אֽוֹ־יֹמַ֜יִם אוֹ־חֹ֣דֶשׁ אוֹ־יָמִ֗ים בְּהַאֲרִ֨יךְ הֶעָנָ֤ן עַל־הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ לִשְׁכֹּ֣ן עָלָ֔יו יַחֲנ֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וְלֹ֣א יִסָּ֑עוּ וּבְהֵעָלֹת֖וֹ יִסָּֽעוּ׃
Entah dua hari, sebulan, atau setahun, selama awan itu tetap berada lama di atas Kemah Suci dan berdiam di atasnya, orang Israel tetap berkemah dan tidak berangkat; tetapi apabila awan itu terangkat, mereka pun berangkat.
Ramban
AND WHEN THE CLOUD TARRIED. This means that if the cloud tarried upon the Tabernacle many days, and the place [where they happened to be camped] was not good in their eyes, so that they very much desired and wanted to journey away from there, they were nonetheless not to transgress the will of G-d; this being the meaning of the verse, and the children of Israel kept the charge of the Eternal, and journeyed not,95Verse 19. namely that [it was only] because of their fear of G-d and because they kept the charge of His command that they did not journey. Similarly, if the cloud was there only a few days,96Verse 20. for instance two or three days, and the people were very tired because their strength had weakened in the way,97See Psalms 102:24. they would nonetheless fulfill the will of G-d and walk after the cloud. And Scripture further relates that sometimes they tarried for only one night and journeyed in the [next] morning, although it was a great strain for them. And at times the cloud tarried a day and a night,98Verse 21. when they had journeyed throughout the night and arrived at that place in the morning, and the cloud stayed there all that day and all the night, and was taken up on the second morning and they journeyed.98Verse 21. This was an even greater trouble for them than the previously-mentioned one, because the people would think that they were to stay there [for a long time], and would unload the wagons and lay down their burdens, as is the custom of those who come from a journey, and when the cloud was taken up98Verse 21. they began reloading, and could not make any preparations for the journey. Whether it were two days,99Verse 22. and they journeyed at night.
It is possible that it happened during their journeys that they had to do as is narrated here, and not in another way, namely that the cloud first tarried from evening until morning,98Verse 21. then a day and night,98Verse 21. then two days,99Verse 22. then a month and finally a year.99Verse 22. This is why Scripture mentioned these periods in detail. It [the cloud] would also tarry for many years, as Scripture mentioned at the beginning [of this section],100Verse 19: And when the cloud tarried upon the Tabernacle many ‘days’, which means “many years.” such as in Kadesh of which Scripture states, And ye abode in Kadesh many days, according to the days that ye abode there.101Deuteronomy 1:46. They stayed in Kadesh for 19 years (Rashi ibid.).
It is possible that it happened during their journeys that they had to do as is narrated here, and not in another way, namely that the cloud first tarried from evening until morning,98Verse 21. then a day and night,98Verse 21. then two days,99Verse 22. then a month and finally a year.99Verse 22. This is why Scripture mentioned these periods in detail. It [the cloud] would also tarry for many years, as Scripture mentioned at the beginning [of this section],100Verse 19: And when the cloud tarried upon the Tabernacle many ‘days’, which means “many years.” such as in Kadesh of which Scripture states, And ye abode in Kadesh many days, according to the days that ye abode there.101Deuteronomy 1:46. They stayed in Kadesh for 19 years (Rashi ibid.).