Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Make two silver trumpets from a single piece of metal for summoning the community and signaling the movement of the camps. When they blow these trumpets, all the assembly will gather to you at the entrance of the tabernacle of meeting.

When they blow just one trumpet, then the leaders of Israel, who are heads of the thousands, shall gather themselves to you. But when you blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east side shall go forward. When you blow an alarm a second time, the camps on the south side shall take their journey and then sound the alarm for their departure.

When the congregation is gathered together, you shall blow the trumpets but not sound an alarm. The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; this will be to you an enduring ordinance throughout your generations. When you go to war in your land against an enemy that oppresses you, then blow an alarm with the trumpets.

Also in your times of joy and celebration, and at the beginning of each month, you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and peace offerings. On the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle of the testimony. The children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai, and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.

They first took their journey according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses. The standard of the camp of Judah led out first, with Nahshon son of Amminadab in command over his division. Over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel son of Zuar, and over the host of the tribe of Zebulun was Eliab son of Helon.

The tabernacle was taken down, and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing it. The standard of the camp of Reuben moved forward in its divisions, with Elizur son of Shedeur leading his army. Over the host of the tribe of Simeon was Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, and over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph son of Deuel.

The Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary, while the others set up the tabernacle before they arrived. The standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim moved forward according to their divisions, with Elishama son of Ammihud in command over his army. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

And over the host of the tribe of Benjamin was Abidan son of Gideoni. The standard of the camp of Dan, which was at the rear of all the camps, moved forward with its host, led by Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel son of Ocran.

And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira son of Enan. Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies when they set forward. Moses said to Hobab, son of Reuel the Midianite and his father-in-law, "We are journeying to the place the Lord said he would give us; come with us, for the Lord has spoken well of Israel.

Hobab replied, "I will not go; instead, I will depart to my own land and to my relatives. Moses asked him, "Leave us not, I pray you; for you know how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and you will be to us instead of eyes." Hobab said, "If you go with us, we will do to you what good the Lord does to us."

The children of Israel departed from the mount of the Lord, traveling three days' journey with the ark of the covenant of the Lord leading the way to search out a resting place for them. The cloud of the Lord was upon them by day when they went out of the camp.

When the ark moved forward, Moses said, "Rise up, Lord, and let your enemies be scattered; let those who hate you flee before you." And when it rested, he said, "Return, O Lord, to the countless thousands of Israel."