The Ramban describes the remarkable obedience exhibited by Bnei Yisrael in regard to their encampments. The pasuk refers to occasions when the cloud tarried many days, and the place where they happened to camp was not favorable. Even if Bnei Yisrael had desired to journey on, away from the camp site, they were nonetheless enjoined not to transgress the will of Hashem. Because of their awe of Hashem , Bnei Yisrael did not move from the designated camp site. At other times, the cloud was present for only a short time, and the people were weakened from the incessant ourney. They nonetheless fulfilled Hashem’s will and continued to walk after the cloud as soon as the signal to leave was made. Moreover, this applied even in the event that they had journeyed through the night and had arrived at their destination only in the morning. If, upon unloading the wagons and laying down their burdens, the signal to leave was given, they would reload the wagons and immediately leave without preparing for their upcoming journey. This extreme devotion to the will of Hashem was symbolic of Bnei Yisrael’s obedience to the orders of Hashem, even during the most inconvenient times.
