40:1 VA YEDABER YHVH EL MOSHEH LEMOR
וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר
KJ (King James translation): And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
BN (BibleNet translation): Then YHVH spoke to Mosheh, saying:
40:2 BE YOM HA CHODESH HA RI'SHON BE ECHAD LA CHODESH TAKIM ET MISHKAN OHEL MO'ED
בְּיוֹם הַחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ תָּקִים אֶת מִשְׁכַּן אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד
KJ: On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.
BN: "On the first day of the first month you shall set up the Tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting...
Which first month? The first day of whichever one happens to come next? We must assume it means the first month of the year, but that would be the Pesach. Unless this is late redaction, and it means the first month of the reorganised calendar, in which case it would be Rosh ha-Shanah, the first of Tishrey. See verse 17 below. And if it does mean Pesach, then precisely one calendar year (minus 14 days) will have elapsed between the departure from Egypt and the ceremony about to be described.
MISHKAN OHEL MO'ED: At different times we have seen the Ohel described as part of the Mishkan, with the courtyard described separately; at others, such as now, the two are the same thing. Where possible I have left the word MISHKAN in my English translation, but there are several instances, like this one, where it simply doesn't work, almost as if MISHKAN OHEL MO'ED is to be understood as a single concept, rather than as two, even though it is made up of these two parts.
40:3 VE SAMTA SHAM ET ARON HA EDUT VE SAKOTA AL HA ARON VE HA PAROCHET
וְשַׂמְתָּ שָׁם אֵת אֲרוֹן הָעֵדוּת וְסַכֹּתָ עַל הָאָרֹן אֶת הַפָּרֹכֶת
KJ: And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail.
BN: "And you shall put in it the Ark of the Testimony, and you shall screen the Ark with the veil...
SAKOTA means "to screen"; and it is also the root of the word SUKOT, both the place and the festival; it came to mean a desert booth in the Bedou style, though clearly it is also linked to the ancient mother-goddess shrines.
40:4 VE HEV'E'TA ET HA SHULCHAN VE ARACHTA ET ERKO VE HEV'E'TA ET HA MENORAH VE HA'ALEYTA ET NEROTEYHA
וְהֵבֵאתָ אֶת הַשֻּׁלְחָן וְעָרַכְתָּ אֶת עֶרְכּוֹ וְהֵבֵאתָ אֶת הַמְּנֹרָה וְהַעֲלֵיתָ אֶת נֵרֹתֶיהָ
KJ: And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof.
BN: "And you shall bring in the table, and set in order the bread that is on it; and you shall bring in the candlestick, and light its lamps.
40:5 VE NATATA ET MIZBACH HA ZAHAV LIKTORET LIPHNEY ARON HA EDUT VE SAMTA ET MASACH HA PETACH LA MISHKAN
וְנָתַתָּה אֶת מִזְבַּח הַזָּהָב לִקְטֹרֶת לִפְנֵי אֲרוֹן הָעֵדֻת וְשַׂמְתָּ אֶת מָסַךְ הַפֶּתַח לַמִּשְׁכָּן
KJ: And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle.
BN: "And you shall erect the golden altar for incense before the Ark of the Testimony, and put up the screen for the door to the Mishkan...
40:6 VE NATATA ET MIZBACH HA OLAH LIPHNEY PETACH MISHKAN OHEL MO'ED
וְנָתַתָּה אֵת מִזְבַּח הָעֹלָה לִפְנֵי פֶּתַח מִשְׁכַּן אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד
KJ: And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.
BN: "And you shall place the altar of burnt-offering in front of the door of the Tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting...
40:7 VE NATATA ET HA KIYOR BEYN OHEL MO'ED U VEYN HA MIZBE'ACH VE NATATA SHAM MAYIM
וְנָתַתָּ אֶת הַכִּיֹּר בֵּין אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וּבֵין הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְנָתַתָּ שָׁם מָיִם
KJ: And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein.
BN: "And you shall place the wash-basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it.
40:8 VE SAMTA ET HE CHATSER SAVIV VE NATATA ET MASACH SHA'AR HE CHATSER
וְשַׂמְתָּ אֶת הֶחָצֵר סָבִיב וְנָתַתָּ אֶת מָסַךְ שַׁעַר הֶחָצֵר
KJ: And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate.
