Numbers 10:12-33

12and the Israelites set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sinai, and the cloud [of the Lord’s guiding presence] settled down in the Wilderness of Paran.

13So they moved out for the first time in accordance with the command of the Lord through Moses.

14The standard of the camp of the sons of Judah, according to their armies, moved out first, Nahshon the son of Amminadab was [commander] over its army,

15and Nethanel the son of Zuar was [commander] over the tribal army of the sons of Issachar;

16and Eliab the son of Helon was [commander] over the tribal army of the sons of Zebulun.

17Then the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who were carrying the tabernacle, moved out.

18Next the standard of the camp of the sons of Reuben, according to their armies, moved out, with Elizur the son of Shedeur [commander] over its army,

19and Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai was [commander] over the tribal army of the sons of Simeon,

20and Eliasaph the son of Deuel was [commander] over the tribal army of the sons of Gad.

21Then the Kohathites moved out, carrying the holy things, and the tabernacle was set up before they arrived.

22Next the standard of the camp of the sons of Ephraim moved out, according to their armies, with Elishama the son of Ammihud [commander] over its army,

23and Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur was [commander] over the tribal army of the sons of Manasseh,

24and Abidan the son of Gideoni was [commander] over the tribal army of the sons of Benjamin.

25Then the standard of the camp of the sons of Dan, according to their armies, which formed the rear guard for all the camps, moved out, with Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai [commander] over its army,

26and Pagiel the son of Ochran was [commander] over the tribal army of the sons of Asher,

27and Ahira the son of Enan was [commander] over the tribal army of the sons of Naphtali.

28This was the order of march of the sons of Israel by their armies as they moved out.

29Then Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are going to the place of which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will be good to you, for the Lord has promised good [things] concerning Israel.”

30But Hobab [Moses’ brother-in-law] said to him, “I will not go; I will return to my own land and to my family.”

31Then Moses said, “Please do not leave us, for you know how we are to camp in the wilderness, and you will serve as eyes for us [as we make our trek through the desert].

32So if you will go with us, it shall be that whatever good the Lord does for us, we will do the same for you.”

33So they set out from the mountain of the Lord (Sinai) three days’ journey; and the ark of the covenant of the Lord went in front of them during the three days’ journey to seek out a resting place for them.