lord's command they went forth, and at his command they put up the Tabernacle. And all the days in which the cloud stood over the Tabernacle, they remained in the same place.)
19 And if it befelled that it dwelled much time upon the tabernacle, the sons of Israel were in the watches of the Lord, and they went not forth, (And if it befell that it stayed a long time over the Tabernacle, the Israelites kept watch for the Lord, and they did not go forth,)
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.)

Numbers 9:16-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 9

In this chapter the command for keeping the passover is repeated, and it was accordingly kept, Nu 9:1-5; but some persons being defiled and disqualified for observing it, Moses inquires of the Lord, on their solicitation, what should be done in such a case, Nu 9:6-8; when it was ordered to be kept by such, and those on journeys, on the fourteenth day of the second month, but not by others, who were to observe it according to its first appointment, Nu 9:9-14; and an account is given of the appearance of the cloud by day, and fire by night, upon the tabernacle, which directed the children of Israel when to journey, and when to pitch their tents, Nu 9:15-23.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.