BN: "And you shall set up the courtyard around it, and hang up the screen for the gate of the courtyard...
40:9 VE LAKACHTA ET SHEMEN HA MISHCHAH U MASHACHTA ET HA MISHKAN VE ET KOL ASHER BO VE KIDASHTA OTO VE ET KOL KELAV VE HAYAH KODESH
וְלָקַחְתָּ אֶת שֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה וּמָשַׁחְתָּ אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְאֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר בּוֹ וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ אֹתוֹ וְאֶת כָּל כֵּלָיו וְהָיָה קֹדֶשׁ
KJ: And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that istherein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy.
BN: "And you shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the Tabernacle, and everything that is in it, and sanctify it, and all its furniture; and it shall be holy...
40:10 U MASHACHTA ET MIZBACH HA OLAH VE ET KOL KELAV VE KIDASHTA ET HA MIZBE'ACH VE HAYAH HA MIZBE'ACH KODESH KADASHIM
וּמָשַׁחְתָּ אֶת מִזְבַּח הָעֹלָה וְאֶת כָּל כֵּלָיו וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ אֶת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְהָיָה הַמִּזְבֵּחַ קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים
KJ: And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy.
BN: "And you shall anoint the altar of burnt-offering, and all its utensils, and sanctify the altar; and the altar shall be especially holy.
40:11 U MASHACHTA ET HA KIYOR VE ET KANO VE KIDASHTA OTO
וּמָשַׁחְתָּ אֶת הַכִּיֹּר וְאֶת כַּנּוֹ וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ אֹתוֹ
KJ: And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it.
BN: "And you shall anoint the wash-basin and its base, and sanctify it.
40:12 VE HIKRAVTA ET AHARON VE ET BANAV EL PETACH OHEL MO'ED VE RACHATSTA OTAM BA MAYIM
וְהִקְרַבְתָּ אֶת אַהֲרֹן וְאֶת בָּנָיו אֶל פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וְרָחַצְתָּ אֹתָם בַּמָּיִם
KJ: And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.
40:20 VA YIKACH VA YITEN ET HA EDUT EL HA ARON VA YASEM ET HA BADIM AL HA ARON VA YITEN ET HA KAPORET AL HA ARON MI LEMALAH
BN: "And you shall bring Aharon and his sons to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and wash them with water...
40:13 VE HILBASHTA ET AHARON ET BIGDEY HA KODESH U MASHACHTA OTO VE KIDASHTA OTO VE CHIHEN LI
וְהִלְבַּשְׁתָּ אֶת אַהֲרֹן אֵת בִּגְדֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ וּמָשַׁחְתָּ אֹתוֹ וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ אֹתוֹ וְכִהֵן לִי
KJ: And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
BN: "And you shall dress Aharon in the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him, so that he may minister to me in the office of Kohen.
40:14 VE ET BANAV TAKRIV VE HILBASHTA OTAM KUTANOT
וְאֶת בָּנָיו תַּקְרִיב וְהִלְבַּשְׁתָּ אֹתָם כֻּתֳּנֹת
KJ: And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats:
BN: "And you shall bring his sons, and dress them in their tunics.
KUTANOT: remember how Yoseph was dressed by Ya'akov in Genesis 37:3; likewise in a KUTANOT - KUTANOT PASIM in this case, כתנת פסים, a coat of many colours, which the archaeologists have identified as being the priestly garments of the Hyksos, the shepherd-kings, who conquered and ruled Mitsrayim (Egypt) for about a hundred and seventy years, before Ach-Mousa rose up and overthrew them - so it would appear that the priests of the Beney Yisra-El, who we have previously co-identified with the Hyksos, are still wearing their garments, and we need to determine: is this because Ach-Mousa didn't care about, or bother, to change them for traditional Egyptian priest-clothing; or because the two were always very similar anyway; or because the writers of the tale, a thousand years later, simply didn't know enough to realise there was a confusion? All three may in fact be correct.
