Numbers 10

1 Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,

Then the LORD said to Moses,

2 “Make two silver trumpets. Hammer the silver to make them. You must use the trumpets to call the community together and to call the community to move their camps.

“Make two trumpets of hammered silver to be used for calling the congregation and for having the camps set out.

3 The priests must blow the trumpets to call all the community together in front of you at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

When both are sounded, the whole congregation is to assemble before you at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

4 If the priests blow only one trumpet, then the leaders, the heads of the clans of Israel, must gather to you.

But if only one is sounded, then the leaders, the heads of the clans of Israel, are to gather before you.

5 When you blow a loud signal, the camps on the east side must begin their journey.

When you sound short blasts, the camps that lie on the east side are to set out.

6 When you blow a loud signal the second time, the camps on the south side must begin their journey. They must blow a loud signal for their journeys.

When you sound the short blasts a second time, the camps that lie on the south side are to set out. The blasts are to signal them to set out.

7 When the community gathers together, blow the trumpets, but not loudly.

To convene the assembly, you are to sound long blasts, not short ones.

8 The sons of Aaron, the priests, must blow the trumpets. This will always be a regulation for you throughout your people's generations.

The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to sound the trumpets. This shall be a permanent statute for you and the generations to come.

9 When you go to war in your land against an adversary who oppresses you, then you must sound an alarm with the trumpets. I, Yahweh your God, will call you to mind and save you from your enemies.

When you enter into battle in your land against an adversary who attacks you, sound short blasts on the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God and saved from your enemies.

10 Also, at the times of celebration, both your regular festivals and at the beginnings of the months, you must blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices for your fellowship offerings. These will act as a reminder of you to me, your God. I am Yahweh your God.”

And on your joyous occasions, your appointed feasts, and the beginning of each month, you are to blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to serve as a reminder for you before your God. I am the LORD your God.”

11 In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud was lifted from the tabernacle of the covenant decrees.

On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle of the Testimony,

12 The people of Israel then went on their journey from the wilderness of Sinai. The cloud stopped in the wilderness of Paran.

and the Israelites set out from the Wilderness of Sinai, traveling from place to place until the cloud settled in the Wilderness of Paran.

13 They made their first journey, following Yahweh's command given through Moses.

They set out this first time according to the LORD’s command through Moses.

14 The camp under the banner of Judah's descendants went out first, moving out their individual armies. Nahshon son of Amminadab led Judah's army.

First, the divisions of the camp of Judah set out under their standard, with Nahshon son of Amminadab in command.

15 Nethanel son of Zuar led the army of the tribe of Issachar's descendants.

Nethanel son of Zuar was over the division of the tribe of Issachar,

16 Eliab son of Helon led the army of the tribe of Zebulun's descendants.

and Eliab son of Helon was over the division of the tribe of Zebulun.

17 The descendants of Gershon and of Merari, who cared for the tabernacle, took down the tabernacle and then set out on their journey.

Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and the Merarites set out, transporting it.

18 Next, the armies under the banner of Reuben's camp set out on their journey. Elizur son of Shedeur led Reuben's army.

Then the divisions of the camp of Reuben set out under their standard, with Elizur son of Shedeur in command.

19 Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai led the army of the tribe of Simeon's descendants.

Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the division of the tribe of Simeon,

20 Eliasaph son of Deuel led the army of the tribe of Gad's descendants.

and Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad.

21 The Kohathites set out. They carried the sanctuary's holy equipment. Others would set up the tabernacle before the Kohathites arrived at the next camp.

Then the Kohathites set out, transporting the holy objects; the tabernacle was to be set up before their arrival.

22 The armies under the banner of Ephraim's descendants set out next. Elishama son of Ammihud led Ephraim's army.

Next, the divisions of the camp of Ephraim set out under their standard, with Elishama son of Ammihud in command.

23 Gamaliel son of Pedahzur led the army of the tribe of Manasseh's descendants.

Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of Manasseh,

24 Abidan son of Gideoni led the army of the tribe of Benjamin's descendants.

and Abidan son of Gideoni was over the division of the tribe of Benjamin.

25 The armies that camped under the banner of Dan's descendants set out last. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai led Dan's army.

Finally, the divisions of the camp of Dan set out under their standard, serving as the rear guard for all units, with Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai in command.

26 Pagiel son of Okran led the army of the tribe of Asher's descendants.

Pagiel son of Ocran was over the division of the tribe of Asher,

27 Ahira son of Enan led the army of the tribe of Naphtali's descendants.

and Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of Naphtali.

28 This is the way that the armies of the people of Israel set out on their journey.

This was the order of march for the Israelite divisions as they set out.

29 Moses spoke to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite. Reuel was the father of Moses' wife. Moses spoke to Hobab and said, “We are traveling to a place that Yahweh described. Yahweh said, 'I will give it to you.' Come with us and we will do you good. Yahweh has promised to do good for Israel.”

Then Moses said to Hobab, the son of Moses’ father-in-law Reuel the Midianite, “We are setting out for 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 promised good things to Israel.”

30 But Hobab said to Moses, “I will not go with you. I will go to my own land and my own people.”

“I will not go,” Hobab replied. “Instead, I am going back to my own land and my own people.”

31 Then Moses replied, “Please do not leave us. You know how to camp in the wilderness. You must watch out for us.

“Please do not leave us,” Moses said, “since you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can serve as our eyes.

32 If you go with us, we will do for you the same good that Yahweh does to us.”

If you come with us, we will share with you whatever good things the LORD gives us.”

33 They journeyed from the mountain of Yahweh for three days. The ark of the covenant of Yahweh went before them for three days to find a place for them to rest.

So they set out on a three-day journey from the mountain of the LORD, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD traveling ahead of them for those three days to seek a resting place for them.

34 Yahweh's cloud was over them by daylight as they journeyed.

And the cloud of the LORD was over them by day when they set out from the camp.

35 Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, “Rise up, Yahweh. Scatter your enemies. Make those who hate you run from you.”

Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, “Rise up, O LORD! May Your enemies be scattered; may those who hate You flee before You.”

36 Whenever the ark stopped, Moses would say, “Return, Yahweh, to Israel's many tens of thousands.”

And when it came to rest, he would say: “Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel.”