Numbers 10:11

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.

a. ASV: 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.

b. YLT: And it cometh to pass -- in the second year, in the second month, in the twentieth of the month -- the cloud hath gone up from off the tabernacle of the testimony,

c. Amplified Bible Classic: On the twentieth day of the second month in the second year [since leaving Egypt], the cloud [of the Lord’s presence] was taken up from over the tabernacle of the Testimony,

d. Septuagint: And it came to pass in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud went up from the tabernacle of witness.

e. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: It was in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth of the month, the cloud was lifted upon the Tabernacle of the Testimony.

1. “And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year…”

a. [And it] came to pass [Strong: 1961 hayah haw-yaw a primitive root (Compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit (one-)self, require, X use.]

b. [on the] twentieth [Strong: 6242 ʻesrîym, es-reem'; from H6235; twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth:—(six-) score, twenty(-ieth).]

c. [day of the] second [Strong: 8145 shênîy, shay-nee'; from H8138; properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially, again:—again, either (of them), (an-) other, second (time).]

d. month [Strong: 2320 chôdesh, kho'-desh; from H2318; the new moon; by implication, a month:—month(-ly), new moon.]

e. [in the] second [Strong: 8145 shênîy, shay-nee'; from H8138; properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially, again:—again, either (of them), (an-) other, second (time).]

f. year shâneh, shaw-neh'; (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה shânâh; from H8138; a year (as a revolution of time):— whole age, × long, old, year(× -ly).]

1). Israel arrived at Sinai in the third month  after departing Egypt.

a). Exodus 19:1 In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.

b). Scholars believe that the phrase “the same day” means it was the first day of the third month. If that's the case and they left on the 15th of the first month (Exodus 12:51, day after Passover), then it took them about 45 days to get to Sinai from Egypt. They left on the twentieth day of the second month of the second year. Reputable scholars determine they were at Sinai just short of one year. Adam Clarke: 11 months and 20 days. John Gill: 10 days short of one year.

c). The Hebrew calendar complicates the numbers because the Hebrew calendar is Lunar not Solar and in a normal year (not counting leap years) they have about 355 days. I am not going to do the math but take the word of others I trust and assume Israel was at Mount Sinai just short of a year. They did not walk around it for 40 years. They camped there and Moses received the Law and the instructions to build the Tabernacle, which they built. Instructions of the Priesthood, and the sacrifices and they then left.

2. “…that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony.”

a. [that the] cloud [Strong: 6051 ʻânân, aw-nawn'; from H6049; a cloud (as covering the sky), i.e. the nimbus or thunder-cloud:—cloud(-y).]

b. [was] taken up [Strong: 5927 ʻâlâh, aw-law'; a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative:—arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, × mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work.]

c. from off [Strong: 5921 `al al properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications (as follow):--above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, X with.]

d. [the] tabernacle [Strong: 4908 mishkân, mish-kawn'; from H7931; 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.]

e. [of the] testimony [Strong: 5715 ʻêdûwth, ay-dooth'; feminine of H5707; testimony:—testimony, witness.]

1). The pillar of cloud led them wherever they went.

a). Exodus 13:21, 22 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

13:22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

b). Numbers 9:16-23 So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.

9:17 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.

9:18 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.

9:19 And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not.

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.

9:21 And so it 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.

9:22 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.

9:23 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.