Numbers

The LORD said to Moses:

"Make two trumpets of hammered silver to be used for calling the community together and for signalling the camps to set out.

When both are blown, the whole community is to gather before you at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

If only one is blown, just the leaders, the heads of the clans of Israel, are to gather before you.

When you blow a series of short blasts, the tribes camped on the east are to set out.

When you blow a second series of short blasts, the tribes camped on the south are to set out. The short blasts are the signal for setting out.

But when you want to gather the assembly, blow the trumpets without using the short blasts.

The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to blow the trumpets. This is to be a permanent regulation for you and your descendants.

When you go to war in your own land against an enemy who is attacking you, sound an alarm on the trumpets. Then the LORD your God will remember you and rescue you from your enemies.

Also at your times of rejoicing, your appointed festivals and New Moon celebrations, you are to blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and peace offerings. They will serve as a reminder of you before your God. I am the LORD your God."

On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud lifted from above the Tabernacle of the Covenant.

Then the Israelites set out from the Sinai wilderness and travelled from place to place until the cloud settled in the wilderness of Paran.

They set out for the first time at the LORD's command through Moses.

The division of the camp of Judah set out first, under their banner. Nahshon son of Amminadab was in command.

Nethanel son of Zuar was in command of the tribe of Issachar,

and Eliab son of Helon was in command of the tribe of Zebulun.

Then the Tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and Merarites set out, carrying it.

The division of the camp of Reuben set out next, under their banner. Elizur son of Shedeur was in command.

Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was in command of the tribe of Simeon,

and Eliasaph son of Deuel was in command of the tribe of Gad.

Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy items. The Tabernacle was to be set up before they arrived at the next camp.

The division of the camp of Ephraim set out next, under their banner. Elishama son of Ammihud was in command.

Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was in command of the tribe of Manasseh,

and Abidan son of Gideoni was in command of the tribe of Benjamin.

Finally, the division of the camp of Dan set out, serving as the rear guard for all the tribes. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai was in command.

Pagiel son of Ochran was in command of the tribe of Asher,

and Ahira son of Enan was in command of the tribe of Naphtali.

This was the order in which the Israelite divisions set out.

Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite (Moses’ father-in-law), "We are setting out for the place the LORD promised to give us. Come with us and we will treat you well, for the LORD has promised good things to Israel."

He answered, "No, I will not go; I am going back to my own land and my own people."

But Moses said, "Please do not leave us. You know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes.

If you come with us, we will share with you whatever good things the LORD gives us."

So they set out from the mountain of the LORD and travelled for three days. The Ark of the LORD’s Covenant went ahead of them during those three days to find them a place to rest.

The cloud of the LORD was over them by day when they set out from the camp.

Whenever the Ark set out, Moses would say, "Rise up, the LORD! May your enemies be scattered; may your foes flee before you."

Whenever it came to rest, he would say, "Return, the LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel."