Numbers 10

The Silver Trumpets

10The Lord said to Moses: ²“Make two trumpets^h of hammered silver, and use them for calling the communityⁱ together and for having the camps set out.^{j 3}When both are sounded, the whole community is to assemble before you at the entrance to the tent of meeting. ⁴If only one is sounded, the leaders^k—the heads of the clans of Israel—are to assemble before you. ⁵When a trumpet blast is sounded, the tribes camping on the east are to set out.^{l 6}At the sounding of a second blast, the camps on the south are to set out.^m The blast will be the signal for setting out. ⁷To gather the assembly, blow the trumpets,ⁿ but not with the signal for setting out.^o

⁸“The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to blow the trumpets. This is to be a lasting ordinance for you and the generations to come.^{p 9}When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you,^q sound a blast on the trumpets.^r Then you will be remembered^s by the Lord your God and rescued from your enemies.^{t 10}Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed festivals and New Moon feasts^u—you are to sound the trumpets^v over your burnt offerings^w and fellowship offerings,^x and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the Lord your God.^y”

The Israelites Leave Sinai

¹¹On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year,^z the cloud lifted^a from above the tabernacle of the covenant law.^{b 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.^{c 13}They set out, this first time, at the Lord’s command through Moses.^d

¹⁴The divisions of the camp of Judah went first, under their standard.^e Nahshon son of Amminadab^f was in command. ¹⁵Nethanel son of Zuar was over the division of the tribe^g of Issachar,^{h 16}and Eliab son of Helonⁱ was over the division of the tribe of Zebulun.^{j 17}Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and Merarites, who carried it, set out.^k

¹⁸The divisions of the camp of Reuben^l went next, under their standard.^m Elizur son of Shedeurⁿ was in command. ¹⁹Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the division of the tribe of Simeon,^{o 20}and Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad.^{p 21}Then the Kohathites^q set out, carrying the holy things.^r The tabernacle was to be set up before they arrived.^s

²²The divisions of the camp of Ephraim^t went next, under their standard. Elishama son of Ammihud^u was in command. ²³Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of Manasseh,^{v 24}and Abidan son of Gideoni was over the division of the tribe of Benjamin.^w

²⁵Finally, as the rear guard^x for all the units, the divisions of the camp of Dan set out under their standard. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai^y was in command. ²⁶Pagiel son of Okran was over the division of the tribe of Asher,^{z 27}and Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of Naphtali.^{a 28}This was the order of march for the Israelite divisions as they set out.

²⁹Now Moses said to Hobab^b son of Reuel^c the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law,^d “We are setting out for the place about which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’^e Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.”

³⁰He answered, “No, I will not go;^f I am going back to my own land and my own people.^g”

³¹But Moses said, “Please do not leave us. You know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes.^{h 32}If you come with us, we will share with youⁱ whatever good things the Lord gives us.^j”

³³So they set out^k from the mountain of the Lord and traveled for three days. The ark of the covenant of the Lord^l went before them during those three days to find them a place to rest.^{m 34}The cloud of the Lord was over them by day when they set out from the camp.ⁿ

³⁵Whenever the ark set out, Moses said,

“Rise up,^o Lord!

May your enemies be scattered;^p

may your foes flee before you.^q”^r

³⁶Whenever it came to rest, he said,

“Return,^s Lord,

to the countless thousands of Israel.^t”