Clouds are the most common descriptions of the flying vehicles of the Elohiym.  This is not surprising considering the probable size and density in daylight hours attributed to these objects.  The word most often used in the Old Testament for cloud is `anan, pronounced aw-nawn'; a cloud (as covering the sky), i.e. the nimbus or thunder-cloud. 

The descriptions as a dark cloud, thick cloud, and dark water all allude to a solid object in the sky.  Since there were no solid flying objects 2000 to 4000 years ago and the only things close were thunder or storm clouds, this is a logical relation.  For those that may cling to the belief that these are actually clouds, the flight characteristics, glowing at night, and other anomalous behavior, leaves such a narrow view, very much in doubt. 

Perhaps the most important reference to clouds is that Jesus will return with an army in the clouds.  If these clouds are not the fluffy kind but very sophisticated flying craft, as the Bible records, then this would seem to have relevance to properly identifying that army.  When Bible text says that Jehovah rides a swift cloud are we to believe that he is literally sitting atop a cloud speeding through the sky?  

When the cloud turns to fire at night are we to accept that it catches on fire even though clouds can't burn?  And when stays in a stationary position for months, catching fire every night and burning out every morning are we really talking about a cloud?  No, this, or these are not clouds.  They are only named such because no one had ever heard about flying saucers, UFOs, spacecraft or star ships.  They didn't even have balloons.  All they had that big in the sky were clouds so that's what they called them. 

Splendor Appears In The Craft
16:10 While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud.
            Glory is directly associated with the flying craft.  The thundercloud like object flies into encampment of the Israelis from the desert.  

Moses Entered The Vehicle
24:18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went up the mountain forty days and forty nights.
            Moses goes up to the craft that is covering the mountain and enters it. Though not the only instance of men entering this craft, it is the first thus lending more credence to the physical aspects of the craft since it will accommodate humans.  

Jehovah Descends And Hovers
34:5 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord.
             Jehovah descends and placed himself there.

The Hovering Vehicle Glory And Light
40:34 Then the cloud covered the tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 36. In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; 37. But if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out--until the day it lifted. 38. So the cloud of the Lord 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.
            The flying object remained in the presence of the nation wherever it went. 

The Vehicle Provides Shade And Light 
9:16 That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire.
            The vehicle provides shade during the day and illumination at night.       

The Vehicle Ascends And Hovers 
9:17 Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped.  
            The people camp until the vehicle ascends and moves and reset the camp where it stops and hovers.   

The Vehicle Hovers For Days
9:18,19 At the Lord's command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19. When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the Lord's order and did not set out.
            The people do not travel unless the vehicle moves.  

The Vehicle Flies Day And Night 
9:20,21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only a few days; at the Lord's command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. 21. Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out.  
            Whether day or night the people respond to the movements of the vehicle.    

The Vehicle Hovers For Months
9: 22 Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out. .
            It is made clear that the movement of the people is dependent on the flight of the craft. The word ' upon ' when used in the preceding text is taken from the word ' al ' which means above or over.  This means that the craft is hovering in the air over the tabernacle for as much as a year at a time.  When it ascends higher and flies off, they follow it. 

Takeoff And Landing
10:11 On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle of the Testimony. 12. 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.  
            A pattern of moving from place to place that goes on for forty years following the ascending and descending craft. 
    
Jehovah Hovers Over
10:34 The cloud of the Lord was over them by day when they set out from the camp.
            The craft is hovering over as they are breaking camp.