Numbers 10

1The LORD spoke to Moses. He said, 2“Make two trumpets of hammered silver. You are to use them to call the congregation together and to set the camps moving. 3When they blow both trumpets, all the congregation must come together before you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 4When a single trumpet is blown, the leaders, who head Israel’s clans, are to come to you. 5When you sound the alarm signal, the camps on the east side are to set out. 6When you sound the alarm signal a second time, the camps on the south side are to set out. The alarm signal is to be sounded whenever they set out. 7When you call the assembly together, give a blast on the trumpets, but do not sound the alarm signal. 8It is Aaron’s sons, the priests, who are to blow the trumpets. Their use is a lasting statute for you, generation after generation. 9In your own land, when you go out to war against an enemy who attacks you, sound the alarm on the trumpets, and the LORD your God will remember you, and you will be saved from your enemies. 10Also on your days of rejoicing, at your appointed feasts, and on the first day of each month, blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over your peace offering sacrifices. They will be a reminder of you before your God. I am the LORD your God.”

11In the second year, on the twentieth day of the second month, the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle of the testimony. 12The Israelites set out from the wilderness of Sinai, traveling in stages, and the cloud came to rest in the wilderness of Paran. 13This was the first time they set out at the LORD’s command, given through Moses. 14The standard of the camp of Judah set out first, division by division, with Nahshon son of Amminadab in command of its forces. 15Nethanel son of Zuar was over the forces of the tribe of Issachar. 16Eliab son of Helon was over the forces of the tribe of Zebulun. 17Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and the Merarites set out carrying it.

18Next the standard of the camp of Reuben set out, division by division, with Elizur son of Shedeur in command of its forces. 19Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the forces of the tribe of Simeon. 20Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the forces of the tribe of Gad. 21Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things, and the tabernacle would be standing ready by the time they arrived.

22Next the standard of the camp of Ephraim set out, division by division, with Elishama son of Ammihud in command of its forces. 23Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the forces of the tribe of Manasseh. 24Abidan son of Gideoni was over the forces of the tribe of Benjamin.

25Last, the standard of the camp of Dan set out as the rear guard for all the camps, division by division, with Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai in command of its forces. 26Pagiel son of Ochran was over the forces of the tribe of Asher. 27Ahira son of Enan was over the forces of the tribe of Naphtali. 28Such was the order in which the Israelites marched by their divisions. Then they set out.

29Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place the LORD said he would give us. Come with us and we will be good to you, because the LORD has promised Israel good things.” 30But he answered him, “I will not go. I will return to my own country and my relatives.” 31Moses said, “Please do not leave us. You know the places where we can camp in the wilderness, and you will be eyes for us. 32If you go with us, then whatever good the LORD does for us, we will do the same for you.” 33They left the mountain of the LORD and marched three days, and all three days the ark of the covenant of the LORD went ahead of them, searching out a resting place for them. 34By day the cloud of the LORD was above them whenever they moved out from the camp. 35Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, “Rise up, LORD! Let your enemies scatter, and let those who hate you run from you.” 36And whenever it came to rest, he would say, “Return, LORD, to Israel’s thousands upon thousands.”