New American Standard Bible 1995

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Numbers

9

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22

Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud lingered over the tabernacle, staying above it, the sons of Israel remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they did set out.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
Whether or Conjunction H176 אֹֽו־ ov-
it was two days day Noun H3117 יֹמַ֜יִם yo·ma·yim
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016 

or or Conjunction H176 אֹו־ ov-
a month new moon, a month Noun H2320 חֹ֣דֶשׁ cho·desh
or or Conjunction H176 אֹו־ ov-
a year day Noun H3117 יָמִ֗ים ya·mim
that the cloud a cloud mass, cloud Noun H6051 הֶעָנָ֤ן he·'a·nan
lingered to be long Verb H748 בְּהַאֲרִ֨יךְ be·ha·'a·rich
over upon, above, over Prepostion H5921 עַל־ al-
the tabernacle, dwelling place, tabernacle Noun H4908 הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ ham·mish·kan
staying to settle down, abide, dwell Verb H7931 לִשְׁכֹּ֣ן lish·kon
above upon, above, over Prepostion H5921 עָלָ֔יו a·lav,
it, the sons son Noun H1121 בְנֵֽי־ ve·nei-
of Israel "God strives," another name of Jacob and his desc. Noun H3478 יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל yis·ra·'el
Analysis:
Read more about: Israel
remained camped to decline, bend down, encamp Verb H2583 יַחֲנ֥וּ ya·cha·nu
and did not set to pull out or up, set out, journey Verb H5265 יִסָּ֑עוּ yis·sa·'u;
out; but when it was lifted, to go up, ascend, climb Verb H5927 וּבְהֵעָלֹתֹ֖ו u·ve·he·'a·lo·tov
they did set to pull out or up, set out, journey Verb H5265 יִסָּֽעוּ׃ yis·sa·'u.
out.      

Locations

Israel

ISRAEL, KINGDOM OF" I. THE FIRST PERIOD1. The Two Kingdoms2. The Ist Dynasty3. The IInd Dynasty4. Civil WarII. PERIOD OF THE SYRIAN WARS1. The IIIrd Dynasty2. World-Politics3. Battle of Karkar4. Loss of Territory5. Reform of Religion6. Revolution7. The IVth Dynasty8. Renewed Prosperity9. AnarchyIII. DECLINE AND FALL1. Loss of Independence2. Decline3. Extinct... View Details

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud lingered over the tabernacle, staying above it, the sons of Israel remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they did set out.
King James Bible Whether Or whether it was were two days days, or a month month, or a year year, that the cloud lingered over tarried upon the tabernacle, staying above it, remaining thereon, the sons children of Israel remained camped abode in their tents, and did not set out; journeyed not: but when it was lifted, taken up, they did set out.journeyed.
Hebrew Greek English Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud lingered over the tabernacle, staying above it, the sons of Israel remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they did set out.