Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. New Living Translation Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on. English Standard Version Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out. Berean Standard Bible Whether the cloud lingered for two days, a month, or longer, the Israelites camped and did not set out as long as the cloud remained over the tabernacle; but when it was lifted, they would set out. King James Bible Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed. New King James Version Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud remained above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would remain encamped and not journey; but when it was taken up, they would journey. New American Standard Bible Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud lingered over the tabernacle, staying above it, the sons of Israel remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they did set out. NASB 1995 Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud lingered over the tabernacle, staying above it, the sons of Israel remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they did set out. NASB 1977 Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud lingered over the tabernacle, staying above it, the sons of Israel remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they did set out. Legacy Standard Bible Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud lingered over the tabernacle, dwelling above it, the sons of Israel remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they did set out. Amplified Bible Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud [of the LORD’S presence] lingered over the tabernacle, staying above it, the Israelites remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they set out. Christian Standard Bible Whether it was two days, a month, or longer, the Israelites camped and did not set out as long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle. But when it was lifted, they set out. Holman Christian Standard Bible Whether it was two days, a month, or longer, the Israelites camped and did not set out as long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle. But when it was lifted, they set out. American Standard Version Whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, abiding thereon, the children of Israel remained encamped, and journeyed not; but when it was taken up, they journeyed. English Revised Version Whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, abiding thereon, the children of Israel remained encamped, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed. GOD'S WORD® Translation Whether it was two days, a month, or a year, as long as the [column of] smoke stayed over the tent, the Israelites would stay in the same place and not break camp. But when the smoke moved, they would break camp. Good News Translation Whether it was two days, a month, a year, or longer, as long as the cloud remained over the Tent, they did not move on; but when it lifted, they moved. International Standard Version Whether for two days, a month, or for longer periods, whenever the cloud would remain above the tent, the Israelis would remain in camp, not traveling. But whenever it ascended, then they would travel. Majority Standard Bible Whether the cloud lingered for two days, a month, or longer, the Israelites camped and did not set out as long as the cloud remained over the tabernacle; but when it was lifted, they would set out. NET Bible Whether it was for two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud prolonged its stay over the tabernacle, the Israelites remained camped without traveling; but when it was taken up, they traveled on. New Heart English Bible Whether it was two days, or a month, or a year that the cloud stayed on the tabernacle, remaining on it, the children of Israel remained camped, and did not travel; but when it was taken up, they traveled. Webster's Bible Translation Or whether it was two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining upon it, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed. World English Bible Whether it was two days, or a month, or a year that the cloud stayed on the tabernacle, remaining on it, the children of Israel remained encamped, and didn’t travel; but when it was taken up, they traveled. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionWhether two days, or a month, or days, in the cloud prolonging itself over the Dwelling Place, to dwell over it, the sons of Israel encamp and do not journey; and in its being lifted up they journey. Young's Literal Translation Whether two days, or a month, or days, in the cloud prolonging itself over the tabernacle, to tabernacle over it, the sons of Israel encamp, and journey not; and in its being lifted up they journey; Smith's Literal Translation Or days, or a month, or days, in the prolonging of the cloud upon the dwelling to dwell upon it, the sons of Israel shall encamp, and they shall not remove; and in its going up they shall remove. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut if it remained over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a longer time, the children of Israel remained in the same place, and marched not: but immediately as soon as it departed, they removed the camp. Catholic Public Domain Version Yet truly, whether it remained over the tabernacle for two days, or one month, or a longer time, the sons of Israel remained in the same place, and they did not set out. Then, as soon as it withdrew, they moved the camp. New American Bible Whether the cloud lingered over the tabernacle for two days or for a month or longer, the Israelites remained in camp and did not break camp; but when it lifted, they broke camp. New Revised Standard Version Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, resting upon it, the Israelites would remain in camp and would not set out; but when it lifted they would set out. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd whether it was a few days or months or a year, as long as the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, resting thereon, the children of Israel remained in their tents and journeyed not; but when the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Or days or months or time to time, however long the cloud was remaining on the Tabernacle, so the children of Israel remained and they did not pick up, and whenever the cloud went up, they picked up. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, abiding thereon, the children of Israel remained encamped, and journeyed not; but when it was taken up, they journeyed. Brenton Septuagint Translation When the cloud continues a full month overshadowing the tabernacle, the children of Israel shall encamp, and shall not depart. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Cloud Above the Tabernacle…21Sometimes the cloud remained only from evening until morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they would set out. Whether it was by day or by night, when the cloud was taken up, they would set out. 22Whether the cloud lingered for two days, a month, or longer, the Israelites camped and did not set out as long as the cloud remained over the tabernacle; but when it was lifted, they would set out. 23They camped at the LORD’s command, and they set out at the LORD’s command; they carried out the LORD’s charge according to His command through Moses.