Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 9:18

At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.

18. at the commandment ] lit. ‘mouth.’ Not only was a sign given by the cloud, but Jehovah used to give an oral command to Moses when the march was to begin and end.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

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, which a command properly is.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

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.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

18. At the commandment of the Lord. (2) The mouth is here used by metonymy for the speech; nor does there appear to me to be so much harshness in the Hebraism, but that it may be appropriately retained. But it is asked whether God actually spoke or not; for the word mouth is often repeated. It is indeed likely that Moses was instructed but once what was meant by the removal or remaining of the cloud; yet I doubt not but that the name of word, or commandment, was given to the sign, inasmuch as God speaks as much to the eyes by outward signs as He does to the ears by His voice. Still, from this mode of expression we may gather that the use of signs (3) is perverted and nullified, unless they are taken to be visible doctrine, as Augustin writes. The repetition, which certainly has no little force, shows how worthy this is of observation.

(2) “At the mouth of the Lord.” — Lat.

(3) “Des sacremens.” — Fr. I cannot find that Augustin anywhere uses the exact words which C. here attributes to him. In his Tract. in Evang. Johan., 80. Section 3, however, he says, “Detrahe verbum, et quid est aqua nisi aqua? Accedit verbum ad elementum, et fit sacramentum, etiam ipsum tanquam visibile verbum. ” (Edit. Bened. vol. 3, part. 2, p. 703.) And again, Contra Faustum, lib. 19. cap. 16: “Quid enim sunt aliud quaeque corporalia sacramenta, nisi quaedam quasi verba visibiliar? Etc. Vol. 8:32l. Both these passages are quoted by C. Inst. 4, 14. Section 6.

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

18. At the commandment of the Lord As indicated by the moving or resting cloud, they journeyed. C. Wesley thus beautifully spiritualizes this passage:

“To work for God is good,

If God our work ordain;

But stayed by the incumbent cloud

We in our place remain.

To cease from work is best,

If after Jesus’ will;

For when at his command we rest

We please our Saviour still.”

“God’s commands halt, forward, the right, or left were not heard, but were seen. His signal service was equally good by night or day. Banners more beautiful than sunrise, and brighter than stars, testify the Leader’s presence. Ballooning is a pitiable device for discerning roads, food, water, or enemies, compared with the sleepless eye in the uplifted chariot of cloud.

“It was not only guidance, but protection; a cover from the excessive heat of the desert. I myself went down into the plain of the Dead Sea under threat of intolerable heat; but God canopied the whole day with a cloud and a shield from the sun. Quails, manna, divided sea, and imperishable shoes are no more evident signs of God’s care than the cover by day and the light by night. ‘I will abide under the shadow of the Almighty.’” Bishop H.W. Warren.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments