The Silver Trumpets
1Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said, 2“Make two trumpets of silver; make them of hammered work. They shall serve you for summoning the congregation and for having the camps set out. 3When they are blown, the whole congregation shall assemble before you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 4If only one is blown, the leaders, the heads of the clans of Israel, shall assemble before you. 5When you blow an alarm, the camps that are pitched on the east side shall set out. 6When you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are pitched on the south side shall set out. An alarm shall be blown for setting out. 7But when the assembly is to be gathered, you shall blow, but not sound an alarm. 8The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow 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, you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before Yahweh your God and be saved from your enemies. 10Also on your days of rejoicing, at your appointed festivals, and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings, and they shall serve you as a reminder before your God. I am Yahweh your God.”
The Israelites Set Out from Sinai
11In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle of the testimony. 12The Israelites set out on their journeys from the wilderness of Sinai, and the cloud settled in the wilderness of Paran. 13They set out for the first time at the command of Yahweh through Moses. 14The standard of the camp of Judah set out first, by their divisions, with Nahshon son of Amminadab over its host. 15Nethanel son of Zuar was over the host of the tribe of the Issacharites. 16Eliab son of Helon was over the host of the tribe of the Zebulunites. 17Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and the Merarites set out, carrying the tabernacle. 18The standard of the camp of Reuben set out, by their divisions, with Elizur son of Shedeur over its host. 19Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the host of the tribe of the Simeonites. 20Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the host of the tribe of the Gadites. 21Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things; and the tabernacle was set up before they arrived. 22The standard of the camp of Ephraim set out, by their divisions, with Elishama son of Ammihud over its host. 23Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the host of the tribe of the Manassites. 24Abidan son of Gideoni was over the host of the tribe of the Benjamites. 25The standard of the camp of Dan, the rear guard of all the camps, set out, by their divisions, with Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai over its host. 26Pagiel son of Ocran was over the host of the tribe of the Asherites. 27Ahira son of Enan was over the host of the tribe of the Naphtalites. 28This was the order of march of the Israelites, by their divisions, when they set out.
Moses and Hobab
29Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “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 things for Israel.” 30But he said to him, “I will not go. I will go instead to my own land and to my kindred.” 31Moses said, “Please do not leave us, since you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can serve as eyes for us. 32If you come with us, whatever good Yahweh does for us, we will do the same for you.”
The Ark Sets the Pace
33So they set out from the mountain of Yahweh, a journey of three days; and the ark of the covenant of Yahweh went before them the three days’ journey, to seek out a resting place for them. 34The cloud of Yahweh was over them by day, when they set out from the camp. 35Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, “Rise up, Yahweh, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.” 36And whenever it came to rest, he would say, “Return, Yahweh, to the countless thousands of Israel.”
