Numbers 9:18

9:15-23 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 off the earthly house of this tabernacle, that we may be always ready to remove at the command of the Lord. It is very safe and pleasant going when we see God before us, and resting where he appoints us to rest. The leading of this cloud is spoken of as signifying the guidance of the blessed Spirit. We are not now to expect such tokens of the Divine presence and guidance; but the promise is sure to all God's spiritual Israel, that he will guide them by his counsel. Ps 73:24, even unto death, Ps 48:14. All the children of God shall be led by the Spirit of God, Ro 8:14. He will direct the paths of those who in all their ways acknowledge him, Pr 3:6. At the commandment of the Lord, our hearts should always move and rest, saying, Father, thy will be done; dispose of me and mine as thou pleasest. What thou wilt, and where thou wilt; only let me be thine, and always in the way of my duty. In applying general precepts to particular circumstances, there should be good counsel and fervent prayer.

When any undertaking is evidently wrong, or doubtfully right, and yet the mind leans that way, in such a case the moving of the cloud, as men sometimes miscall it, is generally no more than a temptation Satan is permitted to propose; and men fancy they are following the Lord, when they are following their own wayward inclinations. The record of his mercy will conduct us with unerring truth, through Christ, to everlasting peace. Follow the pillar of the cloud and of fire. Lay the BIBLE to heart, and receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

At the commandment of the Lord the children of Israel journeyed,.... Or "mouth of the Lord"; not that there was any command in form given, or any audible voice heard, directing when to march; but the removal of the cloud was interpretatively the order and command of God for them to move also: and at the commandment of the Lord they pitched; their tents; when the cloud stopped, they understood that as a signal to them, as a token of the will of God that they should stop likewise; it was to them as an authoritative command, which they obeyed: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle, they rested in their tents; whether a longer or a shorter time, as is after expressed.

The cloud ... - The phenomenon first appeared at the Exodus itself, Exodus 13:21-22 . The cloud did not cover the whole structure, but the "tent of the testimony," i. e. the enclosure which contained the "ark of the testimony" Exodus 25:16 , Exodus 25:22 , and the holy place. The phenomenon is now again described in connection with the journeyings which are to be narrated in the sequel of the book.

17. when the cloud was taken up—that is, rose to a higher elevation, so as to be conspicuous at the remotest extremities of the camp. That was a signal for removal; and, accordingly, it is properly called (Nu 9:18) "the commandment of the Lord." It was a visible token of the presence of God; and from it, as a glorious throne, He gave the order. So that its motion regulated the commencement and termination of all the journeys of the Israelites. (See on [68]Ex 14:19).

As Jehovah was with His people in the cloud, the rising and falling of the cloud was "the command of the Lord" to the Israelites to break up or to pitch the camp. As long, therefore, as the cloud rested upon the dwelling, i.e., remained stationary, they continued their encampment.

[Reformed Biblical] nt residence in that place. ## The appearance of fire; that they might better discern it, and direct themselves and their journeys or stations by it. Numbers 9:16 Numbers 9:17 ## Was taken up, or, ascended on high, above its ordinary place, by which it became more visible to all the camp. Numbers 9:18 The motion or stay of the cloud is fitly called the command of God, because it was a signification of God’s will and their duty, which a command properly is. Numbers 9:19 ## The charge of the Lord, i.e. the command of God mentioned before, that they should stay as long as the cloud staid, as the same phrase is manifestly taken below, Num_9:23. And this, saith he, they did, though it were long in one place, which was tedious to them, who desired to change places, and to make haste to Canaan, yet they obeyed God herein against their own inclinations; which because it was remarkable in so obstinate a people, it is so largely and particularly mentioned here, as an instance of their obedience, and as an aggravation of the many following instances of their apostacy and disobedience. Numbers 9:20 Numbers 9:21 Numbers 9:22 Numbers 9:23 ## Numbers 10:1 NUMBERS CHAPTER 10 Two trumpets of silver commanded to be made; with a direction to what end, when, how, by whom, and with what success they should be used, Num_ 10:1-10. The Israelites remove to Paran: the order in which they go, Num_10:11-28. Moses endeavours t o get Hobab

[Reformed Biblical] They are commanded to drive out the Canaanites, and destroy their pictures, molten images, and high places, and to divide the land by lot, Num_33:50-54. The Canaanites, if not dispossessed, should trouble and vex them; and God would do to them as he thought to do to the others, Num_33:55-56. ## With their armies, i.e. in great number and exact order, as armies march, and they did, Exo_12:37 ,38 13:18 . Numbers 33:2 ## Moses would have this done, partly to evince the truth of the history, partly to preserve the remembrance of God’s glorious and miraculous works both of judgment and mercy towards his people, and thereby to confirm their faith in their present difficult undertaking. Numbers 33:3 They all repaired to ## Rameses by Moses’s order from all parts of the land. ## In the sight of all the Egyptians. See Exo_14:8 Num_15:30. Numbers 33:4 ## Upon their gods; e ither, 1. Thei r princes and rulers, who are sometimes called gods in Scripture; and so this is added by way of amplification, God slew their first-born; not only of the meaner sort, but even of their king and princes. Or, ## 2. Their false gods, to wit, those beasts which the brutish Egyptians worshipped as gods, which were killed with the rest, for the first-born both of men and beasts were then killed, Exo_13:5. See Poole " Exo_12:12 " ; See Poole " Exo_18:11 " . Numbers 33:5 Numbers 33:6 Numbers 33:7 Numbers 33:8 Numbers 33:9 Numbers 33:10 Numbers 33:11 N

15b–18a (P). Moses is summoned up into the cloud on the top of the mount. The verses are P’s parallel to the narrative of JE in ch. 19. 15b. The sequel in P to Exodus 19:1-2 a. the cloud ] the one which in P regularly enshrouds the ‘glory’ of Jehovah (cf. on the tabernacle, Exodus 40:34 f.; and the note on Exodus 13:21-22 , at the end). Here it covers the mount, immediately upon Israel’s arrival at Sinai: contrast Exodus 19:16 . 16 . the glory of Jehovah ] see on Exodus 16:10 . abode ] or dwelt : a word often used in P of Jehovah, the cloud, or the glory. Cf. Exodus 25:8 , Exodus 29:45-46 , Exodus 40:35 ; Numbers 5:3 ; Numbers 9:17-18 ; Numbers 9:22 ; Numbers 10:12 ; Numbers 35:34 ; and on Exodus 25:8-9 . 17 . The brilliance of the ‘glory’ broke through the cloud in which it was enveloped, and became visible to the people. devouring fire ] i.e. blazing fire. Cf. Isaiah 29:6 ; Isaiah 30:27 ; Isaiah 30:30 . 18b (E). The sequel (with the original connecting words omitted) follows in Exodus 31:18 b. That Moses, according to E, was some time to the mount, is evident from the terms of Exodus 32:1 : the ‘forty days’ are alluded to in Deuteronomy 9:9 ; Deuteronomy 9:11 .