Charles Ellicott Commentary Numbers 10:33

"And they set forward from the mount of Jehovah three days` journey; and the ark of the covenant of Jehovah went before them three days` journey, to seek out a resting-place for them." — Numbers 10:33 (ASV)

Three days’ journey.— The place at which the first protracted halt was made appears to have been either at Taberah, which means burning, or at Kibroth-hattaavah, the graves of lust. (Numbers 33:16; see also Note on Numbers 11:34.)

And the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them.— It has been inferred from the fact that the Kohathites had the charge of the ark (Numbers 3:31), and that they were to proceed, bearing the sanctuary, after the second or southern camp, i.e., in the midst of the host, that the position of the ark during the journeys was in that place, and not in front.

The obvious objection to this supposition, arising from the fact that the cloud which directed the march rested upon or over the ark, may be overcome by the consideration that the cloud appears to have extended over the whole of the host during the journeys and to have served as a protection from the scorching heat (Nehemiah 9:12; Psalms 105:39).

On the other hand, the natural interpretation of this verse is that the ark was borne in front of the host, and did not merely serve to direct its line of march as a general, whose station might be in any part of an army.

This interpretation is confirmed by Exodus 13:21, Deuteronomy 1:33, and also by the position which the ark occupied at the passage of the Jordan.

In the latter case, the people were expressly directed to go after the ark (Joshua 3:3); and in Numbers 10:11, the same word is used which occurs in this verse, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.

It will not follow, however, as a necessary inference, that the ark uniformly occupied the same position in all the journeys. It cannot be denied that Numbers 10:21 presents a difficulty, partly arising from the ambiguity of meaning to be attached to the word mikdash, sanctuary, and partly from the omission of any word in the Hebrew corresponding to the words in italics, the other. Ibn Ezra thinks that this three days’ journey was different from all the other journeys in respect of the position of the ark.