A most mind-blowing aspect of the Hebrew’s desert trek gets duly recorded in Numbers 9: the cloud of
glory. For the entire essay and in-depth explanation of the heavenly escort, see Abravanel’s World. For
our purposes here, we shift to a stylistic query.
“And on the day that the Tabernacle was built up, the cloud covered the
Tabernacle, even the Tent of the Testimony. And at evening there was
upon the Tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until morning.”
Abravanel ponders an obvious question: Why was it necessary here in our chapter to relate “And on the
day that the Tabernacle was built up, the cloud covered the Tabernacle?” After all, that phenomenon, as
wild as it is, had already been imparted in the Book of Exodus: “So Moses finished the work. Then the
cloud covered the Tent of Meeting and the glory of God filled the Tabernacle. And whenever the cloud
was taken up from over the Tabernacle, the Children of Israel went onward, throughout all their
journeys.”
Here is Abravanel’s response. When the Creator desired to convey the mode in which the Jews traveled
in the Sinai Desert, He introduced Bible students to the cloud of glory. That travel guide information was
given in the Book of Exodus.
Now we focus on our lead verse here, in the Book of Numbers: “And on the day that the Tabernacle was
built up, the cloud covered the Tabernacle…” The Torah is not providing new information about the
heavenly guard coddling the Hebrew camp. Instead, it’s a recap of information that had been discussed
earlier. Really, more than just a recap; new information will be conveyed.
First the recap: The Torah reminds readers that on the day when the Tabernacle had been completed,
the cloud had swaddled the Hebrews. Now here’s the new information that answers the question: Why
did the nation merit God’s affection, miracle? Our verse provides the rationale: “Even the Tent of
Testimony.” The chamber that housed the “Testimony”, the holy of holies with the Maker’s tablets,
prompted Him to dispatch the cloud that would become a fixture to accompany the Jews during the
desert trek.
Demonstratively, the mystical cloud of glory shows precisely God’s desire to bestow honor upon the
Torah tablets, housed within the Tent of Testimony. One classic commentator went further. He surmised
that the cloud had not spread out over the entire Jewish encampment. Rather, the cloud of glory only
hovered the Tent of Testimony.
