Numbers 10
1 Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,
The Lord told 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 out of hammered silver. They are to be used for summoning the Israelites and to have the camp move 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 trumpets are blown, all the Israelites are to gather 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 blown, then only the tribal leaders are to gather before you.
5 When you blow a loud signal, the camps on the east side must begin their journey.
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.
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 blow the trumpet loudly the second time, the camps on the south side are to march out. That's their signal to start moving.
7 When the community gathers together, blow the trumpets, but not loudly.
To summon the people, blow the trumpets normally, not the loud alarm signal.
8 The sons of Aaron, the priests, must blow the trumpets. This will always be a regulation for you throughout your people's generations.
Aaron's descendants are to blow the trumpets. This regulation is for all time and for all future generations.
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'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.
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.”
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.”
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.
The cloud rose up from the Tabernacle of the Testimony on the twentieth day of the second month of the second year.
12 The people of Israel then went on their journey from the wilderness of Sinai. The cloud stopped in the wilderness of Paran.
The Israelites left the Desert of Sinai and moved from place to place until the cloud stopped in the Desert of Paran.
13 They made their first journey, following Yahweh's command given through Moses.
This was the first time they moved out following 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.
The tribal divisions of Judah went first, marching out under their flag, with Nahshon, son of Amminadab, in charge.
15 Nethanel son of Zuar led the army of the tribe of Issachar's descendants.
Nethanel, son of Zuar, was in charge of the tribal division of Issachar,
16 Eliab son of Helon led the army of the tribe of Zebulun's descendants.
and Eliab, son of Helon, was in charge of the tribal division 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 dismantled, and the Gershonites and the Merarites set off, carrying 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 came the divisions of Reuben who marched out under their flag, with Elizur, son of Shedeur, in charge.
19 Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai led the army of the tribe of Simeon's descendants.
Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai, was in charge of the tribal division of Simeon,
20 Eliasaph son of Deuel led the army of the tribe of Gad's descendants.
and Eliasaph, son of Deuel, was in charge of the tribal division 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 off, carrying the holy objects. The Tabernacle would be put up before they arrived.
22 The armies under the banner of Ephraim's descendants set out next. Elishama son of Ammihud led Ephraim's army.
Then came the divisions of Ephraim who marched out under their flag, with Elishama, son of Ammihud in charge.
23 Gamaliel son of Pedahzur led the army of the tribe of Manasseh's descendants.
Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur, was in charge of the tribal division of Manasseh,
24 Abidan son of Gideoni led the army of the tribe of Benjamin's descendants.
and Abidan, son of Gideoni, was in charge of the tribal division 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.
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.
26 Pagiel son of Okran led the army of the tribe of Asher's descendants.
Pagiel, son of Ocran, was in charge of the tribal division of Asher,
27 Ahira son of Enan led the army of the tribe of Naphtali's descendants.
and Ahira, son of Enan, was in charge of the tribal division of Naphtali.
28 This is the way that the armies of the people of Israel set out on their journey.
This was the order in which the Israelite tribal divisions moved 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.”
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.”
30 But Hobab said to Moses, “I will not go with you. I will go to my own land and my own people.”
“No, I won't go—I'll return to my own country and my own people,” Hobab replied.
31 Then Moses replied, “Please do not leave us. You know how to camp in the wilderness. You must watch out for us.
“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.
32 If you go with us, we will do for you the same good that Yahweh does to us.”
If you come with us, whatever good things the Lord blesses us with we'll share with you.”
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.
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.
34 Yahweh's cloud was over them by daylight as they journeyed.
The cloud of the Lord was above them during day as they moved on 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 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.”
36 Whenever the ark stopped, Moses would say, “Return, Yahweh, to Israel's many tens of thousands.”
Whenever it was set down, he would call out, “Return, Lord, to the thousands and thousands of the people of Israel.”
