10:11 The Lord spoke to Moses: 10:2 “Make2 two trumpets of silver; you are to make3 them from a single hammered piece.4 You will use them5 for assembling the community and for directing the traveling of the camps. 10:3 When6 they blow7 them both, all the community must come8 to you to the entrance of the tent of meeting.
10:4 “But if they blow with one trumpet, then the leaders, the heads of the thousands of Israel, must come to you.9 10:5 When you blow an alarm,10 then the camps that are located11 on the east parts must begin to travel.12 10:6 And when you blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that are located on the south side must begin to travel.13 An alarm must be sounded14 for their journeys. 10:7 But when you assemble the community,15 you must blow, but you must not sound an alarm.16 10:8 The sons of Aaron, the priests, must blow the trumpets; and they will be to you for an eternal ordinance throughout your generations. 10:9 If you go to war in your land against the adversary who opposes17 you, then you must sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the Lord your God, and you will be saved18 from your enemies.
10:10 “Also in the time of your rejoicing, such as19 in your appointed festivals or20 at the beginnings of your months, you must blow with your trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings, that they may21 become22 a memorial for you before your God: I am the Lord your God.”
The Journey From Sinai to Kadesh
10:1123 On the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle of the testimony.24 10:12 So the Israelites set out25 on their journeys from the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud settled in the wilderness of Paran.
Judah Begins the Journey
10:13 In the beginning they took their journey according to the commandment26 of the Lord, by the authority27 of Moses.
10:14 The standard28 of the camp of the Judahites journeyed first according to their companies, and over his company was Nahshon son of Amminadab.
10:15 Over the company of the tribe of Issacarites was Nathaneel son of Zuar, 10:16 and over the company of the tribe of the Zebulunites was Elion son of Helon. 10:17 Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari journeyed, carrying the tabernacle.
Journey Arrangements for the Tribes
10:18 The standard of the camp of Reuben journeyed according to their companies; over his company was Elizur son of Shedeur. 10:19 Over the company of the tribe of the Simeonites was Shelumiel son of Zurishadday, 10:20 and over the company of the tribe of the Gadites was Eliasaph son of Deuel. 10:21 And the Kohathites journeyed, carrying the sanctuary; the tabernacle was to be set up29 before they arrived.30 10:22 And the standard of the camp of the Ephraimites journeyed according to their companies; over his company was Elishama son of Ammihud. 10:23 Over the company of the tribe of the Manassehites was Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, 10:24 and over the company of the tribe of Benjaminites was Abidan son of Gideoni.
10:25 The standard of the camp of the Danites journeyed, which was the rear guard31 of all the camps by their companies; over his company was Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. 10:26 Over the company of the tribe of the Asherites was Pagiel son of Ocran, 10:27 and over the company of the tribe of the Naphtalites was Ahira son of Enan. 10:28 These were the traveling arrangements32 of the Israelites according to their companies when they journeyed.33
The Appeal to Hobab
10:2934 Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel, the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law,35 “We are journeying to the place about which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us and we will treat you well,36 for the Lord has promised good things37 for Israel.” 10:30 But Hobab38 said to him, “I will not go, but I will go to my own land and to my kindred.” 10:31 Moses39 said, “Do not leave us,40 because you know places for us to camp in the wilderness, and you could be our guide.41 10:32 And if you come with us, it is certain42 that with whatever good things the Lord will favor us, we will treat you well.”
10:33 So they traveled from the mountain of the Lord three days’ journey;43 and the ark of the covenant of the Lord was traveling before them in the three days’ journey, to find a resting place for them. 10:3444 And the cloud of the Lord was on them by day, when they journeyed45 from the camp. 10:35 And when the ark journeyed, Moses would say, “Rise up, O Lord! May your enemies be scattered, and may those who hate you flee before you.” 10:36 And when it came to rest he would say, “Return, O Lord, to the many thousands of Israel.”46
The Israelites Complain