About this Bible Study........The King James Version of the Bible is written in a beautiful form of the English language. It can be hard for modern English readers to understand.  In this study, you will find notes and summaries in brown just above the the verses from the Bible. We recommend that you read the notes and summaries first, and then read the verses in their KJV form. 

The book of Numbers

This book was written in 1444-1405 BC. The name comes from the census when Moses counted the people.  It tells about the Israelites' wandering in the wilderness for 39 years.  It starts when the Israelites are at Mt. Sinai.  It tells about their travels through the wilderness. It ends in the plains of Moab just before the Israelites enter Canaan. 

The book of Numbers tells about 2 generations of Israelites. The 1st generation did not obey God and could not enter Canaan. The 2nd generation obeyed God, and they were allowed to go into Canaan. 

Please visit this page to see where the book of Numbers fits into the whole Bible. 

Numbers 7-9
The leaders bring gifts to the tabernacle
The Levites are dedicated to work in the tabernacle
The Israelites celebrate Passover
God's cloud shows the Israelites when it was time to move 

Numbers 7


The leaders of the tribes bring gifts to the tabernacle.


After Moses finished the tabernacle, he put oil on it and made it holy. He also put oil on the altar and all of the equipment to make it holy. 
[1] And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them;


Then the leaders of the tribes of Israel brought gifts and offerings to the tabernacle. These were the same men who helped count the Israelites.  They brought 6 covered wagons and 12 oxen (each leader brought an ox, and 2 leaders together brought a wagon).
[2] That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered:
[3] And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle.


God told Moses to give the oxen and the covered wagons to the Levites. The Levites would use them to do the work of the tabernacle. 
[4] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[5] Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service.


Moses gave the wagons and oxen to the Levites. He gave 2 wagons and 4 oxen to the Gershonites. When the Israelites moved, the Gershonites would carry the soft parts of the tent.
[6] And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites.
[7] Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service:


Moses gave 4 wagons and 8 oxen to the family of Merari. The family of Merari will be responsible for moving the wood and metal pieces of the tabernacle tent.  Aaron's son Ithamar is in charge of the family of Merari. 
[8] And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.


Moses did not give any wagons and oxen to the Kohathites. The Kohathites carried the holy items in the tabernacle.  They did not use wagons because they carried the holy items on their shoulders.
[9] But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders.


It was the day when the altar was dedicated (made special for God's work). They put oil on it (anointed with oil) so that it would be holy. The leaders of the tribes brought more gifts. God told Moses that for 12 days, the tribe leaders should bring gifts. Each day, one of the tribe leaders should bring gifts. 
[10] And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar.
[11] And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar.

 

The Israelites bring their offerings for the tabernacle. From the La Vista Church of Christ web site

The leaders brought the same gifts.  They each brought these things: 

1 silver platter that weighed about 3 pounds.
1 silver bowl that weighed about 2 pounds. 
The silver bowls were filled with flour and oil for a grain offering.  The bowls were weighed with the same weights as they used in the tabernacle. 
1 gold pan that weighed about 3 ounces. The gold pan was filled with incense.
 
For burnt offerings: 1 bull, 1 adult male sheep, and 1 one-year-old lamb. 
For sin offerings: 1 young goat. 
For peace offerings: 2 oxen, 5 adult male sheep, 5 male goats, 5 one-year-old male lambs.

These are the days and the leaders who brought their gifts.

Day 1--Nahshon--tribe of Judah. Nahshon's father was Amminadab.
[12] And he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah:
[13] And his offering was one silver charger, the weight thereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them were full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
[14] One spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense:
[15] One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
[16] One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
[17] And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.


Day 2--Nethaneel--tribe of Issachar.  Nethaneel's father was Zuar. 
[18] On the second day Nethaneel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, did offer:
[19] He offered for his offering one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
[20] One spoon of gold of ten shekels, full of incense:
[21] One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
[22] One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
[23] And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nethaneel the son of Zuar.


Day 3--Eliab--tribe of Zebulun. Eliab's father was Helon.
[24] On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun, did offer:
[25] His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
[26] One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
[27] One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
[28] One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
[29] And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.


Day 4--Elizur--tribe of Reuben.  Elizur's father was Shedeur.
[30] On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben, did offer:
[31] His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
[32] One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
[33] One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
[34] One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
[35] And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.


Day 5--Shelumiel--tribe of Simeon.  Shelumiel's father was Zurishaddai.
[36] On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon, did offer:
[37] His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
[38] One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
[39] One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
[40] One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
[41] And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.


