Numbers 10

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

The Lord told Moses,

2 Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the 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 And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

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

4 And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, who are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall assemble themselves to thee.

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

5 When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward.

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 ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm 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 But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm.

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

8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations.

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

9 And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved 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 in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD 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 And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony.

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

12 And the children of Israel took their journeys from the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested 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 And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

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

14 In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

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

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

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

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

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

17 And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari moved forward, bearing the tabernacle.

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

18 And the standard of the camp of Reuben moved forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur.

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

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

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

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

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

21 And the Kohathites moved forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other set up the tabernacle for their coming.

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

22 And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim moved forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud.

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

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

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

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

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

25 And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan moved forward, which was the rear guard of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

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

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

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

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

28 Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they moved forward.

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

29 And Moses said to Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses’ father in law, We are journeying to the place of which the LORD said, I will give it to you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning 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 And he said to him, I will not go; but I will depart to my own land, and to my kindred.

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

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

“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 And it shall be, if thou wilt go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD shall do to us, the same will we do to thee.

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

33 And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days’ journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days’ journey, to seek a resting place for them.

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 And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp.

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

35 And it came to pass, when the ark moved forward, that Moses said, Arise, LORD, and let thy enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.

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 And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, to the many thousands of Israel.

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