Numbers 9:15-23

A cloud covers the tabernacle

15 On the day that Moses put up the tabernacle, a cloud covered it. In the evening the cloud looked like a fire over the tent, until morning. 16 It continued to be like this. The cloud covered it during the day. But at night, the cloud seemed to have fire in it. 17 When the cloud went up from above the tent, the Israelites started to travel. When the cloud came down again, the Israelites made their camp in that place. 18 In this way, the Lord decided when the Israelites should start to travel. He also decided where they should stop and make their camp. During all the time that the cloud was over the tabernacle, they stayed in their camp. 19 Even when the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for many days, the Israelites obeyed the Lord. They did not start to travel.

20 Sometimes the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for a few days. Then they remained in their camp. When the Lord showed them that they should travel, they started to travel. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed there from evening until morning. When the cloud went up in the morning, they started to travel. Whenever the cloud went up, in the day or in the night, they started to travel again. 22 Sometimes the cloud continued to be above the tabernacle for two days or for a month or for a year. It stayed above it. Then, the Israelites stayed in their camp. They did not start to travel. But when it went up, they did start to travel. 23 The Lord decided when they should make their camp. And the Lord decided when they should start to travel. So they obeyed the Lord about everything that the Lord said to Moses.