Numbers 10: Two silver trumpets, and Israel leaves Sinai
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What happens?
Yahweh tells Moses to make two silver trumpets for calling the people together and for setting the camps on the move, in war and at the feasts. In the second month of the second year the cloud lifts, and Israel leaves the wilderness of Sinai, tribe by tribe, each under its standard. Moses asks Hobab to come with them as their guide, and when the ark sets out and when it rests, Moses calls to Yahweh.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. God's own words are in 9 of the 36 verses: his instructions about the trumpets in verses 2 to 10. Moses speaks to Hobab in verses 29, 31 and 32, and Hobab answers in verse 30. In verse 29 Moses repeats what Yahweh had said, so it is not in gold. In verses 35 and 36 Moses speaks to Yahweh. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
In plain English: Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
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2“Make two trumpets of silver. You shall make them of beaten work. You shall use them for the calling of the congregation and for the journeying of the camps.God speaks
In plain English: "Make yourself two trumpets of silver, of hammered work. Use them for calling the community together and for setting the camps on the move.
The Hebrew word: "Trumpet" is chatsotsrah, a metal trumpet. The dictionary gives it as "a trumpet". It is a different word from the ram's horn, the shofar, that sounds at Mount Sinai in .
How it is translated: This Bible says "trumpet" or "trumpets" in all 27 verses that use chatsotsrah.
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3When they blow them, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the door of the Tent of Meeting.God speaks
In plain English: When they blow them, the whole community is to gather to you at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.
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4If they blow just one, then the princes, the heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves to you.God speaks
In plain English: If only one is blown, the leaders, the heads of the thousands (or: clans) of Israel, are to gather to you.
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5When you blow an alarm, the camps that lie on the east side shall go forward.God speaks
In plain English: When you blow an alarm (a loud signal), the camps on the east side are to set out.
The Hebrew word: "Alarm" is teruah, which the dictionary gives as "clamor": a shout of joy, a battle cry, or the loud sound of trumpets.
How it is translated: In Numbers this Bible says "alarm" in 3 of the 5 verses that use teruah, 2 of them in this chapter. In the whole Bible it says "shout" or a longer form in 19 of its 33 verses.
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6When you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that lie on the south side shall go forward. They shall blow an alarm for their journeys.God speaks
In plain English: When you blow an alarm a second time, the camps on the south side are to set out. An alarm is to be blown for their setting out.
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7But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm.God speaks
In plain English: But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you are to blow, but not sound an alarm.
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8“The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. This shall be to you for a statute forever throughout your generations.God speaks
In plain English: "The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to blow the trumpets. This is to be a statute for you forever, through all your generations.
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9When you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets. Then you will be remembered before Yahweh your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.God speaks
In plain English: When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, you are to sound an alarm with the trumpets. Then you will be remembered before Yahweh your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.
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10“Also in the day of your gladness, and in your set feasts, and in the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be to you for a memorial before your God. I am Yahweh your God.”God speaks
In plain English: "Also on your days of gladness, at your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you are to blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over your peace offerings. They will be a memorial (a reminder) for you before your God. I am Yahweh your God."
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11In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle of the covenant.
In plain English: In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud was lifted from over the tabernacle of the Testimony (this Bible: covenant).
Good to know: Israel came to the wilderness of Sinai in the third month after leaving Egypt (). Here, in the second month of the second year, they leave it.
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12The children of Israel went forward on their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud stayed in the wilderness of Paran.
In plain English: The Israelites set out by stages from the wilderness of Sinai, and the cloud settled in the wilderness of Paran.
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13They first went forward according to the commandment of Yahweh by Moses.
In plain English: They set out for the first time (or: the first ones set out) at Yahweh's command, given through Moses.
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14First, the standard of the camp of the children of Judah went forward according to their armies. Nahshon the son of Amminadab was over his army.
In plain English: First the standard (the flag) of the camp of Judah set out, by their divisions. Nahshon the son of Amminadab was over its army.
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15Nethanel the son of Zuar was over the army of the tribe of the children of Issachar.
In plain English: Nethanel the son of Zuar was over the army of the tribe of Issachar.
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16Eliab the son of Helon was over the army of the tribe of the children of Zebulun.
In plain English: Eliab the son of Helon was over the army of the tribe of Zebulun.
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17The tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who bore the tabernacle, went forward.