40:15 U MASHACHTA OTAM KA ASHER MASHACHTA ET AVIYHEM VE CHI'HANU LI VE HAYETA LIHEYOT LAHEM MASHCHATAM LICH'HUNAT OLAM LE DOROTAM
וּמָשַׁחְתָּ אֹתָם כַּאֲשֶׁר מָשַׁחְתָּ אֶת אֲבִיהֶם וְכִהֲנוּ לִי וְהָיְתָה לִהְיֹת לָהֶם מָשְׁחָתָם לִכְהֻנַּת עוֹלָם לְדֹרֹתָם
KJ: And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.
BN: "And you shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to me in the office of Kohen; and this ritual of anointing shall continue for ever afterwards as the means by which all future Kohanim shall be anointed."
MASHACHTA: "The anointed one" - nothing to do with the Messiah.
40:16 VA YA'AS MOSHEH KE CHOL ASHER TSIVAH YHVH OTO KEN ASAH
וַיַּעַשׂ מֹשֶׁה כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֹתוֹ כֵּן עָשָׂה
KJ: Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he.
BN: And so Mosheh did; everything, exactly as YHVH instructed him, so he did.
samech break; end of 5th fragment
40:17 VA YEHI BA CHODESH HA RI'SHON BA SHANAH HA SHENIT BE ECHAD LA CHODESH CHUKAM HA MISHKAN
וַיְהִי בַּחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן בַּשָּׁנָה הַשֵּׁנִית בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ הוּקַם הַמִּשְׁכָּן
KJ: And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up.
BN: And it came to pass in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, that the Mishkan was set up.
40:18 VA YAKEM MOSHEH ET HA MISHKAN VA YITEN ET ADANAV VA YASEM ET KERASHAV VA YITEN ET BERIYCHAV VA YAKEM ET AMUDAV
וַיָּקֶם מֹשֶׁה אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן וַיִּתֵּן אֶת אֲדָנָיו וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת קְרָשָׁיו וַיִּתֵּן אֶת בְּרִיחָיו וַיָּקֶם אֶת עַמּוּדָיו
KJ: And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fastened his sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up his pillars.
BN: And Mosheh set up the Mishkan, and laid out its sockets, and set up its planks, and put in its bars, and hoisted its rods.
YAKEM: Given that it was a tent, I am inclined to translate this as "pitched the Tabernacle".
40:19 VA YIPHROS ET HA OHEL AL HA MISHKAN VA YASEM ET MICHSEH HA OHEL ALAV MI LEMA'LAH KA ASHER TSIVAH YHVH ET MOSHEH
וַיִּפְרֹשׂ אֶת הָאֹהֶל עַל הַמִּשְׁכָּן וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת מִכְסֵה הָאֹהֶל עָלָיו מִלְמָעְלָה כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת מֹשֶׁה
KJ: And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the LORD commanded Moses.
BN: And he spread the Tent over the Tabernacle, and spread the covering of the Tent over it from above, as YHVH had instructed Mosheh.
samech break
40:20 VA YIKACH VA YITEN ET HA EDUT EL HA ARON VA YASEM ET HA BADIM AL HA ARON VA YITEN ET HA KAPORET AL HA ARON MI LEMALAH
וַיִּקַּח וַיִּתֵּן אֶת הָעֵדֻת אֶל הָאָרֹן וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת הַבַּדִּים עַל הָאָרֹן וַיִּתֵּן אֶת הַכַּפֹּרֶת עַל הָאָרֹן מִלְמָעְלָה
KJ: And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:
BN: And he took the Testimony and put it in the Ark, and set the staves on the Ark, and put the Ark-cover above upon the Ark.
40:21 VA YAV'E ET HA ARON EL HA MISHKAN VA YASEM ET PAROCHET HA MASACH VA YASECH AL ARON HA EDUT KA ASHER TSIVAH YHVH ET MOSHEH
וַיָּבֵא אֶת הָאָרֹן אֶל הַמִּשְׁכָּן וַיָּשֶׂם אֵת פָּרֹכֶת הַמָּסָךְ וַיָּסֶךְ עַל אֲרוֹן הָעֵדוּת כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת מֹשֶׁה
KJ: And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the LORD commanded Moses.
BN: And he brought the Ark into the Mishkan, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the Ark of the Testimony; as YHVH had instructed Mosheh.
samech break
40:22 VA YITEN ET HA SHULCHAN BE OHEL MO'ED AL YERECH HA MISHKAN TSAPHONAH MI CHUTS LA PAROCHET
וַיִּתֵּן אֶת הַשֻּׁלְחָן בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד עַל יֶרֶךְ הַמִּשְׁכָּן צָפֹנָה מִחוּץ לַפָּרֹכֶת
KJ: And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail.
