Numbers 9:23

15-23 This cloud was appointed to be the visible sign and symbol of God's presence with Israel. Thus we are taught to see God always near us, both night and day. As long as the cloud rested on the tabernacle, so long they continued in the same place. There is no time lost, while we are waiting God's time. When the cloud was taken up, they removed, however comfortably they were encamped. We are kept at uncertainty concerning the time of our putting off the earthly house of this tabernacle, that we may be always ready to remove at the command of the Lord. It is very safe and pleasant going when we see God before us, and resting where he appoints us to rest. The leading of this cloud is spoken of as signifying the guidance of the blessed Spirit. We are not now to expect such tokens of the Divine presence and guidance; but the promise is sure to all God's spiritual Israel, that he will guid...

Verse Numbers 9:23. _KEPT THE CHARGE OF THE LORD_] When we consider the strong disposition which this people ever testified to follow their own will in all things, we may be well surprised to find them, in these journeyings, so implicitly following the directions of God. There could be no trick or imposture here. Moses, had he been the most cunning of men, never could have imitated the _appearances_ referred to in this chapter. The cloud, and every thing in its motion, was so evidently _supernatural_, that the people had no doubt of its being the symbol of the Divine presence. GOD chose to keep this people so dependent upon himself, and so submissive to the decisions of his own will, that he would not even give them regular times of marching or resting; they were to do both when and where God saw best. Thus they were ever kept ready for their march, though

EXPOSITION THE SIGNALS OF GOD (Numbers 9:15-4). NUMBERS 9:15 ON THE DAY THAT THE TABERNACLE WAS REARED UP. Here we are sent back again to _the _great day of Israel's sojourn at Sinai, when God took visible possession of his dwelling in the midst of them (Exodus 40:34). Everything after that was but preparatory to the approaching departure, and therefore is narrated not in any order of time, but either as it referred back to the first day of the first month, or forward to the twentieth day of the second month. The cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony....

AT THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD THEY RESTED IN THEIR TENTS,.... Though ever so disagreeable: AND AT THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD THEY JOURNEYED; though the circumstances might be such, that they could have liked a continuance; but whether agreeable or disagreeable, they were obedient to the divine will: this, or what is equivalent to it, is frequently observed in this paragraph, to show that the Israelites, though they were an obstinate and perverse people, and must in general be desirous of getting as soon as they could into the land of promise, yet in this case, in all their stations and journeys, were submissive and obedient to the divine will, as all good men should be with respect to happiness; and happy are they who have God to be their guide through it, even unto death: THEY KEPT THE CHARGE OF THE LORD, AT THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD BY THE HAND OF MOSES; observed the rest or moti...

Numbers 9:1. _And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season._ I should almost fear that they had omitted the keeping of the passover for a year. There was a first celebration of it when they came out of Egypt; but then it was not so much a type as a matter of fact; it was the thing itself, not the remembrance of the coming out of Egypt, but the actual coming out, the exodus. One would gather from this command of the Lord that, on the first anniversary of that memorable season, the children of Israel had omitted its observance, and hence Jehovah said to Moses, «Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season.» If this conjecture is correct, it is very significant that a rite which be

7. PASSOVER AND JEHOVAH WITH HIS PEOPLE CHAPTER 9 _ 1. The command to keep the Passover (Numbers 9:1)_ 2. The Passover kept (Numbers 9:4) 3. Provision in case of defilement (Numbers 9:6) 4. Jehovah with His people (Numbers 9:15) Jehovah next commands His people to keep the feast of redemption, Passover. And they obeyed at once. The first Passover was held in Egypt, the second in the wilderness at Sinai, with their faces turned towards the land of promise, and it was next celebrated in the land of Canaan. This shows how essential the blood is for everything. The blood delivers out of Egypt, it keeps in

THE MOVEMENT OF THE CAMP DETERMINED BY THE FIERY CLOUD. Since according to P the Tabernacle was in the centre of the camp when it was stationary, and in the midst of the column when it was on the march (Numbers 2:17; Numbers 10:21), the setting or rising of the cloud above it only gave the signal for encamping or for breaking up the camp: the direction of the march was conveyed from Yahweh through Moses (Numbers 10:13). The view of the writer of Numbers 10:33 * is quite different. The conception of the cloud as fiery (Numbers 9:15) maintains the idea o

AT THE COMMANDMENT, &C. Figure of speech _Epibole_ App-6. HAND. mediation, or ministry; "hand" put by Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Cause)....

DISCOURSE: 147 THE JOURNEYS OF ISRAEL REGULATED BY GOD Numbers 9:21. _So if was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not; but when it was taken up, they journeyed. At the commandment of the Lord they rested in their 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._ The conducting of Israel in the wilderness by a pillar and a cloud is often mentioned in the Holy Scriptures; but in no place so fully as here. From the fifteenth verse to the end of thi

E. THE CLOUD OVER THE TABERNACLE VV. 15-23 TEXT Chapter Numbers 9:15. And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony; and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning. 16. So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. 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. 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. 19. And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the Lord, and journeyed n