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.
The cloud covered the tabernacle. The inspired historian here enters on an entirely new subject, which might properly have formed a separate chapter, beginning at this verse and ending at Num. 9:29 of the following chapter. (Calmet). The cloud was a visible token of God's special presence and guardian care of the Israelites (Exodus 14:20; Psalms 105:39). It was easily distinguishable from all other clouds, by its special form and its fixed position; because from the day of the completion of the tabernacle it rested by day as a dark, by night as a fiery, column, on that part of the sanctuary which contained the ark of the testimony (Leviticus 16:2).