BN: And he put the table in the Tent of Meeting, on the side of the Mishkan facing north, outside the veil.
40:23 VA YA'AROCH ALAV ERECH LECHEM LIPHNEY YHVH KA ASHER TSIVAH YHVH ET MOSHEH
וַיַּעֲרֹךְ עָלָיו עֵרֶךְ לֶחֶם לִפְנֵי יְהוָה כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת מֹשֶׁה
KJ: And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses.
BN: And he set a row of bread in order on it before YHVH, as YHVH had instructed Mosheh.
samech break
40:24 VA YASAM ET HA MENORAH BE OHEL MO'ED NOCHACH HA SHULCHAN AL YERECH HA MISHKAN NEGBAH
וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת הַמְּנֹרָה בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד נֹכַח הַשֻּׁלְחָן עַל יֶרֶךְ הַמִּשְׁכָּן נֶגְבָּה
KJ: And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.
BN: And he put the candlestick in the Tent of Meeting, over against the table, on the southern side of the Mishkan.
40:25 VA YA'AL HA NEROT LIPHNEY YHVH KA ASHER TSIVAH YHVH ET MOSHEH
וַיַּעַל הַנֵּרֹת לִפְנֵי יְהוָה כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת מֹשֶׁה
KJ: And he lighted the lamps before the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.
BN: And he lit the lamps before YHVH, as YHVH had instructed Mosheh.
samech break
40:26 VA YASEM ET MIZBACH HA ZAHAV BE OHEL MO'ED LIPHNEY HA PAROCHET
וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת מִזְבַּח הַזָּהָב בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד לִפְנֵי הַפָּרֹכֶת
KJ: And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail:
BN: And he put the golden altar in the Tent of Meeting, in front of the veil,
40:27 VA YAKTER ALAV KETORET SAMIM KA ASHER TSIVAH YHVH ET MOSHEH
וַיַּקְטֵר עָלָיו קְטֹרֶת סַמִּים כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת מֹשֶׁה
KJ: And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the LORD commanded Moses.
BN: And he burnt incense of sweet spices on it, as YHVH had instructed Mosheh.
samech break; end of 6th fragment
40:28 VA YASEM ET MASACH HA PETACH LA MISHKAN
וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת מָסַךְ הַפֶּתַח לַמִּשְׁכָּן
KJ: And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle.
BN: And he put up the door-screen on the Mishkan.
40:29 VE ET MIZBACH HA OLAH SAM PETACH MISHKAN OHEL MO'ED VA YA'AL ALAV ET HA OLAH VE ET HA MINCHAH KA ASHER TSIVAH YHVH ET MOSHEH
וְאֵת מִזְבַּח הָעֹלָה שָׂם פֶּתַח מִשְׁכַּן אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וַיַּעַל עָלָיו אֶת הָעֹלָה וְאֶת הַמִּנְחָה כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת מֹשֶׁה
KJ: And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the LORD commanded Moses.
BN: And he set the altar of burnt-offering by the door of the Tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting, and offered on it the burnt-offering and the meal-offering, as YHVH had instructed Mosheh.
samech break
40:30 VA YASEM ET HA KIYOR BEYN OHEL MO'ED U VEYN HA MIZBE'ACH VA YITEN SHAMAH MAYIM LE RACHTSAH
וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת הַכִּיֹּר בֵּין אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וּבֵין הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וַיִּתֵּן שָׁמָּה מַיִם לְרָחְצָה
KJ: And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal.
BN: And he set the wash-basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it for washing...
40:31 VE RACHATSU MIMENU MOSHEH VE AHARON U VANAV ET YEDEYHEM VE ET RAGLEYHEM
וְרָחֲצוּ מִמֶּנּוּ מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו אֶת יְדֵיהֶם וְאֶת רַגְלֵיהֶם
KJ: And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat:
BN: So that Mosheh and Aharon and his sons might wash their hands and their feet there...