Day 6--Eliasaph-tribe of Gad.  Eliasaph's father was Deuel. 
[42] On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad, offered:
[43] His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, a silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
[44] One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
[45] One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
[46] One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
[47] And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.


Day 7-Elishama-tribe of Ephraim.  Elishama's father was Ammihud.
[48] On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim, offered:
[49] His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
[50] One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
[51] One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
[52] one kid of the goats for a sin offering:
[53] And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.


Day 8--Gamaliel-tribe of Manasseh.  Gamaliel's father was Pedahzur.
[54] On the eighth day offered Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh:
[55] His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
[56] One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
[57] One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
[58] One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
[59] And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.


Day 9--Abidan-tribe of Benjamin.  Abidan's father was Gideoni.
[60] On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin, offered:
[61] His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
[62] One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
[63] One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
[64] One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
[65] And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.



Day 10--Ahiezer--tribe of Dan.  Aheizer's father was Ammishaddai.
[66] On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan, offered:
[67] His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
[68] One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
[69] One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
[70] One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
[71] And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.



Day 11-Pagiel--tribe of Asher.  Pagiel's father was Ocran.
[72] On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, offered:
[73] His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
[74] One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
[75] One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
[76] One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
[77] And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ocran.


Day 12--Ahira-tribe of Naphtali.  Ahira's father was Enan.
[78] On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali, offered:
[79] His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
[80] One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
[81] One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
[82] One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
[83] And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.

 

The total of all the gifts from the leaders. 
 

Totals of the silver and gold gifts


There were 12 silver platters that weighed 3 pounds each, and 12 silver bowls that weighed 2 pounds each. The total weight of the silver bowls was 60 pounds. There were 12 gold pans with incense in them. Each pan weighed about 3 ounces. The total weight of the gold pans and incense was about 3 pounds. 
[84] This was the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold:
[85] Each charger of silver weighing an hundred and thirty shekels, each bowl seventy: all the silver vessels weighed two thousand and four hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:
[86] The golden spoons were twelve, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary: all the gold of the spoons was an hundred and twenty shekels.

Total of animals sacrificed


For burnt offerings, 12 bulls, 12 adult male sheep, and 12 one-year-old male lambs with grain offerings 
For sin offerings, 12 young goats 
For peace offerings, 24 oxen, 60 adult male sheep, 60 male goats, 60 one-year-old male lambs .
[87] All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve bullocks, the rams twelve, the lambs of the first year twelve, with their meat offering: and the kids of the goats for sin offering twelve.
[88] And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty and four bullocks, the rams sixty, the he goats sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed.

Moses hears God talking from the mercy seat

 

Tabernacle model in Timna Park, Israel Photo from BiblePlaces.com

When Moses went into the tabernacle, he heard God talking from the mercy seat on the top of the Ark of the Testimony. The mercy seat was between the two cherubims (angels).

Tabernacle model in Timna Park, Israel Photo from BiblePlaces.com

 [89] And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him.

Numbers 8


The candlestick in the Tabernacle.

Tabernacle model in Timna Park, Israel Photo from BiblePlaces.com

God talked to Moses.  He told Moses to tell Aaron that the lamps on the candlestick should shine toward the front.  Aaron obeyed and did what Moses told him to do. 
[1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[2] Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.
[3] And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses.


The candlestick was made the way that God told Moses.  It was made of hammered gold from the bottom to the top.
[4] And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick.

A priest and a Levite From The "History of Costume" or "Zur Geschichte der Kostüme", printed from 1861 to 1880 in Munich by the publishing firm of Braun and Schneider From the web site of C.Otis Sweezey, Southern Illinois University

Making the Levites ready to work at the Tabernacle


The Levites would work at the Tabernacle. They needed to be very clean and pure. God told Moses to separate the Levites from the rest of the people.  God told Moses to clean the Levites with pure water. They should shave their whole bodies. Then they should wash their clothes.
[5] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[6] Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them.
[7] And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.


The Levites should make an offering.  They should offer a young bull with flour and oil. They should offer another bull for a sin offering.
[8] Then let them take a young bullock with his meat offering, even fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin offering.


The Levites would belong to God to do His work. This was instead of the Israelite families giving their firstborn children to God. All of the Israelites should meet for a special ceremony. Moses should bring the Levites to the ceremony. All of the Israelites should put their hands on the Levites. 
[9] And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together:
[10] And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites:


Then Aaron will offer the Levites to God. They are an offering from all of the Israelites to do God's work.
[11] And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the LORD.