In plain English: The tabernacle was taken down, and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who carried the tabernacle, set out.
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18The standard of the camp of Reuben went forward according to their armies. Elizur the son of Shedeur was over his army.
In plain English: The standard of the camp of Reuben set out, by their divisions. Elizur the son of Shedeur was over its army.
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19Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai was over the army of the tribe of the children of Simeon.
In plain English: Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai was over the army of the tribe of Simeon.
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20Eliasaph the son of Deuel was over the army of the tribe of the children of Gad.
In plain English: Eliasaph the son of Deuel was over the army of the tribe of Gad.
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21The Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary. The others set up the tabernacle before they arrived.
In plain English: The Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things (or: the sanctuary). The others set up the tabernacle before they arrived.
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22The standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies. Elishama the son of Ammihud was over his army.
In plain English: The standard of the camp of Ephraim set out, by their divisions. Elishama the son of Ammihud was over its army.
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23Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur was over the army of the tribe of the children of Manasseh.
In plain English: Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur was over the army of the tribe of Manasseh.
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24Abidan the son of Gideoni was over the army of the tribe of the children of Benjamin.
In plain English: Abidan the son of Gideoni was over the army of the tribe of Benjamin.
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25The standard of the camp of the children of Dan, which was the rear guard of all the camps, set forward according to their armies. Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai was over his army.
In plain English: The standard of the camp of Dan set out, by their divisions. It was the rear guard of all the camps. Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai was over its army.
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26Pagiel the son of Ochran was over the army of the tribe of the children of Asher.
In plain English: Pagiel the son of Ochran was over the army of the tribe of Asher.
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27Ahira the son of Enan was over the army of the tribe of the children of Naphtali.
In plain English: Ahira the son of Enan was over the army of the tribe of Naphtali.
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28Thus were the travels of the children of Israel according to their armies; and they went forward.
In plain English: This was the order in which the Israelites set out, by their divisions, and so they set out.
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29Moses said to Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are journeying to the place of which Yahweh said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well; for Yahweh has spoken good concerning Israel.”
In plain English: Moses said to Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, "We are setting out for the place Yahweh spoke of when he said, 'I will give it to you.' Come with us, and we will treat you well, because Yahweh has promised good things to Israel."
The Hebrew word: "Father-in-law" is choten, a word for a man related by marriage. The dictionary gives the word it comes from as "to give (a daughter) away in marriage".
How it is translated: This Bible says "father-in-law" in 18 of the 32 verses that use the word, and "brother-in-law" in 2, one of them , about Hobab.
What changes: The Hebrew can be read two ways. "Moses' father-in-law" may be Reuel, as in and , so that Hobab is Moses' brother-in-law. Or it may be Hobab himself: uses the same Hebrew word for Hobab, and this Bible says "brother-in-law" there. Exodus also calls Moses' father-in-law Jethro (). The text does not explain how the names fit together.
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30He said to him, “I will not go; but I will depart to my own land, and to my relatives.”
In plain English: He said to him, "I will not go. I will go back to my own land and to my own family."
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31Moses said, “Don’t leave us, please; because you know how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes.
In plain English: Moses said, "Please do not leave us. You know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes.
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32It shall be, if you go with us—yes, it shall be—that whatever good Yahweh does to us, we will do the same to you.”
In plain English: If you go with us, yes, if you do, then whatever good Yahweh does for us, we will do the same for you."
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33They set forward from the Mount of Yahweh three days’ journey. The ark of Yahweh’s covenant went before them three days’ journey, to seek out a resting place for them.
In plain English: They set out from the mountain of Yahweh and traveled three days. The ark of Yahweh's covenant went ahead of them for the three days, to look for a place for them to rest.
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34The cloud of Yahweh was over them by day, when they set forward from the camp.
In plain English: The cloud of Yahweh was over them by day when they set out from the camp.
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35When the ark went forward, Moses said, “Rise up, Yahweh, and let your enemies be scattered! Let those who hate you flee before you!”
In plain English: Whenever the ark set out, Moses said, "Rise up, Yahweh! Let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you run away from you."
Good to know: begins with words very like these: "Let God arise! Let his enemies be scattered! Let them who hate him also flee before him."
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36When it rested, he said, “Return, Yahweh, to the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel.”
In plain English: Whenever it came to rest, he said, "Return, Yahweh, to the countless thousands (literally: the ten thousands of thousands) of Israel."
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