Numbers 10 36

Numbers 10:36 kjv

And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel.

Numbers 10:36 nkjv

And when it rested, he said: "Return, O LORD, To the many thousands of Israel."

Numbers 10:36 niv

Whenever it came to rest, he said, "Return, LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel."

Numbers 10:36 esv

And when it rested, he said, "Return, O LORD, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel."

Numbers 10:36 nlt

And when the Ark was set down, he would say, "Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel!"

Numbers 10 verses

Numbers 10 36 Meaning

Numbers 10:36 captures Moses' solemn and essential prayer when the Ark of the Covenant came to rest after a period of travel. This verse is an invocation, a heartfelt plea to God, who symbolizes His presence and guidance through the Ark, to settle and remain among the countless multitudes of Israel. It signifies the people's total reliance on God's enduring presence, protection, and leadership in their midst as they journeyed through the wilderness, emphasizing that divine guidance and indwelling are as crucial during rest as they are during movement.

Numbers 10 36 Context

Numbers chapter 10 marks a significant transition for the Israelites, detailing their final preparations to depart from Mount Sinai after approximately a year of encampment and receiving the Law. It meticulously describes the formation of their ordered camps and the specific roles of the Levites and various tribes during the march. Verses 33-36 are unique; they represent Moses' spontaneous, prayerful exclamations whenever the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's active presence, began a journey or came to rest. Verse 36, specifically, is a plea uttered upon the Ark's settling. Historically, it reflects the deep dependence of a massive nomadic people in a harsh wilderness on the direct, moment-by-moment guidance and sustaining presence of their God, a theme central to their very survival and identity.

Numbers 10 36 Word analysis

• And when it rested (וּבְנֻחָהּ, uvenucha): This refers to the Ark of the Covenant, God's portable throne and the central symbol of His presence. The Hebrew root nuach signifies 'rest,' 'settlement,' or 'repose.' This indicates the completion of a travel segment, where Moses implores God's presence to not merely travel ahead (as in verse 33) but to also 'settle down' or remain firmly among them in the encampment.
• he said (יֹאמַר, yomar): The singular pronoun unequivocally points to Moses. This highlights his pivotal role as the intercessor and spiritual leader for the vast assembly of Israel. His prayers were critical in mediating God's presence and direction.
• "Return, O LORD (שׁוּבָה יְהוָה, shuvah YHWH): Shuvah is an imperative, meaning "return," "turn back," or "settle." It is a fervent plea. It does not suggest God had abandoned them but rather implores His active, stable, and settled presence among the people after He had gone ahead during their movement. Addressed directly to YHWH, God's personal covenant name, it underscores the intimate, reliant relationship Israel had with their Deliverer and Guide. It implies a re-centering of God's manifest presence in their midst.
• to the many thousands (רִבְבוֹת אַלְפֵי, riv'vot alfei): A powerful combination of two plural words for large numbers. Riv'vot means "myriads" or "tens of thousands," and alfei means "thousands." This hyperbole emphasizes the immense, unquantifiable population of the Israelites, showcasing the sheer magnitude of the people God had miraculously grown and sustained. It also suggests the overwhelming responsibility and challenge of leading such a vast multitude, for whom divine care was absolutely essential.
• of Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל, Yisra'el): God's chosen covenant people. This collective name identifies the recipient of God's faithfulness and Moses' intercession, reminding God of His promises to Abraham concerning a countless progeny and a great nation, all of whom rely on His constant provision and protection.

• "And when it rested, he said, "Return, O LORD...": This pairing reflects the holistic nature of God's involvement in Israel's journey—present in both movement (addressed in v. 35) and in rest. Moses' proactive prayer indicates the constant need for divine active and sustained presence. His voice serves as the collective voice of a dependent nation.
• "Return, O LORD, to the many thousands of Israel.": This complete phrase encapsulates profound theological truths. It signifies not just an occasional visitation but an enduring, resident divine presence essential for the survival and flourishing of a physically numerous and spiritually immature people. It underlines God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant with a nation born from His promises, perpetually needing His divine leadership and shelter in the midst of any challenging environment. It is a prayer of submission, trust, and intimate dependency on the covenant God.

Numbers 10 36 Bonus section

The "Song of the Ark" (Numbers 10:35-36) is one of the earliest preserved poetic liturgical units in the Bible, demonstrating an ancient ritual practice linked to the Ark's movements. Its unique structure, bookending travel and rest with specific invocations, reinforces the theological understanding that God's presence, symbolized by the Ark, was central to every aspect of Israel's national existence and spiritual identity in the wilderness. The repetition and formulaic nature imply that these phrases were used regularly as declarations of faith. The immense number represented by "myriads of thousands" (rib'vot alfei) served as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness to His covenant promise to Abraham, reiterating that despite their immense numbers, each one was under God's watchful and loving care.

Numbers 10 36 Commentary

Numbers 10:36 functions as a reciprocal prayer to Numbers 10:35, creating a divinely appointed liturgical pattern for Israel's journey. While verse 35 petitions God to "Arise" and lead, scattered enemies, verse 36 entreats Him to "Return" or settle among His people upon resting. This highlights Moses' profound spiritual wisdom, recognizing that God's active and stabilizing presence is not only critical for progress and victory but also for security, peace, and spiritual well-being during periods of rest and encampment. The petition "Return, O LORD, to the many thousands of Israel" is a vivid affirmation of total dependency. It's a recognition that even when stationary, the massive Israelite camp remains utterly vulnerable without God's explicit, protective, and shepherding presence within their very midst. It ensures that God remains the focal point of their collective life, safeguarding their physical security and nurturing their spiritual vitality as a distinct people.

• Example 1: Just as parents seek safety and comfort for their children when settling down for the night, Moses here seeks God's safeguarding presence over His vast and vulnerable people as they rest from their journey.
• Example 2: In personal Christian life, this mirrors seeking God's peace and presence not only during active work or trials ("Arise!") but also when resting or during periods of stillness ("Return!"), reminding us that all facets of our lives should be surrendered to and saturated by God's enduring indwelling.