Numbers 10

1 The LORD said to Moses,

2 "Make two trumpets out of hammered silver. Use them to call the community together and as a signal to break camp.

3 When you blow both trumpets, the whole community will meet with you at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

4 If only one trumpet blows, the leaders, the heads of the divisions of Israel, will meet with you.

5 When they hear the trumpet fanfare, the tribes that are camped on the east side will break camp first.

6 When the trumpets sound a second fanfare, the tribes that are camped on the south will break camp. The fanfare is the signal to break camp.

7 But when you gather the assembly, the trumpets will blow without sounding a fanfare.

8 The sons of Aaron, the priests, will blow the trumpets. This will be a permanent law for you and your descendants.

9 "When you go to war in your own country against an enemy who is oppressing you, the trumpets will sound a fanfare. Then the LORD your God will remember you and rescue you from your enemies.

10 Also, on your festival days and on the first day of the month, blow the trumpets when you sacrifice your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. The trumpets will be a reminder for you in God's presence. I am the LORD your God."

11 On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the [column of] smoke left the tent of the words of God's promise.

12 So the Israelites moved from the Desert of Sinai and traveled from place to place until the [column of] smoke stopped in the Desert of Paran.

13 This was the first time they moved, following the command that the LORD had given through Moses.

14 With their flag in front, the armies led by Judah's descendants broke camp first. Nahshon, son of Amminadab, was in command.

15 Nethanel, son of Zuar, commanded the army of Issachar.

16 Eliab, son of Helon, commanded the army of Zebulun.

17 Then the tent [of meeting] was taken down, and the Gershonites and Merarites, who carried it, broke camp.

18 With their flag in front, the armies led by Reuben's descendants broke camp next. Elizur, son of Shedeur, was in command.

19 Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai, commanded the army of Simeon.

20 Eliasaph, son of Deuel, commanded the army of Gad.

21 Then the Kohathites, who carried the holy things, broke camp. By the time they arrived, the tent [of meeting] would already be set up.

22 With their flag in front, the armies led by Ephraim's descendants broke camp next. Elisha, son of Ammihud, was in command.

23 Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur, commanded the army of Manasseh.

24 Abidan, son of Gideoni, commanded the army of Benjamin.

25 As a rear guard for the whole camp, the armies led by Dan's descendants broke camp last with their flag in front. Ahiezer, son of Ammishaddai, was in command.

26 Pagiel, son of Ochran, commanded the army of Asher.

27 Ahira, son of Enan, commanded the army of Naphtali.

28 This was the order in which the Israelite armies broke camp when they went from place to place.

29 Moses said to his brother-in-law Hobab, son of Reuel the Midianite, "We are going to the place the LORD promised to give us. Come with us. We will be good to you, because the LORD has promised good things to Israel."

30 Hobab answered, "No, I won't go. I want to go back to my own country where my relatives are."

31 But Moses said, "Please don't leave us. You know where we can set up camp in the desert, and you could be our guide.

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

33 So they left the mountain of the LORD and traveled for three days. The ark of the LORD's promise went ahead of them a distance of three days' journey to find them a place to rest.

34 The LORD's [column of] smoke was over them by day when they moved the camp.

35 Whenever the ark started to move, Moses would say, "Arise, O LORD! Scatter your enemies! Make those who hate you run away from you!"

36 And whenever it stopped, he would say, "Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel!"

Numbers 10 Commentary

Chapter 10

The silver trumpets. (1-10) The Israelites remove from Sinai to Paran. (11-28) Hobab entreated by Moses to continue. (29-32) The blessing pronounced by Moses. (33-36)

Verses 1-10 Here are directions concerning the public notices to be given the people by sound of trumpet. Their laws in every case were to be Divine, therefore, even in this matter Moses is directed. These trumpets typify the preached gospel. It sounds an alarm to sinners, calls them to repent, proclaims liberty to the captives and slaves of Satan, and collects the worshippers of God. It directs and encourages their heavenly journey; stirs them up to combat against the world and sin, encouraging them with the assurance of victory. It leads their attention to the sacrifice of Christ, and shows the Lord's presence for their protection. It is also necessary that the gospel trumpet give a distinct sound, according to the persons addressed, or the end proposed; whether to convince, humble, console, exhort, reprove, or teach. The sounding of the trumpet of the gospel is God's ordinance, and demands the attention of all to whom it is sent.

Verses 11-28 After the Israelites had continued nearly a year at mount Sinai, and all was settled respecting their future worship, they began their march to Canaan. True religion begins with the knowledge of the holy law of God, and humiliation for sin, but we must go on towards perfection, in acquaintance with Christ and his gospel, and those effectual encouragements, motives, and assistances to holiness, which it proposes. They took their journey according to the commandment of the Lord, ( Deuteronomy 1:6-8 ) , and as the cloud led them. Those who give themselves to the direction of God's word and Spirit, steer a steady course, even when they seem bewildered. While they are sure they cannot lose their God and Guide, they need not fear losing their way. They went out of the wilderness of Sinai, and rested in the wilderness of Paran. All our removes in this world are but from one wilderness to another. The changes we think will be for the better do not always prove so. We shall never be at rest, never at home, till we come to heaven, but all will be well there.

Verses 29-32 Moses invites his kindred to go to Canaan. Those that are bound for the heavenly Canaan, should ask and encourage their friends to go with them: we shall have none the less of the joys of heaven, for others coming to share with us. It is good having fellowship with those who have fellowship with God. But the things of this world, which are seen, draw strongly from the pursuit of the things of the other world, which are not seen. Moses urges that Hobab might be serviceable to them. Not to show where they must encamp, nor what way they must march, the cloud was to direct that; but to show the conveniences of the place they marched through, and encamped in. It well consists with our trust in God's providence, to use the help of our friends.

Verses 33-36 Their going out and coming in, gives an example to us to begin and end every day's journey and every day's work with prayer. Here is Moses's prayer when the ark set forward, "Rise up, and let thine enemies be scattered." There are those in the world who are enemies to God and haters of him; secret and open enemies; enemies to his truths, his laws, his ordinances, his people. But for the scattering and defeating of God's enemies, there needs no more than God's arising. Observe also the prayer of Moses when the ark rested, that God would cause his people to rest. The welfare and happiness of the Israel of God, consist in the continual presence of God among them. Their safety is not in their numbers, but in the favour of God, and his gracious return to them, and resting with them. Upon this account, Happy art thou, O Israel! who is like unto thee, O people! God will go before them, to find them resting-places by the way. His promise is, and their prayers are, that he will never leave them nor forsake them.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 10

This chapter gives an account of the directions given for making two silver trumpets, and of the use of them, the ends and purposes for which they were to be made, Nu 10:1-10; and of the time of taking up of the cloud from the tabernacle, and of the removal of the camp of Israel from the wilderness of Sinai, and of the order of their march, Nu 10:11-28; when Moses most earnestly passed Hobab, his brother in law, to continue with him, Nu 10:29-32; and the chapter is closed with the prayer of Moses at the setting forward of the ark, and the resting of it, Nu 10:33-36.