Numbers 10

1Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

2Make two beaten-silver trumpets for yourself; fashion them from hammered silver, and they will serve you for summoning the congregation and for the camps' departures.

3When they blow them, all the assembly will gather to you at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

4If they blow only one, the chiefs, heads of Israel's thousands, shall assemble to you.

5When you sound a blast, the camps encamped eastward shall set out.

6When you blow a blast the second time, the camps encamped southward shall set out. They shall blow a blast for their journeys.

7When you gather the congregation, you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm.

8The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets, and they shall be to you an eternal statute throughout your generations.

9When you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, sound a blast on the trumpets; then you will be remembered before Yahweh your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.

10On the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginnings of your months, blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; they will be to you a memorial before your God. I am Yahweh your God.

11In the second year, on the twentieth of the second month, the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle of the testimony.

12The sons of Israel set out from the wilderness of Sinai according to their journeys, and the cloud settled in the wilderness of Paran.

13They set out first at Yahweh's command through Moses.

14The standard of Judah's camp set out first according to their armies, and Nahshon son of Amminadab was over his army.

15Nethanel son of Zuar was over the army of the tribe of Issachar's sons.

16Eliab the son of Helon was over the army of Zebulun's tribe.

17The tabernacle was brought down, and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, carrying the tabernacle, set out.

18The banner of Reuben's camp advanced with their armies, and Elizur son of Shedeur was over his army.

19Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the army of the tribe of Simeon's sons.

20Eliasaph son of Deuel commanded the tribal army of the sons of Gad.

21The Kohathites set out carrying the sanctuary, while others erected the tabernacle before they arrived.

22The standard of the camp of Ephraim's sons set out by their armies, and Elishama son of Ammihud was over his army.

23Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the army of the tribe of Manasseh's sons.

24Abidan son of Gideoni was over the army of the tribe of the sons of Benjamin.

25The standard of the camp of the sons of Dan set out as rear guard for all the camps according to their armies, and Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai was over his army.

26Pagiel the son of Ocran was over the army of the tribe of the children of Asher.

27Ahira son of Enan was in charge of the army of the tribe of the children of Naphtali.

28These were the journeys of the children of Israel with their armies when they journeyed.

29Moses said to Hobab, son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, "We are journeying to the place Yahweh said he would give you. Come with us, and we will do good to you, for Yahweh has spoken good about Israel."

30He said to him, "I will not go, but to my land and my birthplace I will go."

31He said, "Please do not abandon us, because you know how we encamp in the wilderness, and you will be eyes to us."

32It shall be, if you go with us—yes, it shall be—that the good that Yahweh does for us, we will do for you.

33They journeyed from the mountain of Yahweh three days' distance, and the ark of Yahweh's covenant traveled ahead of them those three days to scout a resting place for them.

34Yahweh's cloud was over them by day when they set out from the camp.

35When the ark set out, Moses said, "Arise, Yahweh, and let your enemies scatter, let those who hate you flee from your presence!"

36When it rested, he said, "Return, Yahweh, to the myriads of Israel's thousands."