Numbers 9:18

Numbers 9:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)At the commandment of the Lord the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the Lord they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.
• New International Version (NIV)At the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp.
• English Standard Version (ESV)At the command of the Lord the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the Lord they camped. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in camp.
• New King James Version (NKJV)At the command of the Lord the children of Israel would journey, and at the command of the Lord they would camp; as long as the cloud stayed above the tabernacle they remained encamped.

Context of Numbers 9:18

16This was the regular pattern—at night the cloud that covered the Tabernacle had the appearance of fire. 17Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel would set up camp. In this way, they traveled and camped at the Lord’s command wherever he told them to go. Then they remained in their camp as long as the cloud stayed over the Tabernacle. 19If the cloud remained over the Tabernacle for a long time, the Israelites stayed and performed their duty to the Lord. 20Sometimes the cloud would stay over the Tabernacle for only a few days, so the people would stay for only a few days, as the Lord commanded. Then at the Lord’s command they would break camp and move on.

Numbers 9:18 word by word

עַל־פִּ֣י יְהוָ֗ה יִסְעוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְעַל־פִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה יַחֲנ֑וּ כָּל־יְמֵ֗י אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִשְׁכֹּ֧ן הֶעָנָ֛ן עַל־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן יַחֲנֽוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• At the commandmentפֶּהpeh · lip: wordH6310
• of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• journeyedנָסַעnâsa‛ · to set outH5265
• they pitchedחָנָהchânâh · to campH2583
• as long asיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• the cloudעָנָן‛ânân · cloudH6051
• abodeשָׁכַןshâkan · to dwellH7931
• upon the tabernacleמִשְׁכָּןmishkân · tabernacleH4908

Cross-references for Numbers 9:18

• Numbers 9:20Sometimes the cloud would stay over the Tabernacle for only a few days, so the people would stay for only a few days, as the Lord commanded. Then at the Lord’s command they would break camp and move on.
• Numbers 10:13When the people set out for the first time, following the instructions the Lord had given through Moses,
• Exodus 17:1At the Lord’s command, the whole community of Israel left the wilderness of Sin and moved from place to place. Eventually they camped at Rephidim, but there was no water there for the people to drink.
• 2 John 1:6Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.
• 1 Corinthians 10:1I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground.

Commentaries on Numbers 9:18

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-23Verses 15-23 This cloud was appointed to be the visible sign and symbol of God's presence with Israel. Thus we are taught to see God always near us, both night and day. As long as the cloud rested on the tabernacle, so long they continued in the same place. There is no time lost, while we are waiting God's time. When the cloud was taken up, they removed, however comfortably they were encamped. We are kept at uncertainty concerning the time of our putting…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-23This passage is similar to Exodus 40:17, 34–38. It gives more details about how God used the pillar of cloud and fire to lead his people (see also Exodus 13:21–22). The Lord was faithful and clearly guided his people in the wilderness.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-2315. the cloud covered the tabernacle--The inspired historian here enters on an entirely new subject, which might properly have formed a separate chapter, beginning at this verse and ending at Nu 10:29 [Calmet]. The cloud was a visible token of God's special presence and guardian care of the Israelites (Ex 14:20; Psa 105:39). It was easily distinguishable from all other clouds by its peculiar form and its fixed position; for from the day of the completion…Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 9:18

• Cloud
• Fire

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Children of Israel
• Appearance
• Cloud
• Sinai
• Apocrypha
• Chronicles, Books of
• Exodus, the Book of

Commentaries on Numbers 9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings