Numbers 10

1 Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,

And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:

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 thee two trumpets of silver; of beaten work shalt thou make them; and they shall be unto thee for the calling of the congregation, and for causing the camps to set forward.

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.

And when they shall blow with them, all the congregation shall gather themselves unto thee at the door of 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.

And if they blow but with one, then the princes, the heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.

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

And when ye blow an alarm, the camps that lie on the east side shall take their journey.

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.

And when ye blow an alarm the second time, the camps that lie on the south side shall set forward; they shall blow an alarm for their journeys.

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

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

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

And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for a statute for ever throughout your 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.

And when ye go to war in your land against the adversary that oppresseth you, then ye shall sound an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be 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.”

Also in the day of your gladness, and in your appointed seasons, and in your new moons, ye shall blow with 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 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.

And it came to pass in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, that the cloud was taken up from over 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 children of Israel set forward by their stages out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud abode in the wilderness of Paran. —

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

And they took their first journey, according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of 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.

And in the first place the standard of the camp of the children of Judah set forward according to their hosts; and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

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

And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar.

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

And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.

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

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

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

And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their hosts; and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur.

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

And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

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

And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

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.

And the Kohathites the bearers of the sanctuary set forward, that the tabernacle might be set up against their coming.

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

And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their hosts; and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud.

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

And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

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

And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.

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

And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan, which was the rearward of all the camps, set forward according to their hosts; and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

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

And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ochran.

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

And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan.

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

Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their hosts. — And they set forward.

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.”

And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law: 'We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said: I will give it you; come thou with us, and we will do thee good; for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel.'

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

And he said unto him: 'I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred.'

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

And he said: 'Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou shalt be to us instead of eyes.

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

And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what good soever the LORD shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee.'

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.

And they set forward from the mount of the LORD three days' journey; and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them three days' journey, to seek out 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 forward 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.”

And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said: 'Rise up, O LORD, and let Thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate Thee flee before Thee.'

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

And when it rested, he said: 'Return, O LORD, unto the ten thousands of the families of Israel.'