Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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.
Was taken up, or, ascended on high, above its ordinary place, by which it became more visible to all the camp.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
17. when the cloud was taken upthatis, rose to a higher elevation, so as to be conspicuous at theremotest extremities of the camp. That was a signal for removal; and,accordingly, it is properly called (Nu9:18) “the commandment of the Lord.” It was a visibletoken of the presence of God; and from it, as a glorious throne, Hegave the order. So that its motion regulated the commencement andtermination of all the journeys of the Israelites. (See on Ex14:19).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle,…. Or went up from it, higher than it was before, yet not out of sight, but hung as it were hovering in the air over the tabernacle, but at some distance from it; this was done by the Lord himself:
then after that the children of Israel journeyed; as soon as they saw the cloud moving upwards, the Levites took down the tabernacle, and each took their post assigned them in the carriage of it, and the priests blew their trumpets mentioned in Nu 10:2, and the whole camp moved and marched on in their journey:
and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents; when it stopped and remained without any motion, it was a signal to the children of Israel to stop also, and to set up the tabernacle, and pitch their tents about it by their standards, and according to the order of encampment which had been given them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
17. And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle. Moses before informed us that the tabernacle was so distinguished by a visible miracle, that God made it manifest that He dwelt there: not that He left heaven and removed to that earthly house, but in order to be nigh to His people by the presence of His power and grace, whenever He was invoked by them. He now reports another miracle, that God, by uplifting the cloud, gave a sign, as it were, by which He commanded them to strike the camp; and when the cloud rested on the tabernacle, it was a sign that they should abide where they were. Here, however, a question arises; since it has been already said that, immediately after their departure from Egypt, the cloud was like a banner to direct the march of the people, it follows that they were not now for the first time admonished by its being lifted up to collect their baggage, and ordered as it were to advance. The answer is easy, that the people were indeed previously directed by the sight of the cloud, as we have seen; but that here a new fact is related, viz., that since the tabernacle was set up, the cloud, which hitherto was suspended in the air and went before the camp, now settled on the sanctuary: for a fresh acquisition of grace is here proclaimed by the more certain and conspicuous sign, as if God showed himself more closely and familiarly as the leader of the people. Although, therefore, the cloud had been the director of their march from its very commencement, yet it more fully illustrated the glory of the tabernacle when it proceeded from thence.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(17) And when the cloud was taken up. . . Only one instance is recorded of disregard of the Divine direction thus miraculously vouchsafed, viz., in Num. 14:40-42. It was necessary that the hosts of Israel should be always in a watchful state, and ready to obey at once the intimations given to them of the Divine will, thus affording a striking type and pattern to the Christian Church, and teaching it both collectively and individually to seek and to follow the guidance of its Divine Head, whose promise is Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17. Taken up pitched their tents “The movement of the mysterious cloud was the signal for striking or pitching the camp. When it was taken up from off the tabernacle, the advance was sounded on silver trumpets by the Levites, Moses repeating the words, ‘Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee;’ the whole host re-echoing them, far and near, in a mighty shout as the ark moved off before them, ‘to search out their next resting-place.’ In the same way the descent of the cloud to its accustomed place was the intimation to halt, and then, as the ark was once more solemnly laid down from the shoulders of the Kohathites, the prayer, caught up from the lips of Moses and intoned by the whole camp, rose with overpowering sublimity; ‘Return, O Lord, unto the many thousands of Israel.’” Geikie. Thus during forty years there was a standing miracle before the eves of all Israel, by day and by night. Yet its moral influence upon the people, becoming semi-natural in their estimation by its long duration, seems to have been very slight. They followed whither the supernatural cloud led the way, but often with unbelieving, lustful, and rebellious hearts. Though often deserving to be abandoned by Jehovah, he continued to guide them. Nehemiah (Neh 9:19) gratefully records the divine compassion: “Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way wherein they should go.” The sublimity of this scene transcends the most poetical imagination, especially when by night the Lord carried his lantern before his bannered hosts in the wilderness.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
I detain the Reader in the perusal of these verses, only to remark to him, that those testimonies of the LORD’S pleasure, for the movement or detention of Israel, beheld with an eye to the wilderness journeys of his spiritual Israel now, are very striking. The whole pilgrimage of Israel through the wilderness, had it been pursued, even with a moderate pace, might have been completed in about eleven days; for from Mount Horeb to Kadish-barnea, the borders of Canaan, it required no more. And what are the movements of the LORD’S people up and down now, but of the same kind? And what were the uncertainties of their journeys then, but figures of our removals now; who know not whether tonight or tomorrow the LORD may not call upon us to depart. Reader, it is a delightful account, which the Psalmist gives of the people’s sojourning state: who though they wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way, and not unfrequently found it to be a rough way, yet was it a right way by which the LORD led them to a city of habitation. Psa 107:3-7 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Num 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.
