Numbers 10

1 The Lord told Moses,

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

2 “Make two trumpets out of hammered silver. They are to be used for summoning the Israelites and to have the camp move out.

“Make two trumpets of silver. You shall make them of beaten work. You shall use them for the calling of the congregation and for the journeying of the camps.

3 When both trumpets are blown, all the Israelites are to gather before you at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

When they blow them, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the door of the Tent of Meeting.

4 But if only one is blown, then only the tribal leaders are to gather before you.

If they blow just one, then the princes, the heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves to you.

5 When you blow the trumpet loudly, which is the alarm signal to move out, the camps on the east side are to march out first.

When you blow an alarm, the camps that lie on the east side shall go forward.

6 When you blow the trumpet loudly the second time, the camps on the south side are to march out. That's their signal to start moving.

When you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that lie on the south side shall go forward. They shall blow an alarm for their journeys.

7 To summon the people, blow the trumpets normally, not the loud alarm signal.

But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm.

8 Aaron's descendants are to blow the trumpets. This regulation is for all time and for all future generations.

“The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. This shall be to you for a statute forever throughout your generations.

9 When you're in your own land and have to go into battle against an enemy who has attacked you, blow the alarm signal and the Lord your God won't forget you—he will save you from your enemies.

When you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets. Then you will be remembered before the LORD your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.

10 Blow the trumpets when you celebrate too, at your regular feasts and at the beginning of each month. This is when you give your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings which act as a reminder for you before your God. I am the Lord your God.”

“Also in the day of your gladness, and in your set feasts, and in the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be to you for a memorial before your God. I am the LORD your God.”

11 The cloud rose up from the Tabernacle of the Testimony on the twentieth day of the second month of the second year.

In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle of the covenant.

12 The Israelites left the Desert of Sinai and moved from place to place until the cloud stopped in the Desert of Paran.

The children of Israel went forward on their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud stayed in the wilderness of Paran.

13 This was the first time they moved out following the Lord's command through Moses.

They first went forward according to the commandment of the LORD by Moses.

14 The tribal divisions of Judah went first, marching out under their flag, with Nahshon, son of Amminadab, in charge.

First, the standard of the camp of the children of Judah went forward according to their armies. Nahshon the son of Amminadab was over his army.

15 Nethanel, son of Zuar, was in charge of the tribal division of Issachar,

Nethanel the son of Zuar was over the army of the tribe of the children of Issachar.

16 and Eliab, son of Helon, was in charge of the tribal division of Zebulun.

Eliab the son of Helon was over the army of the tribe of the children of Zebulun.

17 Then the Tabernacle was dismantled, and the Gershonites and the Merarites set off, carrying it.

The tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who bore the tabernacle, went forward.

18 Then came the divisions of Reuben who marched out under their flag, with Elizur, son of Shedeur, in charge.

The standard of the camp of Reuben went forward according to their armies. Elizur the son of Shedeur was over his army.

19 Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai, was in charge of the tribal division of Simeon,

Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai was over the army of the tribe of the children of Simeon.

20 and Eliasaph, son of Deuel, was in charge of the tribal division of Gad.

Eliasaph the son of Deuel was over the army of the tribe of the children of Gad.

21 Then the Kohathites set off, carrying the holy objects. The Tabernacle would be put up before they arrived.

The Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary. The others set up the tabernacle before they arrived.

22 Then came the divisions of Ephraim who marched out under their flag, with Elishama, son of Ammihud in charge.

The standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies. Elishama the son of Ammihud was over his army.

23 Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur, was in charge of the tribal division of Manasseh,

Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur was over the army of the tribe of the children of Manasseh.

24 and Abidan, son of Gideoni, was in charge of the tribal division of Benjamin.

Abidan the son of Gideoni was over the army of the tribe of the children of Benjamin.

25 Lastly came the divisions of Dan who marched out under their flag, defending the rear of all the tribal groups, with Ahiezer, son of Ammishaddai, in charge.

The standard of the camp of the children of Dan, which was the rear guard of all the camps, set forward according to their armies. Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai was over his army.

26 Pagiel, son of Ocran, was in charge of the tribal division of Asher,

Pagiel the son of Ochran was over the army of the tribe of the children of Asher.

27 and Ahira, son of Enan, was in charge of the tribal division of Naphtali.

Ahira the son of Enan was over the army of the tribe of the children of Naphtali.

28 This was the order in which the Israelite tribal divisions moved out.

Thus were the travels of the children of Israel according to their armies; and they went forward.

29 Moses explained to Hobab, the son of Moses' father-in-law Reuel the Midianite, “We're leaving for the place of which the Lord promised, ‘I'm going to give it to you.’ Come with us, and we'll be good to you, because the Lord has promised good things to Israel.”

Moses said to Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are journeying to the place of which the LORD said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well; for the LORD has spoken good concerning Israel.”

30 “No, I won't go—I'll return to my own country and my own people,” Hobab replied.

He said to him, “I will not go; but I will depart to my own land, and to my relatives.”

31 “Please don't abandon us now,” Moses said, “because you're the one who knows where we should camp in the desert and you can guide us.

Moses said, “Don’t leave us, please; because you know how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes.

32 If you come with us, whatever good things the Lord blesses us with we'll share with you.”

It shall be, if you go with us—yes, it shall be—that whatever good the LORD does to us, we will do the same to you.”

33 They left the mountain of the Lord to go on a three-day journey The Ark of the Lord's Agreement led the way for them during these three days to find a place for them to camp.

They set forward from the Mount of the LORD three days’ journey. The ark of the LORD’s covenant went before them three days’ journey, to seek out a resting place for them.

34 The cloud of the Lord was above them during day as they moved on from the camp.

The cloud of the LORD was over them by day, when they set forward from the camp.

35 Whenever the Ark was carried out, Moses would call out, “Stand up, Lord, and may your enemies be scattered, and may those who hate you run away from you.”

When the ark went forward, Moses said, “Rise up, LORD, and let your enemies be scattered! Let those who hate you flee before you!”

36 Whenever it was set down, he would call out, “Return, Lord, to the thousands and thousands of the people of Israel.”

When it rested, he said, “Return, LORD, to the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel.”