Numbers 10

King James Version

Full text for Numbers Chapter 10

1¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.

3And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

4And if they blow [but] with one [trumpet], then the princes, [which are] heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.

5When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward.

6When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys.

7But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm.

8And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations.

9And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.

10Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I [am] the LORD your God.

11¶ And it came to pass on the twentieth [day] of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony.

12And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.

13And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

14In the first [place] went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his host [was] Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

15And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar [was] Nethaneel the son of Zuar.

16And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun [was] Eliab the son of Helon.

17And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle.

18And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his host [was] Elizur the son of Shedeur.

19And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon [was] Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

20And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad [was] Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

21And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and [the other] did set up the tabernacle against they came.

22And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies: and over his host [was] Elishama the son of Ammihud.

23And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh [was] Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

24And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin [was] Abidan the son of Gideoni.

25And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, [which was] the rereward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host [was] Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

26And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher [was] Pagiel the son of Ocran.

27And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali [was] Ahira the son of Enan.

28Thus [were] the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward.

29¶ And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel.

30And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred.

31And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes.

32And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee.

33And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them.

34And the cloud of the LORD [was] upon them by day, when they went out of the camp.

35And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.

36And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Numbers 10 outlines the divine command for Moses to create two silver trumpets, detailing their specific uses for assembling the congregation, signaling camp movements, and for use in warfare and religious festivals. The chapter then recounts the Israelites' first organized departure from Mount Sinai, guided by the lifting cloud and the Ark of the Covenant, with each tribe marching in its appointed order. Moses also invites his father-in-law, Hobab, to join them, valuing his knowledge of the wilderness. The chapter concludes with Moses' prayers during the Ark's movements, invoking divine presence and protection.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins with the LORD instructing Moses to fashion two silver trumpets, specifying their distinct uses for gathering the entire assembly, summoning the princes, and signaling the movement of specific camps through alarm blasts. These trumpets were also ordained for use in warfare, to secure divine remembrance and salvation, and for joyous occasions and solemn feasts as a memorial before God. Following these instructions, the Israelites embarked on their first journey from the wilderness of Sinai on the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, with the cloud lifting from the Tabernacle. Their departure was highly organized, with specific tribal standards leading in designated order, and the Levites bearing the dismantled Tabernacle and sanctuary. Moses then entreated his Midianite father-in-law, Hobab, to accompany them, valuing his wilderness knowledge as "instead of eyes" for their encampments. The journey from Mount Sinai lasted three days, with the Ark of the Covenant preceding them to seek out a resting place, and the cloud of the LORD providing guidance by day. Moses offered specific prayers as the Ark advanced and as it rested, invoking divine presence and protection.

Long Summary

Numbers chapter 10 commences with the LORD's detailed instructions to Moses regarding the creation and specific functions of two silver trumpets. These instruments were to serve multiple vital purposes: a full sound for assembling the entire congregation at the Tabernacle door, and a single trumpet blast for gathering only the princes of Israel. Distinct alarm blasts were prescribed for signaling the movement of the eastern camps, and a second alarm for the southern camps, indicating their time to journey. The priests, sons of Aaron, were designated as the perpetual blowers of these trumpets, establishing an enduring ordinance. Furthermore, the trumpets were to be sounded with an alarm in times of war against oppressors, ensuring divine remembrance and salvation. They were also commanded for use during days of gladness, solemn feasts, and at the beginnings of months, blown over burnt offerings and peace offerings, serving as a memorial before God. The narrative then shifts to the Israelites' long-awaited departure from Mount Sinai. On the twentieth day of the second month in the second year, the guiding cloud ascended from the Tabernacle of the testimony, prompting the children of Israel to commence their journey from the wilderness of Sinai, with the cloud eventually resting in the wilderness of Paran. This initial journey adhered precisely to the LORD's commandment given through Moses. The meticulously ordered march began with the standard of the camp of Judah, followed by Issachar and Zebulun. Subsequently, the Gershonites and Merarites advanced, bearing the dismantled Tabernacle. The standard of Reuben's camp then set forth, accompanied by Simeon and Gad, after which the Kohathites proceeded, carrying the sacred sanctuary. The standard of Ephraim's camp, with Manasseh and Benjamin, followed. Finally, the standard of Dan's camp, comprising Asher and Naphtali, served as the rereward for all the camps. Concluding the chapter, Moses earnestly requested his father-in-law, Hobab the Midianite, to join their journey to the promised land, emphasizing the LORD's promise of goodness to Israel. Though Hobab initially expressed a desire to return to his own land, Moses implored him to stay, recognizing his invaluable knowledge of the wilderness as "instead of eyes" for their encampments, and promising to share any goodness the LORD bestowed upon them. The Israelites then embarked on a three-day journey from Mount Sinai, during which the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD went before them to scout a suitable resting place. The cloud of the LORD consistently remained upon them by day as they went out of the camp. The chapter concludes with Moses' two significant prayers: "Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee" when the Ark set forward, and "Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel" when it rested.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Communication through TrumpetsThe LORD institutes the use of silver trumpets as a means of communicating divine commands for assembly, movement, and warfare, signifying direct divine guidance in Israel's daily life and national endeavors.
  • Ordered JourneyingThe chapter meticulously details the precise, divinely ordained order of the Israelite camps and the Levite divisions during their departure from Sinai, emphasizing organization and adherence to God's instructions for their wilderness travels.
  • Guidance of the Cloud and ArkThe lifting of the cloud from the Tabernacle signals the commencement of their journey, with the cloud providing daily oversight and the Ark of the Covenant preceding them to find suitable resting places, illustrating God's active presence and leadership.
  • Priestly Role in RitualsThe sons of Aaron, the priests, are specifically designated to blow the trumpets for various purposes, including religious festivals and offerings, underscoring their integral role in mediating between God and the people through established ordinances.
  • Seeking Human CounselMoses' earnest request for Hobab to accompany them, despite divine guidance, highlights the practical value of human wisdom and experience in navigating the wilderness, demonstrating a balance between divine leading and human prudence.
  • Prayers for Divine PresenceMoses' specific prayers upon the Ark's movement and rest ("Rise up, LORD..." and "Return, O LORD...") underscore the Israelites' constant reliance on God's active presence for protection, victory, and continued guidance throughout their journeys.