Numbers 10:1-20 ▼

1 The LORD spoke further to Moses, saying,

2 “Make yourself two trumpets of silver, you shall make them of hammered work; and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and breaking camp.

3 Now when both are blown, all the congregation shall meet you at the entrance of the tent of meeting.

4 But if only one is blown, then the leaders, the heads of the divisions of Israel, shall meet you.

5 And when you blow an alarm, the camps that are pitched on the east side shall set out.

6 Then when you sound an alarm the second time, the camps that are pitched on the south side shall set out; an alarm is to be sounded for them to break camp.

7 When convening the assembly, however, you shall blow the trumpets without sounding an alarm.

8 The sons of Aaron, moreover, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and this shall be a permanent statute for you throughout your generations.

9 And when you go to war in your land against the enemy who attacks you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, so that you will be thought of by the LORD your God, and be saved from your enemies.

10 Also on the day of your joy and at your appointed feasts, and on the first days of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be as a reminder of you before your God. I am the LORD your God.”

11 Now in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth of the month, the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle of the testimony;

12 and the sons of Israel set out on their journeys from the wilderness of Sinai. Then the cloud settled in the wilderness of Paran.

13 So they moved on for the first time in accordance with the command of the LORD through Moses.

14 The flag of the camp of the sons of Judah, by their armies, set out first, with Nahshon the son of Amminadab, over its army,

15 and Nethanel the son of Zuar, over the tribal army of the sons of Issachar;

16 and Eliab the son of Helon over the tribal army of the sons of Zebulun.

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

18 Next the flag of the camp of Reuben, by their armies, set out with Elizur the son of Shedeur, over its army,

19 and Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai over the tribal army of the sons of Simeon,

20 and Eliasaph the son of Deuel was over the tribal army of the sons of Gad.