Why did the Israelites stay camped until the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle?
The Israelites stayed camped because the cloud of the Lord rested on the tabernacle; they journeyed only when God took it up. The cloud by day and fire by night visibly signaled His presence, so they waited for divine direction before moving.
Les explains that the cloud of Jehovah was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all Israel throughout their journeys. Because the cloud was not taken up, they did not journey. He notes the timing: this was at the end of twelve months from Goshen, and Numbers 10:11 places the first move on the twentieth day of the second month—about seven weeks after the tabernacle was set up. The Shekinah glory filled the tabernacle until God moved it and said it was time to go, so the people camped under that visible sign and waited for God's signal rather than moving on their own.
But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.
For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.