Numbers10
English Standard Version
1The Lord to , ,
2 . Of you shall them, and you shall them for the and for .
3And when are , the shall themselves to you at the of the of .
4But they only , then the , the of the of , shall themselves to you.
5When you an , the that on the east shall .
6And when you an the , the that on the south shall . An is to be whenever they are to .
7But when the is to be , you shall blow a long , but you shall sound an .
8And the of , the , shall the . The trumpets shall be to you for a throughout your .
9And when you to in your against the who you, then you shall sound an with the , that you may be the Lord your , and you shall be from your .
10On the of your also, and at your and at the of your , you shall the your and the of your . They shall be a of you your : I am the Lord your .
11In the , in the month, on the day of the , the the of the ,
12and the of by from the of . And the settled in the of .
13They for the first at the of the Lord .
14The of the of the of by their , and their was the of .
15And the of the of the of was the of .
16And the of the of the of was the of .
17And when the was , the of and the of , who the , .
18And the of the of by their , and their was the of .
19And the of the of the of was the of .
20And the of the of the of was the of .
21Then the , the , and the was their .
22And the of the of the of by their , and their was the of .
23And the of the of the of was the of .
24And the of the of the of was the of .
25Then the of the of the of , acting as the of the , by their , and their was the of .
26And the of the of the of was the of .
27And the of the of the of was the of .
28 was the order of of the of by their , when they .
29And to the of the , ’ , We are for the of the Lord , I will it to you. with us, and we will do to you, the Lord has to .
30But he to him, I will . I will to my own and to my .
31And he , do us, you where we should in the , and you will serve as for us.
32And you do with us, whatever the Lord will to us, the same will we to you.
33So they from the of the Lord ’ . And the of the of the Lord them ’ , to seek a for them.
34And the of the Lord was them by , whenever they the .
35And whenever the , , , O Lord, and your be , and those who you you.
36And when it , he , , O Lord, to the ten of .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Numbers 10.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: 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).
vv1-10
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. (Nu 10:11-28)
vv11-28
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, De 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.
vv29-32
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.
Key Words
דָבַר: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
מֹשֶׁה: Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
שְׁנַיִם: two; also (as ordinal) twofold
כֶּסֶף: silver (from its pale color); by implication, money
חֲצֹצְרָה: a trumpet (from its sundered or quavering note)
מִקְשָׁה: rounded work, i.e. moulded by hammering (repousse)
הָיָה: to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
מִקְרָא: something called out, i.e. a public meeting (the act, the persons, or the place); also a rehearsal
Cross References
Numbers 10Direct verbal echo: "Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered" matches David's prayer.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Historical execution of this command: Phinehas goes to war against Midian with the holy trumpets.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Abijah's army sounds the silver trumpets in battle, trusting God's promise to be remembered.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Scriptural mandate to blow the trumpet at the new moon and solemn feast days.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The divine command at Horeb/Sinai instructing Israel that they have dwelt long enough here.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The historical connection where the lifting of the cloud dictates the journeying of Israel.
Supported by JFB
Establishes the absolute rule of moving only when the cloud is taken up.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Matches the designated marching order: Judah first, Gershon/Merari, Reuben, then Kohath bearing sanctuary.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Verifies that after several journeys, Israel again pitched in the wilderness of Paran.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels Hobab's desire to return to his own land and kindred.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Hobab serving "instead of eyes" parallel to being "eyes to the blind" in wilderness.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Defines the "whole piece" (beaten work of pure metal) used for holy instruments.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prophetic reuse of blowing the trumpet and sounding an alarm in the holy mountain.
Supported by Matthew Henry
God searching out a land of rest for His people, matching the ark's purpose.
Supported by Matthew Henry