New King James Version

New Living Translation

1And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:

1Now the LORD said to Moses,

2“Make two silver trumpets for yourself; you shall make them of hammered work; you shall use them for calling the congregation and for directing the movement of the camps.

2“Make two trumpets of hammered silver for calling the community to assemble and for signaling the breaking of camp.

3When they blow both of them, all the congregation shall gather before you at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.

3When both trumpets are blown, everyone must gather before you at the entrance of the Tabernacle.

4But if they blow only one, then the leaders, the heads of the divisions of Israel, shall gather to you.

4But if only one trumpet is blown, then only the leaders—the heads of the clans of Israel—must present themselves to you.

5When you sound the advance, the camps that lie on the east side shall then begin their journey.

5“When you sound the signal to move on, the tribes camped on the east side of the Tabernacle must break camp and move forward.

6When you sound the advance the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall begin their journey; they shall sound the call for them to begin their journeys.

6When you sound the signal a second time, the tribes camped on the south will follow. You must sound short blasts as the signal for moving on.

7And when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but not sound the advance.

7But when you call the people to an assembly, blow the trumpets with a different signal.

8The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and these shall be to you as an ordinance forever throughout your generations.

8Only the priests, Aaron’s descendants, are allowed to blow the trumpets. This is a permanent law for you, to be observed from generation to generation.

9“When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.

9“When you arrive in your own land and go to war against your enemies who attack you, sound the alarm with the trumpets. Then the LORD your God will remember you and rescue you from your enemies.

10Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the LORD your God.”

10Blow the trumpets in times of gladness, too, sounding them at your annual festivals and at the beginning of each month. And blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and peace offerings. The trumpets will remind your God of his covenant with you. I am the LORD your God.” The Israelites Leave Sinai

11Now it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle of the Testimony.

11In the second year after Israel’s departure from Egypt—on the twentieth day of the second month —the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle of the Covenant.

12And the children of Israel set out from the Wilderness of Sinai on their journeys; then the cloud settled down in the Wilderness of Paran.

12So the Israelites set out from the wilderness of Sinai and traveled on from place to place until the cloud stopped in the wilderness of Paran.

13So they started out for the first time according to the command of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

13When the people set out for the first time, following the instructions the LORD had given through Moses,

14The standard of the camp of the children of Judah set out first according to their armies; over their army was Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

14Judah’s troops led the way. They marched behind their banner, and their leader was Nahshon son of Amminadab.

15Over the army of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar.

15They were joined by the troops of the tribe of Issachar, led by Nethanel son of Zuar,

16And over the army of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.

16and the troops of the tribe of Zebulun, led by Eliab son of Helon.

17Then the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set out, carrying the tabernacle.

17Then the Tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonite and Merarite divisions of the Levites were next in the line of march, carrying the Tabernacle with them.

18And the standard of the camp of Reuben set out according to their armies; over their army was Elizur the son of Shedeur.

18Reuben’s troops went next, marching behind their banner. Their leader was Elizur son of Shedeur.

19Over the army of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

19They were joined by the troops of the tribe of Simeon, led by Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai,

20And over the army of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

20and the troops of the tribe of Gad, led by Eliasaph son of Deuel.

21Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things. (The tabernacle would be prepared for their arrival.)

21Next came the Kohathite division of the Levites, carrying the sacred objects from the Tabernacle. Before they arrived at the next camp, the Tabernacle would already be set up at its new location.

22And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set out according to their armies; over their army was Elishama the son of Ammihud.

22Ephraim’s troops went next, marching behind their banner. Their leader was Elishama son of Ammihud.

23Over the army of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

23They were joined by the troops of the tribe of Manasseh, led by Gamaliel son of Pedahzur,

24And over the army of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.

24and the troops of the tribe of Benjamin, led by Abidan son of Gideoni.

25Then the standard of the camp of the children of Dan (the rear guard of all the camps) set out according to their armies; over their army was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

25Dan’s troops went last, marching behind their banner and serving as the rear guard for all the tribal camps. Their leader was Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

26Over the army of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran.

26They were joined by the troops of the tribe of Asher, led by Pagiel son of Ocran,

27And over the army of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan.

27and the troops of the tribe of Naphtali, led by Ahira son of Enan.

28Thus was the order of march of the children of Israel, according to their armies, when they began their journey.

28This was the order in which the Israelites marched, division by division.

29Now Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place of which the LORD said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well; for the LORD has promised good things to Israel.”

29One day Moses said to his brother-in-law, Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, “We are on our way to the place the LORD promised us, for he said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us and we will treat you well, for the LORD has promised wonderful blessings for Israel!”

30And he said to him, “I will not go, but I will depart to my own land and to my relatives.”

30But Hobab replied, “No, I will not go. I must return to my own land and family.”

31So Moses said, “Please do not leave, inasmuch as you know how we are to camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes.

31“Please don’t leave us,” Moses pleaded. “You know the places in the wilderness where we should camp. Come, be our guide.

32And it shall be, if you go with us—indeed it shall be—that whatever good the LORD will do to us, the same we will do to you.”

32If you do, we’ll share with you all the blessings the LORD gives us.”

33So they departed from the mountain of the LORD on a journey of three days; and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them for the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them.

33They marched for three days after leaving the mountain of the LORD, with the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant moving ahead of them to show them where to stop and rest.

34And the cloud of the LORD was above them by day when they went out from the camp.

34As they moved on each day, the cloud of the LORD hovered over them.

35So it was, whenever the ark set out, that Moses said: “Rise up, O LORD! Let Your enemies be scattered, And let those who hate You flee before You.”

35And whenever the Ark set out, Moses would shout, “Arise, O LORD, and let your enemies be scattered! Let them flee before you!”

36And when it rested, he said: “Return, O LORD, To the many thousands of Israel.”

36And when the Ark was set down, he would say, “Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel!”

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.