Numbers 10:11

¶ And it came to pass on the twentieth [day] of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony.

And it came to pass on the twentieth {H6242} day of the second {H8145} month {H2320}, in the second {H8145} year {H8141}, that the cloud {H6051} was taken up {H5927} from off the tabernacle {H4908} of the testimony {H5715}.

On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle of the testimony;

On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle of the Testimony,

And it came to pass in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, that the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle of the testimony.

Commentary

Context

Numbers chapter 10 marks a significant transition for the Israelites. After spending nearly a year camped at the base of Mount Sinai, receiving the Law, building the Tabernacle, and being organized into tribes, it was time to move. This verse pinpoints the exact moment their journey towards the Promised Land resumed. The date specified – the twentieth day of the second month in the second year after leaving Egypt – shows precise divine timing and record-keeping.

Key Themes

  • Divine Guidance: The movement of the cloud was the unmistakable signal for the Israelites to break camp and travel.
  • Readiness and Obedience: The people had to be prepared to move whenever God, represented by the cloud, indicated.
  • The Journey Begins: This verse marks the commencement of the main part of their wilderness journey after the initial arrival at Sinai.
  • God's Presence: The cloud was a tangible symbol of God's presence dwelling with His people.

Linguistic Insights

The "cloud" (Hebrew: anan) is a recurring symbol throughout the Exodus narrative, representing God's visible presence and guidance. The "tabernacle of the testimony" refers to the central sanctuary where God's presence resided and where the Ark of the Covenant, containing the tablets of the testimony (the Ten Commandments), was kept.

Commentary and Application

Numbers 10:11 describes a pivotal moment. The period of instruction and organization at Sinai was complete, and the time for forward movement had arrived, dictated entirely by God's signal. The lifting of the cloud was not a suggestion but a divine command to embark on the next stage of their journey. This highlights the principle of following God's leading, even when the destination or the path ahead isn't fully known.

The cloud's movement from off the Tabernacle, where it had rested, signifies that God's presence was not confined to a single location like Sinai or even the sanctuary. His presence would accompany them on their travels, serving as their guide by day and night (Exodus 13:21-22).

For believers today, this verse serves as a reminder that our spiritual journey is often marked by periods of rest and instruction, followed by times of movement and progress, all under God's direction. We must be attentive to His signals, whether through His Word, prayer, or the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and be ready to obey and step out in faith when He indicates it is time to move. Just as the cloud was a visible sign for Israel, God provides guidance for us, though often in less dramatic ways. The key is acknowledging Him and being willing to follow when He leads.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Numbers 9:17 (2 votes)

    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.

  • Numbers 9:23 (2 votes)

    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.

  • Numbers 9:11 (2 votes)

    The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, [and] eat it with unleavened bread and bitter [herbs].

  • Numbers 1:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first [day] of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

  • Numbers 9:5 (2 votes)

    And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.

  • Exodus 40:2 (2 votes)

    On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.

  • Exodus 40:17 (2 votes)

    And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first [day] of the month, [that] the tabernacle was reared up.