Numbers 10:33

“And they departed from the mount of the Lord three days’ journey, etc.], From Mount Sinai, so called, because the Lord descended upon it, and gave the law from it; so the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, “from the mount on which the glory of the Lord (or of his Shechinah or divine Majesty) was revealed.” This they left, after they had been nearly twelve months about it, and travelled three days’ journey from it before the cloud rested, so as to abide, otherwise is stopped no doubt to give them time to eat their food, and take sleep and rest. The Targum of Jonathan expressly says, they went thirty six miles on that day; but, according to Bunting f105, Taberah or Kibrothhattaavah, to which the…”

“they departed . . . three days' journey--the first day's progress being very small, about eighteen or twenty miles. ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them--It was carried in the center, and hence some eminent commentators think the passage should be rendered, "the ark went in their presence," the cloud above upon it being conspicuous in their eyes. But it is probable that the cloudy pillar, which, while stationary, rested upon the ark, preceded them in the march--as, when in motion at one time (Exo 14:19) it is expressly said to have shifted its place.”

“Three days’ journey - Probably a technical expression for such a distance as could not be traversed in a single day, and therefore not without intervals of encampment and due provision: compare Genesis 30:36; Exodus 3:18; Exodus 5:3; Exodus 8:27; Exodus 15:22. The technical use of the phrase “Sabbath-day’s journey” for another average distance, Acts 1:12, is similar. The ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them - From Numbers 10:21; Numbers 2:17 it would appear that the usual place of the ark during the march was in the midst of the host. It was evidently an exceptional case when, in Joshua 3:3, Joshua 3:6, the ark preceded the people into the bed of the Jordan. Hence, the words…”

“Three days - With continued journeys; only it seems probable, that the cloud made little pauses that they might have time for sleep and necessary refreshments. The ark went before them - Altho' in their stations it was in the middle, yet in their marches it went before them; and the cloud was constantly over the ark whether it stood or went; therefore the ark is said to go before and direct them, not as if the ark could be seen of all the camps, which being carried only upon mens shoulders was impossible; but because the cloud, which always attended upon the ark, and did, together with the ark, constitute, in a manner, one sign of God's presence, did lead and direct them. To search out - A…”

“10:33 The mountain of the Lord refers here to Mount Sinai; elsewhere the expression refers to Mount Moriah or Zion in Jerusalem (Gen 22:14; Ps 24:3; Isa 2:3; Zech 8:3).”

“the mount: Exo 3:1, Exo 19:3, Exo 24:17, Exo 24:18 the ark: Deu 9:9, Deu 31:26; Jos 4:7; Jdg 20:27; Sa1 4:3; Jer 3:16; Heb 13:20 went before: Exo 33:14, Exo 33:15; Deu 1:33; Jos 3:2-6, Jos 3:11-17; Jer 31:8, Jer 31:9; Eze 20:6 a resting place: Psa 95:11; Isa 28:12, Isa 66:1; Jer 6:16; Mat 11:28-30; Heb 4:3-11 Numbers 10:34”

“"And they (the Israelites) departed from the mount of Jehovah ( Exo 3:1) three days' journey; the ark of the covenant of Jehovah going before them, to search out a resting-place for them. And the cloud of Jehovah was over them by day, when they broke up from the camp." Jehovah still did as He had already done on the way to Sinai ( Exo 13:21-22): He went before them in the pillar of cloud, according to His promise ( Exo 33:13), on their journey from Sinai to Canaan; with this simple difference, however, that henceforth the cloud that embodied the presence of Jehovah was connected with the ark of the covenant, as the visible throne of His gracious presence which had been appointed by Jehovah…”