Numbers10
New King James Version
1And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
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.
3When they blow both of them, all the congregation shall gather before you at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
4But if they blow only one, then the leaders, the heads of the divisions of Israel, shall gather to you.
5When you sound the advance, the camps that lie on the east side shall then begin their journey.
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.
7And when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but not sound the advance.
8The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and these shall be to you as an ordinance forever throughout your generations.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
13So they started out for the first time according to the command of the Lord by the hand of 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.
15Over the army of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar.
16And over the army of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.
17Then the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set out, carrying the tabernacle.
18And the standard of the camp of Reuben set out according to their armies; over their army was Elizur the son of Shedeur.
19Over the army of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
20And over the army of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
21Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things. (The tabernacle would be prepared for their arrival.)
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.
23Over the army of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
24And over the army of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the 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.
26Over the army of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran.
27And over the army of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan.
28Thus was the order of march of the children of Israel, according to their armies, when they began their journey.
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.”
30And he said to him, “I will not go, but I will depart to my own land and to my relatives.”
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.
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.”
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.
34And the cloud of the Lord was above them by day when they went out from the camp.
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.”
36And when it rested, he said: “Return, O Lord, To the many thousands of Israel.”
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