CHAPTER 10
“Make
two
trumpets
of hammered
silver
to be used
for calling
the congregation
and for having the camps
set out.
When both are sounded,
the whole
congregation
is to assemble
before
you at
the entrance
to the Tent
of Meeting.
But if
only one
is sounded,
then the leaders,
the heads
of the clans
of Israel,
are to gather
before you.
When you sound
the short blasts
a second time,
the camps
that lie
on the south side
are to set out.
The blasts
are to signal them
to set out.
The sons
of Aaron,
the priests,
are to sound
the trumpets.
This shall be
a perpetual
statute
for you
and the generations to come.
When
you enter
into battle
in your land
against
an adversary
who attacks
you,
sound short blasts
on the trumpets,
and you will be remembered
before
the LORD
your God
and delivered
from your enemies.
And on your joyous
occasions,
your appointed feasts,
and the beginning
of each month,
you are to blow
the trumpets
over
your burnt offerings
and fellowship
offerings,
and they will serve
as a reminder
for you before
your God.
I
am the LORD
your God.”
On the twentieth
day
of the second
month
of the second
year,
the cloud
was lifted
from above
the tabernacle
of the Testimony,
and the Israelites
set out
from the Wilderness
of Sinai,
traveling from place to place
until the cloud
settled
in the Wilderness
of Paran.
First,
the divisions
of the camp
of Judah
set out
under their banner,
with Nahshon
son
of Amminadab
in command.
Then the tabernacle
was taken down,
and the Gershonites
and the Merarites
set out,
transporting
it.
Then the divisions
of the camp
of Reuben
set out,
under their banner,
with Elizur
son
of Shedeur
in command.
Then the Kohathites
set out,
transporting
the holy objects;
the tabernacle
was to be set up
before
their arrival.
Next, the divisions
of the camp
of Ephraim
set out,
under their banner,
with Elishama
son
of Ammihud
in command.
Finally, the divisions
of the camp
of Dan
set out,
under their banner,
serving as the rear guard
for all
units,
with Ahiezer
son
of Ammishaddai
in command.
Then Moses
said
to Hobab,
son
of his
father-in-law
Reuel
the Midianite,
“We are
setting out
for
the place
of which
the LORD
said:
‘I will give it to you.’
Come
with us,
and we will treat you well,
for
the LORD
has promised
good
things to
Israel."
“Please
do not
leave us,”
Moses said,
“since
you know
where we should camp
in the wilderness,
and you can serve
as our eyes.
So they set out
on a three-day
journey
from the mountain
of the LORD,
with the ark
of the covenant
of the LORD
traveling
ahead of them
for those three
days
to seek
a resting place
for them.
Whenever
the ark
set out,
Moses
would say,
“Rise up,
O LORD!
May Your enemies
be scattered;
may those who hate You
flee
before You.”