Numbers 9:18

At the LORD’s command the Israelites set out, and at the LORD’s command they camped. As long as the cloud remained over the tabernacle, they remained encamped.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrative describes the Israelites' wilderness journey, recording their immediate response to the cloud's position over the tabernacle.

The words — עַל־פּי ('al-pi) translates literally as "at the mouth of," functioning idiomatically to mean "by the command of." יִסְעוּ (yis'u) means "they set out" or "they departed."

The thread — This pattern of movement by divine instruction appears in Exodus 17:1, where the congregation departs as the LORD commands, and is echoed in 1 Corinthians 10:1, which recalls the forefathers traveling under the cloud and through the sea.

Why it lands — It requires the reader to submit personal timing to divine direction, remaining stationary or moving only when the stated signal occurs.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

עַל־'al-on פִּ֣יpi[the] mouth of יְהוָ֗הYah.wehYahweh יִסְעוּ֙yis.'Uthey set out בְּנֵ֣יbe.Nei[the] people of יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElIsrael וְעַל־ve./'al-and/ on פִּ֥יpi[the] mouth of יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahweh יַחֲנ֑וּya.cha.Nuthey encamped כָּל־kol-all יְמֵ֗יye.Mei[the] days אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.Sher<of> which יִשְׁכֹּ֧ןyish.Konit settled down הֶעָנָ֛ןhe./'a.Nanthe/ cloud עַל־'al-over הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ןha./mish.Kanthe/ tabernacle יַחֲנֽוּ׃ya.cha.Nuthey encamped

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 10:1 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea.
Exodus 17:1 Then the whole congregation of Israel left the Desert of Sin, moving from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.
2 John 1:6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love.
Numbers 9:20 Sometimes the cloud remained over the tabernacle for only a few days, and they would camp at the LORD’s command and set out at the LORD’s command.
Numbers 10:13 They set out this first time according to the LORD’s command through Moses.