The Silver Trumpets

1The 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. 3Now when both are blown, all the congregation shall meet you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 4But if only one is blown, then the leaders, the heads of the [a]divisions of Israel, shall meet you. 5And when you blow an alarm, the camps that are pitched on the east side shall set out. 6Then 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. 7When convening the assembly, however, you shall blow the trumpets without sounding an alarm. 8The sons of Aaron, moreover, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and this shall be a permanent statute for you throughout your generations. 9And 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. 10Also on the day of your joy and at your appointed [b]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.”

The Tribes Leave Sinai

11Now in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth of the month, the cloud was lifted from above the [c]tabernacle of the testimony; 12and the sons of Israel set out on their journeys from the wilderness of Sinai. Then the cloud settled in the wilderness of Paran. 13So they moved on for the first time in accordance with the [d]command of the LORD through Moses. 14The [e]flag of the camp of the sons of Judah, by their armies, set out first, with Nahshon the son of Amminadab, over its army, 15and Nethanel the son of Zuar, over the tribal army of the sons of Issachar; 16and Eliab the son of Helon over the tribal army of the sons of Zebulun.

17Then the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who were carrying the tabernacle, set out. 18Next the flag of the camp of Reuben, by their armies, set out with Elizur the son of Shedeur, over its army, 19and Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai over the tribal army of the sons of Simeon, 20and Eliasaph the son of Deuel was over the tribal army of the sons of Gad.

21Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy objects; and the tabernacle was set up before their arrival. 22Next the flag of the camp of the sons of Ephraim, by their armies, set out, with Elishama the son of Ammihud over its army, 23and Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur over the tribal army of the sons of Manasseh; 24and Abidan the son of Gideoni over the tribal army of the sons of Benjamin.

25Then the flag of the camp of the sons of Dan, by their armies, which formed the rear guard for all the camps, set out, with Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai over its army, 26and Pagiel the son of Ochran over the tribal army of the sons of Asher; 27and Ahira the son of Enan over the tribal army of the sons of Naphtali. 28[f]This was the order of marching for the sons of Israel by their armies as they set out.

29Then Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out to the place of which the LORD said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us and we will do you good, for the LORD has [g]promised good concerning Israel.” 30But he said to him, “I will not come, but rather will go to my own land and relatives.” 31Then he said, “Please do not leave us, since you know [h]where we should camp in the wilderness, and you will be as eyes for us. 32So it will be, if you go with us, that [i]whatever good the LORD [j]does for us, we will [k]do for you.”

33So they moved on from the mountain of the LORD three days’ journey, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD going on in front of them for the [l]three days, to seek out a resting place for them. 34And the cloud of the LORD was over them by day when they set out from the camp.

35Then it came about when the ark set out that Moses said,

“Rise up, LORD!

And may Your enemies be scattered,

And those who hate You flee from Your presence.” 36And when it came to rest, he said,

“Return, LORD,

To the myriad thousands of Israel.”