Numbers 10:12-33

12So the Israelites started to travel on their journey away from the Sinai desert. Then the cloud stopped in the desert called Paran.

13They started to travel for the first time, in the way that the Lord had told them to do, through Moses.

14The flag of the camp of Judah's tribe, started to travel first, with all their armies. And Nahshon the son of Amminadab was over all their armies.

15Nethanel, the son of Zuar, was over the army of the tribe of Issachar.

16Eliab, the son of Helon, was over the army of the tribe of Zebulun.

17Then the Levites packed God's Tent. Then Gershon's clan and Merari's clan, who were carrying God's Tent, started to travel.

18Next the flag of the camp of Reuben started to travel, with all their armies. Elizur, the son of Shedeur, was over all their armies.

19Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai, was over the army of the tribe of Simeon.

20Eliasaph, the son of Deuel, was over the army of the tribe of Gad.

21Then Kohath's clan started to travel. They were carrying the holy things. Before they arrived at the new camp, the other Levites would put up God's Tent.

22Next the flag of the camp of the tribe of Ephraim started to travel, with all their armies. Elishama the son of Ammihud was over all their armies.

23And Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur was over the army of the tribe of Manasseh.

24And Abidan the son of Gideoni was over the army of the tribe of Benjamin.

25Then the flag of the camp of the tribe of Dan started to travel last, with all their armies. They could keep the Israelites safe if an enemy attacked them from behind them. Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai was over all their armies.

26And Pagiel the son of Ocran was over the army of the tribe of Asher.

27And Ahira the son of Enan was over the army of the tribe of Naphtali.

28The Israelites marched out like that every time that they started to travel.

29Moses spoke to Reuel's son, Hobab. He was the brother of Moses' wife. He was a Midianite. Moses said to Hobab, ‘We are leaving here now to go to another place. The Lord has said to us, “I will give that place to you.” The Lord has promised to help Israel's people with good things. So come with us and we will take care of you.’

30But Hobab said to him, ‘I will not come. Instead, I will return to my own country and to my family there.’

31Moses said, ‘Please do not leave us. You know good places for us to put up our tents in the desert. So you can be our guide.

32And if you come with us, we will share with you the good things that the Lord gives to us.’

33So the Israelites left the Lord's mountain. They travelled for three days. During that time, the Levites carried the Lord's Covenant Box in front of them. That was so that the Lord could show them where to make their camp.