Then the Levites should put their hands on the bulls' heads. They will offer 1 bull for a sin offering and 1 bull for a burnt offering to ask God to forgive their sins. 
[12] And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, unto the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites.


The Levites will be an offering to God. The Levites will belong to God. They will be special, and they will be separate from the other Israelites. After the ceremony, the Levites will be clean. Then they can help Aaron and his sons with the work of the tabernacle. 
[13] And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for an offering unto the LORD.
[14] Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine.
[15] And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them for an offering.


Back in Egypt, God killed the firstborn sons (the oldest) in the Egyptians families. After the Israelites left Egypt, God said that the firstborn male Israelite people and animals should belong to him. But now, God will accept the whole tribe of the Levites in place of the firstborn. (Click here to read about God killing the firstborn in Egypt)
[16] For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me.
[17] For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.
[18] And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel.


God said that the Levites were a gift to Aaron and his sons from the other Israelites.  The Levites will work in the tabernacle and help the priests. They will help guard the tabernacle so that the other Israelites don't come too close to the tabernacle. If any other Israelites get too close, the Levites will ask God to forgive them.  If they do not ask for God to forgive them, many Israelites would get sick.
[19] And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.


Moses, Aaron, and the other Israelites obeyed God and did what He told them to do. The Levites were clean and washed their clothes. Aaron offered them to God and asked God to forgive their sins. After this was finished, the Levites began to help Aaron and his sons.
[20] And Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel, did to the Levites according unto all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did the children of Israel unto them.
[21] And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them as an offering before the LORD; and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them.
[22] And after that went the Levites in to do their service in the tabernacle of the congregation before Aaron, and before his sons: as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did they unto them.


God talked to Moses. God said that the Levites from ages 25 to 49 could work in the tabernacle.  But at age 50, they must retire.  After they retired, the older Levites could still help some. They could give the younger Levites advice and watch the tabernacle so that no one came too close to it. 
[23] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[24] This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:
[25] And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more:
[26] But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.

Numbers 9

Passover

God talked to Moses. It was the 1st month of the 2nd year after the Israelites left Egypt.  God said that the Israelites should celebrate Passover. 
[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,
[2] Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season.


They should celebrate Passover on the 14th day of the month. They should obey all the laws and celebrate Passover the way God told them. 
[3] In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.
[4] And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover.


The Israelites obeyed God, and they celebrated Passover. 
[5] 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.


Some of the men had recently touched a dead person. They were unclean, and they could not celebrate Passover with the other Israelites.  They came to discuss this with Moses and Aaron.  
[6] And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day:
[7] And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel?


Moses told them to wait while he talked to God.  God said that if anyone is unclean or is on a long trip, it is all right for them to celebrate Passover a month later.  They should celebrate Passover on the evening of the 14th day of the 2nd month instead of the 1st month. They should eat the Passover lamb, unleavened (flat) bread, and bitter herbs (plants that tasted very bad).  They should eat all of it in the evening. None of it should be left until the morning. They should not break any bones in the meat. 
[8] And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you.
[9] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[10] Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD.
[11] The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
[12] They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it.


All other people must celebrate Passover at the right time. If someone doesn't celebrate Passover, he will be cut off from the other Israelites. He will be punished because he did not make the offering to God at the right time. 
[13] But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.

Non-Israelites celebrating Passover


People who are not Israelites but who live with the Israelites can celebrate Passover.  But they should obey the same rules as the Israelites. 
[14] And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the LORD; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.

God's cloud shows the Israelites when it was time to move 


On the day when the tabernacle was set up, a cloud came and covered the tent. At night, the cloud looked like fire. 
[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.


When the cloud went back up, the Israelites knew it was time to move. When the cloud came back down, that is the place where they made a new camp.
[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.


The Israelites obeyed God. He showed them with the cloud when it was time to move and when it was time to stay.
[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.


When the cloud stayed on the tent for many days, the Israelites stayed in that camp for many days.  If the cloud stayed on the tent for just a few days, they did not travel. 
[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.
[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.


Whenever the cloud went up, they traveled. When the cloud stayed on the tent, the stayed in the same camp. Sometimes the cloud only stayed on the tent for one day. Sometimes the cloud stayed on the tent for 2 days, a month, or a year.  It didn't matter how long the cloud stayed.  When the cloud went up, the Israelites moved. This was how God told Moses when it was time to travel again and make a new camp.  The Israelites obeyed God and moved when He told them to move.
[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.
[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.
[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.

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