Numbers 9:15

And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up— Being now come to the decampment of the Israelites from mount Sinai, it was natural for Moses to mention by what direction these decampments were made; and we find it repeated no less than three times in the compass of these few verses, that it was at the commandment of the Lord, signified by the cloud of glory, that they moved or rested. Maimonides says, that the reason for Moses being so particular in repeating so often this circumstance of their marching and resting at the command of God, was to confute the opinion of the Arabians and others, who imagined that the reason of the Israelites staying so long in the wilderness was because they had lost their way: which, he observes, was a very idle conceit; since the way from mount Horeb to Kadesh Barnea, on the borders of Canaan, was a known, beaten road, and not above eleven days journey; so that it was hardly possible for them to miss it, far less to wander in a bewildered condition for forty years. Le Clerc, however, assigns, for the repetition, only the simplicity of the ancient manner of writing. By the hand of Moses, Numbers 9:23 signifies, by the ministry of Moses, their lawgiver and director under God; who, at every march and encampment, accompanied the divine signal with a solemn prayer; saying, when the ark set forward, Rise up, Lord! let thine enemies be scattered, &c. when it rested, Return, O Lord! unto the many thousands of Israel; see ch. Numbers 10:35. They marched sometimes by night, which is the chief time for travelling through these desarts, on account of the heat; see Observations, p. 223. Thus, how tedious and irksome soever their particular travels or stations might be, and however impatiently desirous they were of arriving at the promised land; yet they resigned themselves to the constant direction of this heavenly guide; and never dared to stir, but by the special appointment of God, under the ministry of his servant Moses. It was a glorious advantage to the Jews to be led by the cloud in the wilderness, which was to them a constant symbol of the Divine Presence; but let Christians remember, that in Jesus Christ they have a much more expressive pledge of God's presence and favour; and are much more happy in being guided by the light of the Gospel; which shews them the way wherein they are to walk during their stay in this world, in order to their arrival at the joys of heaven.