40:32 BE VO'AM EL OHEL MO'ED U VE KARVATAM EL HA MIZBE'ACH YIRCHATSU KA ASHER TSIVAH YHVH ET MOSHEH
בְּבֹאָם אֶל אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וּבְקָרְבָתָם אֶל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ יִרְחָצוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת מֹשֶׁה
KJ: When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses.
BN: For when they went into the Tent of Meeting, and when they approached the altar, they were expected to wash, as YHVH had instructed Mosheh.
samech break
40:33 VA YAKEM ET HE CHATSER SAVIV LA MISHKAN VE LA MIZBE'ACH VA YITEN ET MASACH SHA'AR HE CHATSER VA YECHAL MOSHEH ET HA MELA'CHAH
וַיָּקֶם אֶת הֶחָצֵר סָבִיב לַמִּשְׁכָּן וְלַמִּזְבֵּחַ וַיִּתֵּן אֶת מָסַךְ שַׁעַר הֶחָצֵר וַיְכַל מֹשֶׁה אֶת הַמְּלָאכָה
KJ: And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.
BN: And he set up the court around the Mishkan and the altar, and he put up the screen for the gate of the courtyard. So Mosheh finished the work.
pey break; maphtir
40:34 VA YECHAS HE ANAN ET OHEL MO'ED U CHEVOD YHVH MAL'E ET HA MISHKAN
וַיְכַס הֶעָנָן אֶת אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וּכְבוֹד יְהוָה מָלֵא אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן
KJ: Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
BN: Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of YHVH filled the Mishkan.
KEVOD: As on several previous occasions when this word has been used, I am still struggling for a better translation. As a metaphor "glory" works, but what does it actually mean - in English. "Honour" is a more accurate translation, but doesn't resolve the issue. The inference (see next verse especially) is of an incredibly powerful aureole of light, the sort you would expect from the Yevarechecha; except that the Yevarechecha is the light from a sky-god, and this appears to be a volcano-god, and the cloud is clearly yet another eruption. Suggestions in the comment box at the foot of the page please.
40:35 VE LO YACHOL MOSHEH LAVO EL OHEL MO'ED KI SHACHAN ALAV HE ANAN U CHEVOD YHVH MAL'E ET HA MISHKAN
וְלֹא יָכֹל מֹשֶׁה לָבוֹא אֶל אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד כִּי שָׁכַן עָלָיו הֶעָנָן וּכְבוֹד יְהוָה מָלֵא אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן
KJ: And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
BN: But Mosheh was unable to enter the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud was resting on it, and the glory of YHVH filled the Mishkan.
40:36 U VE HE'ALOT HE ANAN ME'AL HA MISHKAN YIS'U BENEY YISRA-EL BE CHOL MAS'EYHEM
וּבְהֵעָלוֹת הֶעָנָן מֵעַל הַמִּשְׁכָּן יִסְעוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּכֹל מַסְעֵיהֶם
KJ: And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:
BN: And whenever the cloud lifted off the Mishkan, the Beney Yisra-El travelled onwards; and this was the case throughout all their journeys.
Odd verse, since it is quite clear that they are not travelling at this time, and such a statement can only have been made after the journey was completed.
40:37 VE IM LO YE'ALEH HE ANAN VE LO YIS'U AD YOM HE'ALOTO
וְאִם לֹא יֵעָלֶה הֶעָנָן וְלֹא יִסְעוּ עַד יוֹם הֵעָלֹתוֹ
KJ: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.
BN: But if the cloud did not lift, then they did not journey until it lifted.
Wimbledon and Lord's operate on the identical principal!
40:38 KI ANAN YHVH AL HA MISHKAN YOMAM VE ESH TIHEYEH LAILAH BO LE EYNEY CHOL BEYT YISRA-EL BE CHOL MAS'EYHEM
כִּי עֲנַן יְהוָה עַל הַמִּשְׁכָּן יוֹמָם וְאֵשׁ תִּהְיֶה לַיְלָה בּוֹ לְעֵינֵי כָל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּכָל מַסְעֵיהֶם
KJ: For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
BN: For YHVH's cloud sat upon the Mishkan by day, and fire smouldered in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Yisra-El, throughout all their journeys.
So this Book of YHVH ends where it properly should, with YHVH at the centre, and not the Beney Yisra-El.
Chazak chazak ve yitchazek
End of the Book of Exodus
