The Father's Trumpets Call His People
10 1 Our Father spoke to Moses, saying:
2 Make yourself two silver trumpets, hammered work; use them to call the community and to move the camps. 3 When both sound, the whole community must gather to you at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 4 But if only one is blown, the leaders — heads of Israel's clans — are to gather to you. 5 When you sound a blast, the camps on the east side are to set out. 6 Sound a second blast: camps on the south side set out. Sound a blast for their setting out. 7 But when you call the assembly together, blow a steady note, not an alarm. 8 Aaron's sons, the priests, are to blow the trumpets—a lasting law for you throughout your generations. 9 When you go to war in your land against the enemy crushing you, sound an alarm on the trumpets — you will be remembered before me and saved from your enemies. 10 Also on your day of joy, at your appointed feasts and new moons, blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over your peace offerings — a memorial for you before our Father. I am your Father.
The Journey From Sinai Begins
11 In the second year, second month, on the twentieth day, the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle of the testimony. 12 The Israelites set out from the Sinai wilderness, stage by stage; the cloud settled in the Paran wilderness. 13 This was their first setting out, at our Father's command through Moses.
14 Judah's camp banner set out first, by their divisions, Nahshon son of Amminadab over his division. 15 Nethanel son of Zuar was over the division of the tribe of Issachar, 16 and Eliab son of Helon was over the division of the tribe of Zebulun. 17 The tabernacle was taken down, and the sons of Gershon and sons of Merari set out, carrying it. 18 Reuben's camp standard set out by divisions, Elizur son of Shedeur over its division. 19 Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the division of the tribe of Simeon, 20 and Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad. 21 The Kohathites set out carrying the holy things, and the tabernacle was set up before they arrived.
22 Ephraim's camp standard set out by division, Elishama son of Ammihud over its division. 23 Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of Manasseh, 24 and Abidan son of Gideoni was over the division of the tribe of Benjamin.
25 Dan's camp standard set out, rear guard of all the camps, by their divisions, with Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai over its division. 26 Pagiel son of Ochran was over the division of the tribe of Asher, 27 and Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of Naphtali. 28 This was the order of march for the Israelites by their divisions as they set out.
29 Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, his father-in-law, "We are traveling to the place our Father said, 'I will give it to you.' Come with us; we will treat you well, for our Father has promised good to Israel."
30 But Hobab said to him, "I will not go; I am returning to my own land and my own people."
31 Moses said, "Please don't leave us, since you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you'll be our eyes." 32 If you come with us, whatever good our Father does for us, we'll do the same for you.
33 They set out from the mountain of our Father on a three-day journey, and the ark of our Father's covenant went ahead of them that three-day journey, seeking a resting place for them. a a v33 Even on the march, our Father went ahead of his children to find their place of rest — the leading Shepherd who never sends his people where he has not already gone. 34 The cloud of our Father was over them by day as they left the camp. 35 Whenever the ark set out, Moses said, Rise, O Father! Let your enemies be scattered; let those who hate you flee before you. 36 Whenever it rested, he'd say, Return, O Father, to Israel's countless thousands.