… Cross References Exodus 40:36-38 Whenever the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out through all the stages of their journey. / If the cloud was not lifted, they would not set out until the day it was taken up. / For the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel through all their journeys. Nehemiah 9:19 You in Your great compassion did not forsake them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud never turned away from guiding them on their path; and by the night the pillar of fire illuminated the way they should go. Psalm 78:14 He led them with a cloud by day and with a light of fire all night. Psalm 105:39 He spread a cloud as a covering and a fire to light up the night. Exodus 13:21-22 And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night, so that they could travel by day or night. / Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place before the people. Deuteronomy 1:33 who went before you on the journey, in the fire by night and in the cloud by day, to seek out a place for you to camp and to show you the road to travel. 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 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. / They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. Exodus 14:19-20 And the angel of God, who had gone before the camp of Israel, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from before them and stood behind them, / so that it came between the camps of Egypt and Israel. The cloud was there in the darkness, but it lit up the night. So all night long neither camp went near the other. Exodus 33:9-10 As Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and remain at the entrance, and the LORD would speak with Moses. / When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they would stand up and worship, each one at the entrance to his own tent. Isaiah 4:5 Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud of smoke by day and a glowing flame of fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a canopy, Exodus 16:10 And as Aaron was speaking to the whole congregation of Israel, they looked toward the desert, and there in a cloud the glory of the LORD appeared. Exodus 24:16-18 and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered it, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. / And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountaintop in the eyes of the Israelites. / Moses entered the cloud as he went up on the mountain, and he remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights. Numbers 10:11-12 On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle of the Testimony, / and the Israelites set out from the Wilderness of Sinai, traveling from place to place until the cloud settled in the Wilderness of Paran. Numbers 14:14 And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have already heard that You, O LORD, are in the midst of this people, that You, O LORD, have been seen face to face, that Your cloud stands over them, and that You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Numbers 16:42 But when the congregation gathered against them, Moses and Aaron turned toward the Tent of Meeting, and suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the LORD appeared. Treasury of Scripture Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried on the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel stayed in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed. abode Numbers 9:17 And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents. Numbers 1:54 And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they. Numbers 8:20 And Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel, did to the Levites according unto all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did the children of Israel unto them. Jump to Previous Abiding Abode Camped Children Cloud Continued Encamped Forward House Israel Israelites Journey Journeyed Lingered Month Moving Remaining Rest Staying Tabernacle Tarried Tents Thereon Time Travel Traveled Waiting Whenever YearJump to Next Abiding Abode Camped Children Cloud Continued Encamped Forward House Israel Israelites Journey Journeyed Lingered Month Moving Remaining Rest Staying Tabernacle Tarried Tents Thereon Time Travel Traveled Waiting Whenever YearNumbers 9 1. The Passover is again commanded6. A second Passover for the unclean or absent 15. The cloud directs the removals and encampments of the Israelites Whether the cloud lingered for two days, a month, or longer This phrase emphasizes the unpredictability and divine control over the Israelites' journey. The cloud represents God's presence and guidance, a recurring theme in the wilderness narrative. The duration of the cloud's presence, whether short or extended, underscores the need for the Israelites to trust in God's timing and provision. This reliance on divine guidance is a test of faith and obedience, reflecting the broader biblical principle of waiting on the Lord (Psalm 27:14). The cloud's presence is a physical manifestation of God's covenant with Israel, similar to the pillar of fire and cloud that led them out of Egypt (Exodus 13:21-22). the Israelites camped and did not set out as long as the cloud remained over the tabernacle but when it was lifted, they would set out Persons / Places / Events 1. The IsraelitesThe chosen people of God, who were journeying through the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. They were learning to trust and obey God's guidance. 2. The Tabernacle The portable dwelling place for the divine presence of God among the Israelites. It was central to their worship and community life. 3. The Cloud A manifestation of God's presence and guidance. It was a visible sign that directed the Israelites when to camp and when to move. 4. Moses The leader of the Israelites, who communicated God's instructions to the people and ensured they followed the divine guidance. 5. The Wilderness The setting for the Israelites' journey, representing both physical and spiritual challenges as they learned to rely on God. Teaching Points Divine GuidanceJust as the Israelites relied on the cloud for direction, believers today are called to seek and follow God's guidance through prayer, Scripture, and the Holy Spirit. Patience and Trust The Israelites had to wait on God's timing, whether the cloud lingered for days or years. Similarly, Christians are encouraged to trust in God's perfect timing in their lives. Obedience to God's Will The Israelites' journey was marked by obedience to God's commands. Believers are reminded of the importance of aligning their actions with God's will. Community and Worship The centrality of the tabernacle in the Israelites' camp underscores the importance of communal worship and fellowship in the life of a believer. Faith in Uncertainty The wilderness journey was filled with uncertainty, yet the Israelites were called to have faith. Christians are encouraged to maintain faith even when the path ahead is unclear.(22) Or a year.--Literally, days (comp. Genesis 4:3; Genesis 40:4, and Notes). If the rendering of the Authorised Version, "a year," is correct, as it probably is, it will follow that these words could not have been written until after the first arrival at Kadesh (Numbers 13:26), and probably not until after the end of the wanderings in the wilderness. The elaborate manner in which the statement is made and repeated in almost identical terms shows the great importance which the writer ascribed to the Divine guardianship which was exercised over the Israelites, and to their submission to the miraculous guidance which was given to them. Verse 22. - Or a year. Rather, "days" (yamin): an undefined period (Genesis 4:3; Genesis 40:4), often equivalent to a year (Leviticus 25:29). It is not known whether or on what occasion the Israelites actually remained in camp for a year. But it is evident that this passage must have been written after the wanderings were over, because it is a kind of retrospect of the whole period as regards one important feature of it. It may of course have been added here by the hand of Moses on the eve of entry upon the promised land: or it may have been added by a later hand, perhaps that of Ezra when he revised these books (see the Introduction). |
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