Numbers 10

1 God spoke to Moses:

2 "Make two bugles of hammered silver. Use them to call the congregation together and give marching orders to the camps.

3 When you blow them, the whole community will meet you at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.

4 "When a bugle gives a single, short blast, that's the signal for the leaders, the heads of the clans, to assemble.

5 When it gives a long blast, that's the signal to march. At the first blast the tribes who were camped on the east set out.

6 At the second blast the camps on the south set out. The long blasts are the signals to march.

7 The bugle call that gathers the assembly is different from the signal to march.

8 "The sons of Aaron, the priests, are in charge of blowing the bugles; it's their assigned duty down through the generations.

9 When you go to war against an aggressor, blow a long blast on the bugle so that God will notice you and deliver you from your enemies.

10 Also at times of celebration, at the appointed feasts and New Moon festivals, blow the bugles over your Whole-Burnt-Offerings and Peace-Offerings: they will keep your attention on God. I am God, your God." The March from Sinai to Paran

11 In the second year, on the twentieth day of the second month, the Cloud went up from over The Dwelling of The Testimony.

12 At that the People of Israel set out on their travels from the Wilderness of Sinai until the Cloud finally settled in the Wilderness of Paran.

13 They began their march at the command of God through Moses.

14 The flag of the camp of Judah led the way, rank after rank under the command of Nahshon son of Amminadab.

15 Nethanel son of Zuar commanded the forces of the tribe of Issachar,

16 and Eliab son of Helon commanded the forces of the tribe of Zebulun.

17 As soon as The Dwelling was taken down, the Gershonites and the Merarites set out, carrying The Dwelling.

18 The flag of the camp of Reuben was next with Elizur son of Shedeur in command.

19 Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai commanded the forces of the tribe of Simeon;

20 Eliasaph son of Deuel commanded the forces of the tribe of Gad.

21 Then the Kohathites left, carrying the holy things. By the time they arrived The Dwelling would be set up.

22 The flag of the tribe of Ephraim moved out next, commanded by Elishama son of Ammihud.

23 Gamaliel son of Pedahzur commanded the forces of the tribe of Manasseh;

24 Abidan son of Gideoni commanded the forces of the tribe of Benjamin.

25 Finally, under the flag of the tribe of Dan, the rear guard of all the camps marched out with Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai in command.

26 Pagiel son of Ocran commanded the forces of the tribe of Asher;

27 Ahira son of Enan commanded the forces of the tribe of Naphtali.

28 These were the marching units of the People of Israel. They were on their way.

29 Moses said to his brother-in-law Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, "We're marching to the place about which God promised, 'I'll give it to you.' Come with us; we'll treat you well. God has promised good things for Israel."

30 But Hobab said, "I'm not coming; I'm going back home to my own country, to my own family."

31 Moses countered, "Don't leave us. You know all the best places to camp in the wilderness. We need your eyes.

32 If you come with us, we'll make sure that you share in all the good things God will do for us."

33 And so off they marched. From the Mountain of God they marched three days with the Chest of the Covenant of God in the lead to scout out a campsite.

34 The Cloud of God was above them by day when they marched from the camp.

35 With the Chest leading the way, Moses would say, Get up, God! Put down your enemies! Chase those who hate you to the hills!

36 And when the Chest was set down, he would say, Rest with us, God, Stay with the many, Many 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.