Numbers 10
1Yahweh spoke to Moses:
2“Make yourself two silver trumpets; make them of hammered work. They are for summoning the congregation and for setting the camps on the march.
3When both are sounded, the whole congregation is to assemble before you at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
4If only one is sounded, the leaders, the heads of Israel’s thousands, are to assemble before you.
5When you sound a signal blast, the camps encamped on the east are to set out.
6When you sound a second signal blast, the camps encamped on the south are to set out. Signal blasts are to be sounded for their departures.
7When you assemble the assembly, sound the trumpets, but not a signal blast.
8Aaron’s sons, the priests, are to sound the trumpets. This shall be a lasting statute for you throughout your generations.
9When you go to war in your land against an enemy who oppresses you, sound a signal blast on the trumpets. You will be remembered before Yahweh your God and be saved from your enemies.
10On your days of rejoicing, at your appointed festivals, and at the beginnings of your months, sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and peace sacrifices. They shall serve as a reminder for you before your God. I am Yahweh your God.”
11In the second year, on the twentieth day of the second month, the cloud lifted from above the dwelling of the testimony.
12The sons of Israel set out by stages from the Sinai wilderness, and the cloud settled in the wilderness of Paran.
13They set out for the first time at Yahweh’s command through Moses.
14The standard of the camp of the sons of Judah set out first, by their companies, with Nahshon son of Amminadab over its company.
15Nethanel son of Zuar was over the company of the tribe of the sons of Issachar.
16Eliab son of Helon was over the company of the tribe of the sons of Zebulun.
17The dwelling was taken down, and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set out carrying the dwelling.
18The standard of Reuben’s camp set out by their companies, with Elizur son of Shedeur over its company.
19Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the company of the tribe of the sons of Simeon.
20Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the company of the tribe of the sons of Gad.
21The Kohathites set out carrying the holy things. The dwelling was to be set up before they arrived.
22The standard of the camp of the sons of Ephraim set out by their companies, with Elishama son of Ammihud over its company.
23Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the company of the tribe of the sons of Manasseh.
24Abidan son of Gideoni was over the company of the tribe of the sons of Benjamin.
25The standard of the camp of the sons of Dan set out by their companies as the rear guard of all the camps, with Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai over its company.
26Pagiel son of Ochran was over the company of the tribe of the sons of Asher.
27Ahira son of Enan was over the company of the tribe of the sons of Naphtali.
28These were the marching arrangements of the sons of Israel by their companies when they set out.
29Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ relative by marriage, “We are setting out for the place of which Yahweh said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well, for Yahweh has promised good to Israel.”
30He said to him, “I will not go. I will go instead to my own land and my kindred.”
31Moses said, “Please do not leave us, for you know where we can camp in the wilderness, and you can be eyes for us.
32If you go with us, whatever good Yahweh does for us, we will do for you.”
33They set out from Yahweh’s mountain for a three-day journey. The ark of Yahweh’s covenant went ahead of them during the three-day journey to seek out a resting place for them.
34Yahweh’s cloud was over them by day when they set out from the camp.
35Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, “Rise up, Yahweh! Let your enemies scatter, and let those who hate you flee before you!”
36Whenever it rested, he would say, “Return, Yahweh, to the ten thousands of Israel’s thousands!”