Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 9:23
At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
Num 9:15-23
The fiery cloud upon the Tabernacle
After a reference ( Num 9:15 a) to the event related in Exo 40:34 f., the section describes the invariable custom throughout the journeys of starting on the march when the cloud rose from the Tabernacle, and halting as long as it rested. It is an expansion of Exo 40:36-38. The characteristic redundancy of the priestly style is noticeable.
The different writers of the Pentateuch describe different features in the appearance of the cloud. In J Jehovah is represented as leading the people by moving in front of them in a column of cloud by day and of fire by night (see on Num 14:14), and this began at the departure from Egypt (Exo 13:21). In E the cloud is pictured similarly as a column, but its appearance is not mentioned until the sacred ‘tent of meeting’ had been erected, when it came down from time to time and stood at the door of the tent which was pitched outside the camp (Exo 33:7-11, Num 11:25; Num 12:5; Num 12:10, Deu 31:15). In P it is not described as a column, but (as in J ) it was fiery at night, and (as in E ) it did not appear till the Tabernacle was erected, except that it formed part of the theophany on Mt Sinai (Exo 24:15-18). It is not spoken of as a guide moving in front of the people, but it covered the Tabernacle which stood in the centre of the camp. It was the visible counterpart outside the sanctuary of the ‘Glory,’ the manifestation of the divine presence within.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 23. Kept the charge of the Lord] When we consider the strong disposition which this people ever testified to follow their own will in all things, we may be well surprised to find them, in these journeyings, so implicitly following the directions of God. There could be no trick or imposture here. Moses, had he been the most cunning of men, never could have imitated the appearances referred to in this chapter. The cloud, and every thing in its motion, was so evidently supernatural, that the people had no doubt of its being the symbol of the Divine presence.
GOD chose to keep this people so dependent upon himself, and so submissive to the decisions of his own will, that he would not even give them regular times of marching or resting; they were to do both when and where God saw best. Thus they were ever kept ready for their march, though perfectly ignorant of the time when they should commence it. But this was all well; they had the presence of God with them; the cloud by day and the fire by night demonstrated that God was amongst them. Reader, thou art here a tenant at will to God Almighty. How soon, in what place, or in what circumstances, he may call thee to march into the eternal world, thou knowest not. But this uncertainty cannot perplex thee, if thou be properly subject to the will of God, ever willing to lose thy own in it. But thou canst not be thus subject, unless thou have the testimony of the presence and approbation of God. How awful to be obliged to walk into the valley of the shadow of death without this! Reader, prepare to meet thy God.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
At the commandment of the Lord they rested in their tents,…. Though ever so disagreeable:
and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed; though the circumstances might be such, that they could have liked a continuance; but whether agreeable or disagreeable, they were obedient to the divine will: this, or what is equivalent to it, is frequently observed in this paragraph, to show that the Israelites, though they were an obstinate and perverse people, and must in general be desirous of getting as soon as they could into the land of promise, yet in this case, in all their stations and journeys, were submissive and obedient to the divine will, as all good men should be with respect to happiness; and happy are they who have God to be their guide through it, even unto death:
they kept the charge of the Lord, at the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses; observed the rest or motion of the cloud, the order and command of God signified thereby, as it was made known unto them by the ministry and means of Moses.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
23. They kept the charge of the Lord The lesson of trust in Jehovah and of patient waiting for his leadings was well learned, and always practised except on one memorable occasion, (Num 14:40-45,) when they presumed to advance without the guidance of the cloud, and met discomfiture and death. The term charge has special reference to following the guidance of Jehovah in marching and encamping, as is seen in Num 9:19. When we consider the proneness of men to lean upon their own understanding, and to direct their own steps, this record is highly creditable to the Israelites, especially in view of their long periods of encampment, when their entrance into the promised land seemed to be indefinitely postponed for reasons in the divine mind to them utterly incomprehensible. In this whole account of the cloud the fact of Jehovah’s guidance is reiterated again and again with emphasis. Maimonides says, that this particularity and repetition of statement was designed to confute the opinions of the Arabians and others, that the Israelites were so long detained in the “Wilderness of Wandering,” as Arabic writers style it, because they had lost their way, and therefore spent forty years in vaguely wandering over the desert. This, he observes, is a very idle conceit, as the way from Sinai to Kadesh-Barnea was a well known and frequented route, and not above eleven days’ journey, so that they could not be supposed to have missed it, and far less should have wandered in a bewildered condition forty years.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
REFLECTIONS
BLESSED LORD! in the perusal of this chapter, let me chiefly discern by thy HOLY SPIRIT’s teaching, Him who is the passover of his people; and may a gracious GOD enable me not only once a year, but every day, to keep the feast. May it be my desire, like those whose souls melted within them with an earnestness of longing, when at anytime kept back from rejoicing before my GOD in his ordinances, to seek those renewals of love; and may I esteem every pledge of a Redeemer’s kindness in the several means of grace, and especially at his table and his supper, more than my necessary food. Oh! may my soul cry out under the enjoyment of those privileges; blessed are they that dwell in thy house, they will be still praising thee.
Hail! thou glorious pillar of cloud! thou holy JESUS, who art both the light and the life of men: be thou my constant, uniform director, guiding me by day, and sheltering me by night. In every season of darkness, ignorance, corruption, and trouble, do thou manifest forth thy glory, and shine as the sun of righteousness, with healing in thy wings. Grant me grace by the sweet influences of thy HOLY SPIRIT to follow thee wheresoever thou goest. Go before to guide me in the way, and cause me to rest wheresoever thou shalt be pleased to intimate thy will for any remaining. Never may I run unsent and uncalled: and never may I loiter in the heavenly way when JESUS calls. Dearest LORD; may it be my portion to follow the LAMB whithersoever he goeth, until at length JESUS shall come and take me to himself, that where he is, there I may be also. Amen.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Num 9:23 At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
Ver. 23. At the commandment of the Lord. ] This signified that the saints are to rest, or go on, at the voice of Christ, Joh 10:3-4 and that “whatsoever they do in word or deed, to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,” Col 3:17 to seek and find all their perfection and defenee in him alone.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
At the commandment, &c. Figure of speech Epibole App-6.
hand = mediation, or ministry; “hand” put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
they kept: Num 9:19, Gen 26:5, Jos 22:3, Eze 44:8, Zec 3:7, Some of the Levites may have been appointed to watch the moving of the pillar, and to give timely notice to the camp of its beginning to stir; and this is called “keeping the charge of the Lord.” It is uncomfortable staying when God is departed, but very safe and pleasant going, when we see God go before us, and resting where he appoints us to rest.
Reciprocal: Num 10:13 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
9:23 At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the {k} hand of Moses.
(k) Under the charge and government of Moses.