But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.

If it hung over, they remained in the same place.

And if the cloud were not taken up, then they did not journey until the day that it was taken up.

and if the cloud go not up then they journey not, until the day of its going up:

But while the cloud was there, they made no move till it was taken up.

But if it remained hanging over it, they remained in the same place.

Quod si non recederet nubes, non proficiscebantur usque ad diem qua recedebat.

But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not,.... Even if it continued so two days, or a month, or a year, as very probably it sometimes did; which will in some measure account for the long continuance of the Israelites in the wilderness, see Numbers 9:22.
till the day that it was taken up: or, "of its ascent" (f), being "lifted up", or going upwards, higher in the air, right over the tabernacle, or perhaps more to the front of it; the word used before in this and the preceding verse has the signification of ascending upwards.
(f) "sustolli ejus", Montanus.