Introduction
     In Exodus 40:17 we read that the tabernacle of the congregation was reared up:
    So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year, NIV.
    So it was 15 days short of one year (by Yahweh’s calendar) from the time the Israelites left Egypt and the tabernacle was completed.
    Then Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of Yahweh filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of Yahweh filled the tabernacle. In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out — until the day it lifted. So the cloud of Yahweh was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels, Exodus 40:33-38, NIV.
    How long did the cloud cover the Tent of Meeting this first time? The answer is found in Numbers 10:11-13:
    On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle of the Testimony. Then the Israelites set out from the Desert of Sinai and traveled from place to place until the cloud came to rest in the Desert of Paran. They set out, this first time, at Yahweh’s command through Moses, NIV.
    The cloud lifted from the tabernacle of the Testimony about fifty days after the tabernacle was completed. What did they do during this time?

Journey Preparation
     For what reason did the Israelites delay their departure from Mount Sinai? In Numbers 1:50-53 we read that the tribe of Levi had custody of the tabernacle of the Testimony: Setting it up, dismantling it in preparation for travel, and caring for it as Israel itinerated from camp to camp.
    Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony — over all its furnishings and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it. Anyone else who goes near it shall be put to death. The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each man in his own camp under his own standard. The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the Testimony so that wrath will not fall on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the Testimony, Numbers 1:50-53, NIV.
    Just before Moses ascended a fourth time to the top of Mount Sinai, he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything Yahweh has said; we will obey.” Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that Yahweh has made with you in accordance with all these words,” Exodus 24:7-8, NIV.
    The people promised to do everything which Yahweh wanted them to do. This included what is written in the book of Leviticus, which relates how Israel was to worship; when to worship; what to sacrifice; when to sacrifice; and just how to behave themselves. One can easily see that Israel had to learn much before they left Mount Sinai on their trek toward the Promised Land.

The Pillar Is Lifted
     And it came to pass on the twentieth [day] of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony, Numbers 10:11. (King James Version used for the rest of this article.)
    So, the Israelites began to journey toward Canaan. Each time, they broke camp in a specified order, as follows:
    In the first [place] went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his host [was] Nahshon the son of Amminadab. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar [was] Nethaneel the son of Zuar. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun [was] Eliab the son of Helon. And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle. And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his host [was] Elizur the son of Shedeur. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon [was] Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad [was] Eliasaph the son of Deuel. And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and [the other] did set up the tabernacle against they came. And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies: and over his host [was] Elishama the son of Ammihud. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh [was] Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin [was] Abidan the son of Gideoni. And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, [which was] the rearward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host [was] Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher [was] Pagiel the son of Ocran. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali [was] Ahira the son of Enan. Thus [were] the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward, Numbers 10:14-28.
    It is reported that over two million men, women and children were involved in leaving Mount Sinai. In addition, the families brought along their tents to live in, their beasts and all their personal properties.

Israel Forgets
     It didn’t take Israel very long to forget the miracles which Yahweh performed for them as they exited Egypt. Yahweh promised to be with them if they would only obey His commandments. Little did they realize that the Promised Land was only a short distance before them.
    And [when] the people complained, it displeased Yahweh: and Yahweh heard [it]; and His anger was kindled; and the fire of Yahweh burnt among them, and consumed [them that were] in the uttermost parts of the camp. And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto Yahweh, the fire was quenched, Numbers 11:1-2.
    The people continued to murmur concerning the food provided by Yahweh.
    And the mixed multitude that [was] among them felt a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But our soul [is] dried away: [there is] nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes, Numbers 11:4-6.
    Even Moses, the man whom Yahweh chose to lead Israel, became discouraged.
    Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of Yahweh was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased. And Moses said unto Yahweh, “Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers? Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, ‘Give us flesh, that we may eat’. I am not able to bear all this people alone, because [it is] too heavy for me,” Numbers 11:10-14.

Yahweh Answers
     How does Yahweh provide help for Moses? And how Yahweh show His displeasure when He answered Israel’s complaints about not having flesh to eat?
    And Yahweh said unto Moses, “Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put [it] upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear [it] not thyself alone. And say thou unto the people, ‘Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of Yahweh, saying, ‘Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt’: therefore Yahweh will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised Yahweh which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, ‘Why came we forth out of Egypt’?” Numbers 11:16-20.

Leadership Questioned
     Moses’ leadership was also questioned by his brother and sister.
    And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman, Numbers 12:1.
    But Yahweh vindicated Moses.
    And Yahweh spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, “Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation.” And they three came out. And Yahweh came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. And He said, “Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I Yahweh will make myself known unto him in a vision, [and] will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses [is] not so, who [is] faithful in all Mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of Yahweh shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” Numbers 12:4-8.
    Because of their distrust, what happened?
    And the anger of Yahweh was kindled against them; and He departed. And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam [became] leprous, [white] as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous, Numbers 12:9-10.
    Did Moses intercede? Yes.
    And Moses cried unto Yahweh, saying, “Heal her now, O Elohim, I beseech thee.” And Yahweh said unto Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in [again],” Numbers 12:13-14.

Twelve Spies Sent
     Moses is told to select twelve men to enter the land of Canaan in the wilderness of Paran.
    And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying, “Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them,” Numbers 13:1-2.
    What was the report of these twelve men after spending forty days searching the land?
    And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land, Numbers 13:25-26.
    What did they first report?
    And they told him, and said, “We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it,” Numbers 13:27.
    Did they make any negative reports? Yes.
    Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there, Numbers 13:28.
    Did any spies give a positive report? Yes.
    And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it,” Numbers 13:30.
    Did the majority of the spies continue to give a negative report? Yes.
    And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, [which come] of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight,” Numbers 13:32-33.
    Was Caleb alone? No.
    And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, [which were] of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, “The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If Yahweh delight in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey,” Numbers 14:6-8.
    But the people wanted to stone Caleb and Joshua, Numbers 14:10.

Yahweh Shows His Displeasure
     Israel did not want to enter the land promised to them by Yahweh. They showed their rebellious nature. They even wanted to appoint a new leader:
    And they said one to another, “Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt,” Numbers 14:4.
    What did Yahweh tell Moses?
    “Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.” (Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) “To morrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.” And Yahweh spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, “How long [shall I bear with] this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. Say unto them, ‘[As truly as] I live’, saith Yahweh, ‘as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole numbers, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, doubtless ye shall not come into the land, [concerning] which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised. But [as for] you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness. And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, [even] forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know My breach of promise. I Yahweh have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die. And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land, even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before Yahweh. But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, [which were] of the men that went to search the land, lived [still], Numbers 14:22-38.
    Israel, because of having neither trusted nor followed Yahweh, but continually showed their rebellious nature, was destined to spend a total of forty years (from the time they left Egypt) aimlessly wandering the wilderness, before the next generation under the leadership of Caleb and Moses, reached and crossed the river Jordan to enter the promised land of Canaan. And the epic journey yet continues …