Numbers Ten
by Dr. Henry M. Morris
(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)
Numbers 10:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Numbers 10:2 Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.
two trumpets of silver. As indicated, these specially formed silver trumpets had two main purposes, both of vital importancecalling an assembly and signaling movement of the camp. Both procedures indicate the ordered planning so essential in governing such a huge multitude of men, women, children and animals.
Numbers 10:3 And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
all the assembly. It is obvious that the two million or so people in the camp could not all be precisely at the door of the tabernacle. However, by standing shoulder-to-shoulder, they could all be within a half-mile of the door, even if all the women and children were present, which is unlikely. They would at least be able to see Mosesas well as the glory cloudand many could hear him. It would be easy for his instructions to be passed through the crowd quickly. In most cases, no doubt, just one trumpet would blow and only the princes would assemble, who could then convey the message back to the people under their command.
Numbers 10:4 And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.
Numbers 10:5 When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward.
Numbers 10:6 When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys.
Numbers 10:7 But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm.
Numbers 10:8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations.
Numbers 10:9 And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.
Numbers 10:10 Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.
Numbers 10:11 And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony.
Numbers 10:12 And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.
wilderness of Paran. On leaving Mount Sinai, the Israelites headed northeastward toward the wilderness of Paran, on the way to the promised land, in the careful order prescribed in Numbers 2. This would have been an appropriate staging area for the intended conquest of the land, but it took some time before reaching it (Numbers 12:16).
Numbers 10:13 And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
Numbers 10:14 In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
Numbers 10:15 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar.
Numbers 10:16 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.
Numbers 10:17 And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle.
Numbers 10:18 And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur.
Numbers 10:19 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
Numbers 10:20 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
Numbers 10:21 And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came.
Numbers 10:22 And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud.
Numbers 10:23 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
Numbers 10:24 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.
Numbers 10:25 And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rereward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
rereward. That is, “rear guard.”
Numbers 10:26 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran.
Numbers 10:27 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan.
Numbers 10:28 Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward.
Numbers 10:29 And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel.
Raguel. Raguel is another form of the name Reuel, which in turn was an alternate name for Jethro (Exodus 2:18; 3:1); Hobab (mentioned here only) was Moses' brother-in-law.
Numbers 10:30 And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred.
Numbers 10:31 And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes.
Numbers 10:32 And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee.
Numbers 10:33 And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them.
Numbers 10:34 And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp.
Numbers 10:35 And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.
Numbers 10:36 And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel.