36 Whenever it came to rest, he said, "Return, Lord, to the countless thousands of Israel."
36 And when it rested, he said, Return, O Lord, unto the many thousands
36 And when it rested, he said, "Return, O Lord, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel."
36 And when the Chest was set down, he would say, Rest with us, God, Stay with the many, Many thousands of Israel.
36 And when it rested, he said: "Return, O Lord, To the many thousands of Israel."
36 And when the Ark was set down, he would say, "Return, O Lord, to the countless thousands of Israel!"
13 Relent, Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants.
13 Return, O Lord, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.
13 Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants!
13 Come back, God - how long do we have to wait? - and treat your servants with kindness for a change.
13 Return, O Lord! How long? And have compassion on Your servants.
13 O Lord, come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants!
(Read Psalm 90:12-17)
Those who would learn true wisdom, must pray for Divine instruction, must beg to be taught by the Holy Spirit; and for comfort and joy in the returns of God's favour. They pray for the mercy of God, for they pretend not to plead any merit of their own. His favour would be a full fountain of future joys. It would be a sufficient balance to former griefs. Let the grace of God in us produce the light of good works. And let Divine consolations put gladness into our hearts, and a lustre upon our countenances. The work of our hands, establish thou it; and, in order to that, establish us in it. Instead of wasting our precious, fleeting days in pursuing fancies, which leave the possessors for ever poor, let us seek the forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance in heaven. Let us pray that the work of the Holy Spirit may appear in converting our hearts, and that the beauty of holiness may be seen in our conduct.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 10:36
Commentary on Numbers 10:33-36
(Read Numbers 10:33-36)
Their going out and coming in, gives an example to us to begin and end every day's journey and every day's work with prayer. Here is Moses's prayer when the ark set forward, "Rise up, and let thine enemies be scattered." There are those in the world who are enemies to God and haters of him; secret and open enemies; enemies to his truths, his laws, his ordinances, his people. But for the scattering and defeating of God's enemies, there needs no more than God's arising. Observe also the prayer of Moses when the ark rested, that God would cause his people to rest. The welfare and happiness of the Israel of God, consist in the continual presence of God among them. Their safety is not in their numbers, but in the favour of God, and his gracious return to them, and resting with them. Upon this account, Happy art thou, O Israel! who is like unto thee, O people! God will go before them, to find them resting-places by the way. His promise is, and their prayers are, that he will never leave them nor forsake them.