King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
At the order of ADONAI, the people of Isra'el traveled; at the order of ADONAI, they camped; and as long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they stayed in camp.
Berean Standard Bible:
At the LORD’s command the Israelites set out, and at the LORD’s command they camped. As long as the cloud remained over the tabernacle, they remained encamped.
American Standard Version:
At the commandment of Jehovah the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of Jehovah they encamped: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they remained encamped.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
At the commandment{H6310} of the LORD{H3068} the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478} journeyed{H5265}, and at the commandment{H6310} of the LORD{H3068} they pitched{H2583}: as long as{H3117} the cloud{H6051} abode{H7931} upon the tabernacle{H4908} they rested{H2583} in their tents.
Cross-References (KJV):
1 Corinthians 10:1
- ¶ Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2 John 1:6
- And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
Numbers 10:13
- And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
Exodus 17:1
- ¶ And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and [there was] no water for the people to drink.
Numbers 9:20
- And [so] it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 9:18
1. **Themes:**
- **Divine Guidance:** The verse emphasizes that the Israelites' movements were directed by God, illustrating the theme of divine guidance in their journey through the wilderness.
- **Obedience:** The actions of the Israelites—journeying and pitching their tents—were in direct response to God's commandments, highlighting the importance of obedience to God's will in the narrative.
- **God's Presence:** The cloud symbolizes God's tangible presence with the Israelites, guiding them day and night, which is a recurring theme in the book of Numbers.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Exodus and Wandering:** Numbers 9:18 is set during the time of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and their subsequent wandering in the wilderness, which lasted for 40 years according to biblical accounts.
- **The Tabernacle:** The tabernacle was a portable dwelling place for God, constructed according to His specifications, which the Israelites carried with them during their journey. It was central to their worship and religious life.
- **The Cloud:** The cloud mentioned in the verse is part of the divine manifestation that guided the Israelites. During the day, it appeared as a cloud; at night, it became a pillar of fire. This visual representation of God's presence was a sign for the Israelites to either stay in place or move forward.
- **Military Campaigns:** The context also includes the preparation for military campaigns to conquer the Promised Land, with God instructing the Israelites on when and how to move in relation to their enemies.
In summary, Numbers 9:18 reflects the Israelites' dependence on God's direction and presence as they navigated the challenges of the wilderness, emphasizing themes of divine guidance, obedience, and the assuring symbol of God's abiding presence in their midst.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H6310
There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פֶּה
Transliteration: peh
Pronunciation: peh
Description: from פָּאָה; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to; accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), [idiom] eat, edge, end, entry, [phrase] file, hole, [idiom] in, mind, mouth, part, portion, [idiom] (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, tenor, [idiom] to, [phrase] two-edged, wish, word. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H3478
There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel. - Strong's Number: H5265
There are 140 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָסַע
Transliteration: nâçaʻ
Pronunciation: naw-sah'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney; cause to blow, bring, get, (make to) go (away, forth, forward, onward, out), (take) journey, march, remove, set aside (forward), [idiom] still, be on his (go their) way. - Strong's Number: H2583
There are 135 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָנָה
Transliteration: chânâh
Pronunciation: khaw-naw'
Description: a primitive root (compare חָנַן); properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening); specifically, to pitch atent; gen. to encamp (for abode or siege); abide (in tents), camp, dwell, encamp, grow to an end, lie, pitch (tent), rest in tent. - Strong's Number: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. - Strong's Number: H6051
There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָנָן
Transliteration: ʻânân
Pronunciation: aw-nawn'
Description: from עָנַן; a cloud (as covering the sky), i.e. the nimbus or thunder-cloud; cloud(-y). - Strong's Number: H7931
There are 123 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁכַן
Transliteration: shâkan
Pronunciation: shaw-kan'
Description: a primitive root (apparently akin (by transmission) to שָׁכַב through the idea of lodging; compare סִכְלוּת, שָׁכַם); to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively); abide, continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-er), have habitation, inhabit, lay, place, (cause to) remain, rest, set (up). - Strong's Number: H4908
There are 129 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִשְׁכָּן
Transliteration: mishkân
Pronunciation: mish-kawn'
Description: from שָׁכַן; a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively, the grave; also the Temple); specifically, the Tabernacle (properly, its wooden walls); dwelleth, dwelling (place), habitation, tabernacle, tent.