Numbers 10:36
New International Version
Whenever it came to rest, he said, “Return, LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel.”

New Living Translation
And when the Ark was set down, he would say, “Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel!”

English Standard Version
And when it rested, he said, “Return, O LORD, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.”

Berean Standard Bible
And when it came to rest, he would say: “Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel.”

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

New King James Version
And when it rested, he said: “Return, O LORD, To the many thousands of Israel.”

New American Standard Bible
And when it came to rest, he said, “Return, LORD, To the myriad thousands of Israel.”

NASB 1995
When it came to rest, he said, “Return, O LORD, To the myriad thousands of Israel.”

NASB 1977
And when it came to rest, he said, “Return Thou, O LORD, To the myriad thousands of Israel.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And when it came to rest, he said, “Return, O Yahweh, To the myriad thousands of Israel.”

Amplified Bible
And when the ark rested, Moses said, “Return, O LORD, To the myriad (many) thousands of Israel.”

Christian Standard Bible
When it came to rest, he would say: Return, LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When it came to rest, he would say: Return, LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel.

American Standard Version
And when it rested, he said, Return, O Jehovah, unto the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel.

Contemporary English Version
And when they stopped to set up camp, he would pray, "Our LORD, stay close to Israel's thousands and thousands of people."

English Revised Version
And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
And whenever it stopped, he would say, "Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel!"

Good News Translation
And whenever it stopped, he would say, "Return, LORD, to the thousands of families of Israel."

International Standard Version
Whenever the ark was being readied to rest, he would say: "Return, LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel."

Majority Standard Bible
And when it came to rest, he would say: ?Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel.?

NET Bible
And when it came to rest he would say, "Return, O LORD, to the many thousands of Israel!"

New Heart English Bible
When it rested, he said, "Return, LORD, to the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel."

Webster's Bible Translation
And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, to the many thousands of Israel.

World English Bible
When it rested, he said, “Return, Yahweh, to the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And in its resting he says, “Return, O YHWH, [to] the myriads, the thousands of Israel.”

Young's Literal Translation
And in its resting he saith, 'Return, O Jehovah, to the myriads, the thousands of Israel.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And in its encamping, he will say, Turn back, Jehovah, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when it was set down, he said: Return, O Lord, to the multitude of the host of Israel.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when it was set down, he said: “Return, O Lord, to the multitude of the army of Israel.”

New American Bible
And when it came to rest, he would say, “Bring back, O LORD, the myriads of Israel’s troops!”

New Revised Standard Version
And whenever it came to rest, he would say, “Return, O LORD of the ten thousand thousands of Israel.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, to the many thousands of Israel.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And when it rested he said, “Return, LORD JEHOVAH, unto the ten thousands and unto the thousands of Israel.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And when it rested, he said: 'Return, O LORD, unto the ten thousands of the families of Israel.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And in the resting he said, Turn again, O Lord, the thousands and tens of thousands in Israel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
From Sinai to Paran
35Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, “Rise up, O LORD! May Your enemies be scattered; may those who hate You flee before You.” 36And when it came to rest, he would say: “Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel.”

Cross References
Psalm 68:1
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A song. God arises. His enemies are scattered, and those who hate Him flee His presence.

Isaiah 33:3
The peoples flee the thunder of Your voice; the nations scatter when You rise.

Psalm 132:8
Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength.

Deuteronomy 1:30
The LORD your God, who goes before you, will fight for you, just as you saw Him do for you in Egypt

Deuteronomy 20:4
For the LORD your God goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.”

Joshua 3:10
He continued, “This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that He will surely drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites.

2 Chronicles 20:17
You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.’”

Exodus 14:14
The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Isaiah 52:12
For you will not leave in a hurry nor flee in haste, for the LORD goes before you, and the God of Israel is your rear guard.

Psalm 44:5
Through You we repel our foes; through Your name we trample our enemies.

Psalm 47:5
God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD with the sound of the horn.

Psalm 68:7
O God, when You went out before Your people, when You marched through the wasteland, Selah

Psalm 68:24
They have seen Your procession, O God—the march of my God and King into the sanctuary.

