Numbers 9:23

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 9:23 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 9:23

At the commandment of the Lord they rested in their tents,
&c.] Though ever so disagreeable:

and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed;
though the circumstances might be such, that they could have liked a continuance; but whether agreeable or disagreeable, they were obedient to the divine will: this, or what is equivalent to it, is frequently observed in this paragraph, to show that the Israelites, though they were an obstinate and perverse people, and must in general be desirous of getting as soon as they could into the land of promise, yet in this case, in all their stations and journeys, were submissive and obedient to the divine will, as all good men should be with respect to happiness; and happy are they who have God to be their guide through it, even unto death:

they kept the charge of the Lord, at the commandment of the Lord by
the hand of Moses;
observed the rest or motion of the cloud, the order and command of God signified thereby, as it was made known unto them by the ministry and means of Moses.

Numbers 9:23 In-Context

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.)