Numbers 10

The Silver Trumpets

1The Lord spoke further to Moses, saying, 2“Make yourself two trumpets of silver, of hammered work you shall make them; and you shall use them for 1summoning the congregation and for having the camps set out. 32When both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the doorway of the tent of meeting. 4Yet if only one is blown, then the 3leaders, the heads of the 4divisions of Israel, shall assemble before you. 5But when you blow an alarm, the camps that are pitched 5on the east side shall set out. 6When you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are pitched on 6the south side shall set out; an alarm is to be blown for them to set out. 7When convening the assembly, however, you shall blow without 7sounding an alarm. 88The priestly sons of Aaron, moreover, shall blow the trumpets; and 9this shall be for you a perpetual statute throughout your generations. 9When you go to war in your land against the adversary who 10attacks you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be 11remembered before the Lord your God, and be saved from your enemies. 10Also in the day of your gladness and in your appointed 12feasts, and on the first days of your months, 13you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be as a reminder of you before your God. I am the Lord your God.”

The Tribes Leave Sinai

11Now in 14the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth of the month, the cloud was lifted from over the 15tabernacle of the testimony; 12and the sons of Israel set out on 16their journeys from the wilderness of Sinai. Then the cloud settled down in the 17wilderness of Paran. 1318So they moved out for the first time according to the 19commandment of the Lord through Moses. 14The standard of the camp of the sons of Judah, according to their armies, 20set out first, with Nahshon the son of Amminadab, over its army, 15and Nethanel the son of Zuar, over the tribal army of the sons of Issachar; 16and Eliab the son of Helon over the tribal army of the sons of Zebulun.

1721Then the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who were carrying the tabernacle, set out. 18Next 22the standard of the camp of Reuben, according to their armies, set out with Elizur the son of Shedeur, over its army, 19and Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai over the tribal army of the sons of Simeon, 20and Eliasaph the son of Deuel was over the tribal army of the sons of Gad.

2123Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy objects; and 24the tabernacle was set up before their arrival. 2225Next the standard of the camp of the sons of Ephraim, according to their armies, was set out, with Elishama the son of Ammihud over its army, 23and Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur over the tribal army of the sons of Manasseh; 24and Abidan the son of Gideoni over the tribal army of the sons of Benjamin.

2526Then the standard of the camp of the sons of Dan, according to their armies, which formed the 27rear guard for all the camps, set out, with Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai over its army, 26and Pagiel the son of Ochran over the tribal army of the sons of Asher; 27and Ahira the son of Enan over the tribal army of the sons of Naphtali. 2828This was the order of march of the sons of Israel by their armies as they set out.

29Then Moses said to 29Hobab the son of 30Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out to the place of which the Lord said, ‘31I will give it to you’; 32come with us and we will do you good, for the Lord 33has 34promised good concerning Israel.” 30But he said to him, “35I will not come, but rather will go to my own land and relatives.” 31Then he said, “Please do not leave us, inasmuch as you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you 36will be as eyes for us. 32So it will be, if you go with us, that 3738whatever good the Lord 39does for us, 40we will 41do for you.”

3342Thus they set out from the mount of the Lord three days’ journey, with 43the ark of the covenant of the Lord journeying in front of them for the 44three days, to seek out 45a resting place for them. 3446The cloud of the Lord was over them by day when they set out from the camp.

35Then it came about when the ark set out that Moses said, “47Rise up, O Lord! And let Your enemies be scattered, And let those 48who hate You flee 49before You.” 36When it came to rest, he said, “50Return, O Lord, To the myriad 51thousands of Israel.”