Psalm 78:52-53
He led out His people like sheep and guided them like a flock in the wilderness. / He led them safely, so they did not fear, but the sea engulfed their enemies.

Psalm 136:16
He led His people through the wilderness. His loving devotion endures forever.


Treasury of Scripture

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

return o Lord

Psalm 90:13-17
Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants…

many thousands of Israel.

Genesis 24:50
Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.

Deuteronomy 1:10
The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.

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Blessing Countless Israel Rest Resting Ten Thousand Thousands Whenever
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Blessing Countless Israel Rest Resting Ten Thousand Thousands Whenever
Numbers 10
1. The use of the silver trumpets
11. The Israelites move from Sinai to Paran
14. The order of their march
29. Hobab is entreated by Moses not to leave them
33. The blessing of Moses at the removing and resting of the ark














And when it came to rest, he would say
This phrase marks the conclusion of a journey, indicating a pause in the movement of the Israelites. The Hebrew word for "rest" is "nuach," which implies not just a physical cessation of movement but also a sense of peace and divine presence. In the context of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, this rest signifies a temporary dwelling where the presence of God is tangibly felt. Historically, this reflects the nomadic lifestyle of the Israelites, who were dependent on God's guidance for their movements and rest.

Return, O LORD
The invocation "Return, O LORD" is a plea for God's continued presence among His people. The Hebrew word for "return" is "shuv," which can mean to turn back or to restore. This reflects a deep desire for God's abiding presence and favor. In the broader scriptural context, it echoes the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where God's presence is both a source of guidance and protection. Theologically, it underscores the belief in God's faithfulness and the need for His constant companionship.

to the countless thousands of Israel
This phrase emphasizes the vast number of the Israelites, described as "countless thousands." The Hebrew term "eleph" can mean thousand, clan, or family, indicating not just a numerical count but also a sense of community and identity. The Israelites are portrayed as a great multitude, underscoring the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham to make his descendants as numerous as the stars. Historically, this reflects the growth of the Israelite nation and their identity as God's chosen people. Theologically, it highlights the collective nature of God's covenant, where His promises and presence are extended to the entire community of believers.

Verse 36. - Return, O Lord, unto the many thousands (literally, myriad thousands; see Numbers 1:16) of Israel. שׁוּבָה being construed with the accusative is of somewhat doubtful interpretation. It may be as in the beautiful and familiar rendering of the A.V., than which nothing could be more obviously in harmony with the circumstances, and the feelings which gave rise to the prayer. Or it may be necessary to translate it by a transitive verb, and then it will be either, with many moderns, "Restore, O Lord, the myriad thousands of Israel," i.e., to their promised home; or, with the Septuagint, "Convert, O Lord (ἐπίστρεφε, Κύριε), the thousand myriads of Israel." If the ordinary reading be (as it appears) grammatically defensible, it is unquestionably to be preferred. Only Moses, as he looked upon that huge multitude covering the earth far and wide, could rightly feel how unutterably awful their position would be if on any day the cloud were to rise and melt into the evening sky instead of poising itself above the sanctuary of Israel. The Septuagint transposes verse 34 from its proper place to the end of the chapter, apparently in order to keep together the verses which speak of the movements of the ark. Many Hebrew MSS. mark verses 35, 36 with inverted nuns, נ, but the explanations given are fanciful, and the meaning uncertain.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And when it came to rest,
וּבְנֻחֹ֖ה (ū·ḇə·nu·ḥōh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5117: To rest, settle down

he would say:
יֹאמַ֑ר (yō·mar)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Return,
שׁוּבָ֣ה (šū·ḇāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

O LORD,
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

to the countless
רִֽבְב֖וֹת (riḇ·ḇō·wṯ)
Number - feminine plural construct
Strong's 7233: Multitude, myriad, ten thousand

thousands
אַלְפֵ֥י (’al·p̄ê)
Number - masculine plural construct
Strong's 505: A thousand

of Israel.”
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc


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OT Law: Numbers 10:36 When it rested he said Return Yahweh (Nu Num.)
Numbers 10:35
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