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._ On the twentieth day ... The Israelites had lain encamped in Wady Er Rahah and the neighbouring valleys of the Sinaitic range, for the space of eleven months twenty-nine days (see the note at Exodus 19:1). Besides the religious purposes of the highest importance to which their long sojourn at Sinai was subservient, the Israelites, after the hardships and oppression of the Egyptian servitude, required an interval of repose and refreshment. They were neither physically nor morally in a condition to enter the lists with the warlike people they had to encounter before obtaining possession of Canaan. But the wondrous transactions at Sinai-the arm of Yahweh so visibly displayed in their favour-the covenant entered into, and the spe

11._And it came to pass on the twentieth day _Moses records that after leaving Mount Sinai, the camp was first pitched in the wilderness of Paran; and although the distance was not great, — being, as we shall soon see, a three days’ journey, — still the fatigue was sufficient to harass and weary the people. It is mentioned in praise of their obedience that they were expeditious in setting forth “according to the commandment of God;” but presently, through failure of the spirit of perseverance, their levity and inconstancy betrayed itself. When it is said that “they journeyed by their journeyings,” _(profectos esse per suas profectiones,) _it refers to their whole progress through the desert. As to the word, I know not why Jerome translated it _turmas, _(troops,) for its root; is the verb נסע _nasang, _which is used with it; and according to its constant use in Scripture, it plainly means

11-28 After the Israelites had continued nearly a year at mount Sinai, and all was settled respecting their future worship, they began their march to Canaan. True religion begins with the knowledge of the holy law of God, and humiliation for sin, but we must go on towards perfection, in acquaintance with Christ and his gospel, and those effectual encouragements, motives, and assistances to holiness, which it proposes. They took their journey according to the commandment of the Lord, Deuteronomy 1:6-5, and as the cloud led them. Those who give themselves to the direction of God's word and Spirit, steer a steady course, even when they seem bewildered. While they are sure they cannot lose their God and Guide, they need not fear losing their way. They went out of the wilderness of Sinai, and rested in the wilderness of Paran. All our removes in this world are but from one wilderness to anot...

Verse Numbers 10:11. _THE TWENTIETH DAY OF THE SECOND MONTH_] The Israelites had lain encamped in the wilderness of Sinai about _eleven months_ and _twenty days_; compare Exodus 19:1 with this verse. They now received the order of God to decamp, and proceed towards the promised land; and therefore the Samaritan introduces at this place the words which we find in Deuteronomy 1:6-5: "The Lord our God spake unto us _in Horeb_, saying: Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount, turn and take your journey," c....

At this point commences the second great division of the book, extending to the close of Numbers 14. The remaining verses of the present chapter narrate the actual break up of the camp at Sinai and the order of the march....

EXPOSITION THE ORDER OF MARCH FROM SINAI (Numbers 10:11-4). NUMBERS 10:11 On THE TWENTIETH DAY of THE SECOND MONTH. This answered approximately to our May 6th, when the spring verdure would still be on the land, but the heat of the day would already have become intense. We may well suppose that the departure would have taken place a month earlier, had it not been necessary to wait for the due celebration of the second or supplemental passover (Numbers 9:11). As this march was, next to the actual exodus, _the _great trial of Israel's f

AND IT CAME TO PASS, ON THE TWENTIETH [DAY] OF THE SECOND MONTH, IN THE SECOND YEAR,.... Which was the twentieth of the month Ijar, in the second year of the coming of the Israelites out of Egypt; who, as it appears from hence, compared with Exodus 19:1; had been in the wilderness of Sinai twelve months wanting ten days; so Jarchi and other Jewish writers m, with whom Aben Ezra agrees, who says it was near a year: THAT THE CLOUD WAS TAKEN UP FROM OFF THE TABERNACLE OF THE TESTIMONY; that part of the tabernacle where the ark of the testimony stood, even the most holy place, over which the cloud was, the token of the divine Presence, and which it covered; but now was taken up from it, and went up higher above it, and was a signal for the motion of the camps of Israel to set forward in their journey towards Canaan's land. m Seder Olam Rabba, c. 8. p. 23. Abarbinel,

SECOND MONTH That is, May....

THE DEPARTURE FROM SINAI. The stay at Sinai lasted about 11 months (_cf. Numbers 10:11_ with Exodus 19:1), and the people now moved to the wilderness of Paran (the modern El Tih), N. of Sinai. The order of the march here differs in some respects from that described in ch. 2; for there it is assumed that all the Levites kept together (Numbers 2:17), whereas here the Gershonites and Merarites, with the hangings and frame of the Tabernacle, are to follow the division of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, whilst the Kohathites, with the Ark and the furniture of the Tabernacle, are to follow the division of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad. The arrangement was intended to secure that the Tabernacle should be set up before the arrival of its

TWENTIETH DAY, &C. See App-50. TABERNACLE. habitation. Hebrew. _mishkan._ App-40....