Ver. 17. And when the cloud. ] This visible sign they had of God’s presence, for their motion or station by night or by day, through all their pilgrimage. “In all thy ways acknowledge God, and he shall direct thy paths.” Pro 3:6 “When thou sittest in darkness, the Lord shall give thee light.” Mic 7:8
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
tabernacle = tent. Hebrew. ‘ohel. App-40.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
when the cloud: Num 10:11, Num 10:33, Num 10:34, Exo 40:36-38, Psa 80:1, Psa 80:2, Isa 49:10, Joh 10:3-5, Joh 10:9
and in the: Exo 33:14, Exo 33:15, Psa 32:8, Psa 73:24, Joh 10:3, Joh 10:4, Joh 10:9
Reciprocal: Num 9:22 – abode Num 33:2 – journeys Psa 136:16 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
THE GUIDING CLOUD
When the cloud was taken up. When the cloud tarried.
Num 9:17; Num 9:19
I. The first verses of the Lesson remind us of the fact that in all their wanderings through the wilderness the Israelites had God for their Guide.The visible token of the Divine leadership was the pillar of cloud which hovered over the Tabernacle, and which at nightfall became a pillar of fire. The movements of that cloud decided the movements of the Israelites. When it rested, they rested; when it removed, they removed; wherever it led, they followed. At the commandment of the Lord they encamped, and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed. Their stay in Sinai had been a long one, but in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the lifting of the cloud gave them the signal to depart, and led by it they took a three days journey into the wilderness of Paran. Here, then, we have a people whose every step was taken under the Divine guidance.
II. And this is how it ought to be, and how it may be, with us.Our lives ought to be lived, and may be lived, under Divine direction and leadership. We sometimes are tempted to envy the Israelites their possession of the cloudy pillar. But though we see neither cloud nor fire in front of us, we may be just as certainly led of God. I will guide thee, is the promise, with Mine eye upon thee. Are we living under the Divine leadership? Are the paths we follow, paths which God has pointed out? The practice of the Israelites is the one safe rule for life. At the commandment of the Lord they encamped, and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed.
Illustration
(1) In the daytime the Cloud.
In truth, I need God to temper my gladness, to calm my joy, to keep my heart soft and humble when the sun is shining on me and when all goes well. I have seen fine men and women, with the light of heaven in their faces and the beauty of holiness in their lives, sadly spoiled by success. So I should be glad when, in the midst of my happiness, God in Jesus Christ makes Himself a living Reality and sanctifies my heart.
But in the night-time the Fire.
Not the fire that scorches, burns, destroys. But the fire that warms, comforts, enlightens, purifies, refines. In adversity I need God, to teach me the lessons of sorrow, to cheer my downcast soul, to uplift and beautify my life through the grievous discipline. If He comes close to me then, I shall be conducted to victory through the battles I seem to lose.
(2) The old story of the founding of Constantinople says that Constantine himself marked out the limits of the new city. When his courtiers saw what a vast circuit he was making they suggested to him it was time to stop. But Constantine was deaf to their remonstrances. I shall still advance, was his reply, till Hethe invisible Guide who marches before methinks proper to stop. So let none of us hesitate to follow wherever Christ leads.
(3) The writer does not seem to be able to get away from the thought that whatever the pillar indicated, immediate prompt obedience followed. He says so over and over again, and finishes by putting it all in one verse as the last impression which he would leave from the whole narrative.
SECOND OUTLINE
I. The important uses of the Pillar.It was a symbol of Gods Presence, and a symbol of Gods Providence. It was His Angela Guardian Angel and a Guiding Angelfor defence and direction.
II. Its distinguishing properties.
(1) It was peculiar to Gods peopleGod is specially present with, and makes special provision for His own.
(2) It was a constant benefit; by day and by night. Aye, and the varied aspect it presented was the means of securing the constant enjoyment of the benefit. If it had been always and only a pillar of fire, it would have made the heat of the day more oppressive, and if it had been always and only a pillar of cloud, it would have made the night more gloomy.
(3) It was an enduring benefit. Year after year, for the space of forty years, all the time they were on their journey through the wilderness, it failed them not. Nor will God fail or forsake His people until He has done them all the good He has spoken to them of,until He has brought them to the rest and inheritance on high.
III. Its instructive lessons.(1) It reminds us of our obligations. (2) It should impress us with a sense of our dependence. (3) It should remind us of the duty of submission to Gods will. The whole passage shows an entire submission. They journeyed when the cloud moved, they rested when the cloud rested!
Like the symbol, the subject has a dark side and a bright side, dark towards the enemies, bright towards the people of God.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
Num 9:17-19. Was taken up Or, ascended on high, above its ordinary place, by which it became more visible to all the camp. The motion or stay of the cloud is fitly called the command of God, because it was a signification of Gods will and their duty. The charge That is, the command of God that they should stay as long as the cloud stayed.