The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Make two silver trumpets. Of
hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for
summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. And when both are
blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the
entrance of the tent of meeting. But if they blow only one, then
the chiefs, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather
themselves to you. When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on
the east side shall set out. And when you blow an alarm the second
time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm
is to be blown whenever they are to set out. But when the assembly
is to be gathered together, you shall blow a long blast, but you
shall not sound an alarm. And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall
blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual
statute throughout your generations. And when you go to war in your
land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound
an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the
LORD your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies. On the day
of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and at the
beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your
burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings.
They shall be a reminder of you before your God: I am the LORD your
God.”
In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of
the month, the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle of the
testimony, and the people of Israel set out by stages from the
wilderness of Sinai. And the cloud settled down in the wilderness
of Paran. They set out for the first time at the command of the
LORD by Moses. The standard of the camp of the people of Judah set
out first by their companies, and over their company was Nahshon
the son of Amminadab. And over the company of the tribe of the
people of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar. And over the
company of the tribe of the people of Zebulun was Eliab the son of
Helon.
And when the tabernacle was taken down, the sons of Gershon and
the sons of Merari, who carried the tabernacle, set out. And the
standard of the camp of Reuben set out by their companies, and over
their company was Elizur the son of Shedeur. And over the company
of the tribe of the people of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of
Zurishaddai. And over the company of the tribe of the people of Gad
was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things, and the
tabernacle was set up before their arrival. And the standard of the
camp of the people of Ephraim set out by their companies, and over
their company was Elishama the son of Ammihud. And over the company
of the tribe of the people of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of
Pedahzur. And over the company of the tribe of the people of
Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.
Then the standard of the camp of the people of Dan, acting as the
rear guard of all the camps, set out by their companies, and over
their company was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. And over the
company of the tribe of the people of Asher was Pagiel the son of
Ochran. And over the company of the tribe of the people of Naphtali
was Ahira the son of Enan. This was the order of march of the
people of Israel by their companies, when they set out.
And 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 do good to
you, for the LORD has promised good to Israel.” But he said to him,
“I will not go. I will depart to my own land and to my kindred.”
And he said, “Please do not leave us, for you know where we should
camp in the wilderness, and you will serve as eyes for us. And if
you do go with us, whatever good the LORD will do to us, the same
will we do to you.”
So they set out from the mount of the LORD three days' journey.
And the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them three
days' journey, to seek out a resting place for them. And the cloud
of the LORD was over them by day, whenever they set out from the
camp.
And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, “Arise, O LORD, and let
your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before
you.” And when it rested, he said, “Return, O LORD, to the ten
thousand thousands of Israel.”
