Numbers 10:33 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And the ark—went before them— The ark was carried in the midst of the camp; see ch. Numbers 2:17 and the 21st of this chapter. The words before them, in the Hebrew, signify, in their presence; before their face; לפניהם lipneihem, and thus rendered, there is no difficulty or contradiction. The ark of the covenant of the Lord went in their presence in the three days' journey, to explore (or direct them in finding out) a resting-place for them. Calmet renders it, L'arche d'alliance marchoit en leur presence; the ark of the covenant marched in their presence; in the midst of the army, where every one might see it. Historians remark, that the kings of Persia in battles, encampments, and marches, were always in the centre of their army, to be the more secure, and better enabled to issue their orders; to keep their troops to their duty, and more easily to distinguish what was everywhere going forward. Patrick, in justification of our version, observes, that when a general occupies a proper place in his army, we say, without scruple, that he marches at the head. Moses speaks of the ark, as of a general, who goes before to choose out and prepare a camp for his army; and he speaks of the ark instead of the cloud; because the cloud, elevated in the air to guide the Israelites, always continued suspended above the ark.