Numbers 9:22
in Numbers 9Whether 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
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.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Numbers 9
Commentary
5 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
Whether the cloud lingered for two days, a month
on Numbers 9:22-23
Verse 23 closes with “His command through Moses”, so the cloud overhead and the word given through a man stand together. Psalm 105:39 and Nehemiah 9:19 both look back on the cloud and the fire as one mercy.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle,....
Note, He that believeth doth not make haste. There is no time lost while we are waiting God's time. It is as acceptable a piece of submission to the will of God to sit still contentedly when our lot requires it as to work for him when we are called to it.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Two days - a month - a year - It was by the Divine counsel alone that they were directed in all their peregrinations: and from the above words we see that their times of tarrying at different stations were very unequal.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
A year - literally, “days,” idiomatically a year Lev 25:29, an expression equivalent to “a full period,” though not necessarily the period of a year.
The words behind it
19 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אֽוֹ־ | ʾov- | or | H176 → | 321 times |
| יֹמַ֜יִם | yomayim | two days | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| אוֹ־ | ʾov- | or | H176 → | 321 times |
| חֹ֣דֶשׁ | chodesh | a month | H2320 → | 284 times |
| אוֹ־ | ʾov- | or | H176 → | 321 times |
| יָמִ֗ים | yamim | days | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| בְּהַאֲרִ֨יךְ | behaarikh | when made long | H748 → | |
| הֶעָנָ֤ן | heanan | the cloud | H6051 → | 87 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | over | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ | hamishkan | the tabernacle | H4908 → | 139 times |
| לִשְׁכֹּ֣ן | lishkon | to dwell | H7931 → | 129 times |
| עָלָ֔יו | ʾalav | over it | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| יַחֲנ֥וּ | yachanu | they encamped | H2583 → | 143 times |
| בְנֵֽי־ | venei- | [the] people of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| וְלֹ֣א | velo' | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יִסָּ֑עוּ | yisau | they set out | H5265 → | 146 times |
| וּבְהֵעָלֹת֖וֹ | uvehealoto | and when was taken up it | H5927 → | 890 times |
| יִסָּֽעוּ׃ | yisau | they set out | H5265 → | 146 times |
אֽוֹ־or
ʾov-H176 →321 times
יֹמַ֜יִםtwo days
yomayimH3117 →2304 times
אוֹ־or
ʾov-H176 →321 times
חֹ֣דֶשׁa month
chodeshH2320 →284 times
אוֹ־or
ʾov-H176 →321 times
יָמִ֗יםdays
yamimH3117 →2304 times
בְּהַאֲרִ֨יךְwhen made long
behaarikhH748 →
הֶעָנָ֤ןthe cloud
heananH6051 →87 times
עַל־over
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙the tabernacle
hamishkanH4908 →139 times
לִשְׁכֹּ֣ןto dwell
lishkonH7931 →129 times
עָלָ֔יוover it
ʾalavH5921 →5755 times
יַחֲנ֥וּthey encamped
yachanuH2583 →143 times
בְנֵֽי־[the] people of
venei-H1121 →4930 times
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לIsrael
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
וְלֹ֣אand not
velo'H3808 →5168 times
יִסָּ֑עוּthey set out
yisauH5265 →146 times
וּבְהֵעָלֹת֖וֹand when was taken up it
uvehealotoH5927 →890 times
יִסָּֽעוּ׃they set out
yisauH5265 →146 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 32:8I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you.
it leads to
- Proverbs 3:5–6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
- Psalms 33:18
Surely the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His loving devotion
- Psalms 25:8–10
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way.
- Matthew 11:29
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
- Proverbs 8:10–11
Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
- Proverbs 3:5–6
Through
Numbers 1:54Thus the Israelites did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 12:32
See that you do everything I command you; do not add to it or subtract from it.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Deuteronomy 12:32
Through
Exodus 40:16Moses did everything just as the LORD had commanded him.
it leads to
- Exodus 40:17–32
So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month of the second year.
- Deuteronomy 4:1
Hear now, O Israel, the statutes and ordinances I am teaching you to follow, so that you may live and may enter and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of…
- Exodus 40:17–32
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Numbers
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.