Numbers

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

1The LORD spoke to Moses. He said:

2Make 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.

2Make two trumpets out of silver. Hammer each one from a single piece. Use them to call the people together. Use them to tell the camps to start moving.

3And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

3When both trumpets sound, everyone must come to you. They will meet at the door of the holy tent, where God met with his people.

4And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.

4If only one trumpet sounds, the leaders come to you. They are the heads of the family groups of Israel.

5When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward.

5When you blow short, quick blasts, the camps on the east side start moving.

NoteThe old word here is "alarm," but it does not mean danger. It means a set of short, quick trumpet blasts, used as a signal to march.

6When 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.

6When you blow short blasts a second time, the camps on the south side start moving. Short blasts are the sign to travel.

7But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm.

7But when you want everyone to gather, blow long, steady notes. Do not blow the short blasts then.

8And 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.

8Aaron's sons, the priests, are the ones who blow the trumpets. Priests are the men who serve God at the holy tent. This rule is for always, for you and your children after you.

9And 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.

9Someday an enemy may attack you in your own land. When you go out to fight, blow the short blasts on the trumpets. Then God will remember you. He will save you from your enemies.

10Also 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.

10Blow the trumpets on your happy days too. Blow them at your special feasts and at the start of each month. Blow them when you burn gifts to God on the altar. Blow them over your peace offerings, the gifts you share as a meal. The sound will help you remember God. I am the LORD your God.

11And 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.

11It was the second year after Israel left Egypt. On the twentieth day of the second month, the cloud lifted. It rose up off the holy tent that held God's law.

12And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.

12So the people of Israel left the desert of Sinai. They traveled from place to place. The cloud stopped in the desert of Paran.

13And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

13This was the very first time they moved. They went just as the LORD had told Moses.

14In 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.

14Judah's camp went first, group by group, under its flag. Nahshon son of Amminadab led them.

15And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar.

15Nethaneel son of Zuar led the group from the tribe of Issachar.

16And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.

16Eliab son of Helon led the group from the tribe of Zebulun.

17And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle.

17Then the holy tent was taken down. The families of Gershon and Merari carried it and moved out.

18And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur.

18Next came Reuben's camp, group by group, under its flag. Elizur son of Shedeur led them.

19And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

19Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai led the group from the tribe of Simeon.

20And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

20Eliasaph son of Deuel led the group from the tribe of Gad.

21And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came.

21Then the family of Kohath moved out. They carried the holy things. The tent was put up again before they got there.

22And 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.

22Next came Ephraim's camp, group by group, under its flag. Elishama son of Ammihud led them.

23And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

23Gamaliel son of Pedahzur led the group from the tribe of Manasseh.

24And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.

24Abidan son of Gideoni led the group from the tribe of Benjamin.

25And 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.

25Last came Dan's camp under its flag. They walked at the very back and guarded all the others. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai led them.

NoteThe old word "rereward" means rear guard. Dan's camp walked last and watched the back of the whole group.

26And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran.

26Pagiel son of Ocran led the group from the tribe of Asher.

27And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan.

27Ahira son of Enan led the group from the tribe of Naphtali.

28Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward.

28This was the order the people of Israel walked in. They moved out group by group.

29And 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.

29Moses spoke to Hobab. Hobab's father was Reuel from Midian, and Reuel was Moses' father-in-law. Moses said, "We are going to the land God promised to give us. Come with us, and we will be good to you. God has promised good things to Israel."

30And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred.

30Hobab said, "No, I will not go. I am going back to my own land and my own family."

31And 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.

31Moses said, "Please do not leave us. You know this desert. You know the good places to camp. You can be our eyes."

32And 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.

32"If you come with us, we will share with you. Whatever good things God gives us, we will give you too."

33And 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.

33They left God's mountain and walked for three days. The ark went in front of them the whole way. The ark was the special gold-covered box that held God's agreement with Israel. It led them to find a place to rest.

Note"The mount of the LORD" means Mount Sinai, where God had given the people his law.

34And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp.

34God's cloud stayed over them in the daytime, as they left the camp.

35And 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.

35Every time the ark started out, Moses said this: "Get up, LORD! Scatter your enemies. Make everyone who hates you run away."

36And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel.

36And when the ark stopped, he said: "Come back, LORD, to the many thousands of Israel."