Numbers 10
International Children’s Bible
The Silver Trumpets
10 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Make two trumpets of hammered silver. Use them to call the people together and to march out of camp. 3 When both trumpets are blown, the people should gather. They should gather before you at the entrance to the Meeting Tent. 4 If you blow only one trumpet, the leaders should meet before you. 5 When you blow the trumpets once, the tribes camping on the east should move. 6 When you blow them again, the tribes camping on the south should move. The sound will tell them to move. 7 When you want to gather the people, blow the trumpets. But don’t blow them the same way.
8 “Aaron’s sons, the priests, should blow the trumpets. This is a law for you and your descendants from now on. 9 You might be fighting an enemy who attacks you in your own land. Blow the trumpets. The Lord your God will remember you. He will save you from your enemies. 10 Also blow your trumpets at happy times. Blow them during your feasts and at New Moon festivals. Blow them over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. They will help you remember your God. I am the Lord your God.”
The Israelites Move Camp
11 The cloud lifted from the Tent of the Agreement. This was on the twentieth day of the second month of the second year. 12 So the Israelites moved from the Desert of Sinai. They moved until the cloud stopped in the Desert of Paran. 13 This was their first time to move. They did it as the Lord had commanded Moses.
14 The divisions from the camp of Judah moved first under their flag. Nahshon son of Amminadab was the commander. 15 Nethanel son of Zuar was over the division of the tribe of Issachar. 16 Eliab son of Helon was over the division of the tribe of Zebulun. 17 Then the Meeting Tent was taken down. The Gershonites and Merarites, who carried it, moved next.
18 Then came the divisions from the camp of Reuben under their flag. Elizur son of Shedeur was the commander. 19 Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the division of the tribe of Simeon. 20 Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad. 21 Then came the Kohathites. They carried the holy things. The Holy Tent was to be set up before they arrived.
22 Next came the divisions from the camp of Ephraim under their flag. Elishama son of Ammihud was the commander. 23 Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of Manasseh. 24 Abidan son of Gideoni was over the division of the tribe of Benjamin.
25 The last ones were the rear guard for all the tribes. These were the divisions from the camp of Dan under their flag. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai was the commander. 26 Pagiel son of Ocran was over the division of the tribe of Asher. 27 Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of Naphtali. 28 This was the order the Israelite divisions marched in when they moved.
29 Hobab was the son of Reuel the Midianite. Reuel, who is also called Jethro, was Moses’ father-in-law. Moses said to Hobab, “We are moving to the land God promised to give us. Come with us. We will be good to you. The Lord has promised good things to Israel.”
30 But Hobab answered, “No, I will not go. I will go back to my own land where I was born.”
31 But Moses said, “Please don’t leave us. You know where we can camp in the desert. You can be our guide. 32 Come with us. We will share with you all the good things the Lord gives us.” 33 So they left the mountain of the Lord. The Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went in front of the people. For three days they looked for a place to camp. 34 The Lord’s cloud was over them during the day when they left their camp.
35 When the Ark of the Covenant left the camp, Moses always said,
“Rise up, Lord!
Scatter your enemies.
Make those who are against you run from you.”
36 And when the Ark of the Covenant was set down, Moses always said,
“Return, Lord,
to the thousands of people of Israel.”
Numbers 10
Revised Standard Version
The Silver Trumpets
10 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Make two silver trumpets; of hammered work you shall make them; and you shall use them for summoning the congregation, and for breaking camp. 3 And when both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 4 But if they blow only one, then the leaders, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. 5 When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out. 6 And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out. 7 But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm. 8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations. 9 And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the Lord your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies. 10 On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts, and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; they shall serve you for remembrance before your God: I am the Lord your God.”
Departure from Sinai
11 In 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 testimony, 12 and the people of Israel set out by stages from the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Paran. 13 They set out for the first time at the command of the Lord by Moses. 14 The standard of the camp of the men of Judah set out first by their companies; and over their host was Nahshon the son of Ammin′adab. 15 And over the host of the tribe of the men of Is′sachar was Nethan′el the son of Zu′ar. 16 And over the host of the tribe of the men of Zeb′ulun was Eli′ab the son of Helon.
17 And when the tabernacle was taken down, the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merar′i, who carried the tabernacle, set out. 18 And the standard of the camp of Reuben set out by their companies; and over their host was Eli′zur the son of Shed′eur. 19 And over the host of the tribe of the men of Simeon was Shelu′mi-el the son of Zurishad′dai. 20 And over the host of the tribe of the men of Gad was Eli′asaph the son of Deu′el.
21 Then the Ko′hathites set out, carrying the holy things, and the tabernacle was set up before their arrival. 22 And the standard of the camp of the men of E′phraim set out by their companies; and over their host was Elish′ama the son of Ammi′hud. 23 And over the host of the tribe of the men of Manas′seh was Gama′liel the son of Pedah′zur. 24 And over the host of the tribe of the men of Benjamin was Abi′dan the son of Gideo′ni.
25 Then the standard of the camp of the men of Dan, acting as the rear guard of all the camps, set out by their companies; and over their host was Ahie′zer the son of Ammishad′dai. 26 And over the host of the tribe of the men of Asher was Pa′giel the son of Ochran. 27 And over the host of the tribe of the men of Naph′tali was Ahi′ra the son of Enan. 28 This was the order of march of the people of Israel according to their hosts, when they set out.
29 And Moses said to Hobab the son of Reu′el the Mid′ianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out for 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 promised good to Israel.” 30 But he said to him, “I will not go; I will depart to my own land and to my kindred.” 31 And he said, “Do not leave us, I pray you, for you know how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and you will serve as eyes for us. 32 And if you go with us, whatever good the Lord will do to us, the same will we do to you.”
33 So they set out from the mount of the Lord three days’ journey; and the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them three days’ journey, to seek out a resting place for them. 34 And the cloud of the Lord was over them by day, whenever they set out from the camp.
35 And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, “Arise, O Lord, and let thy enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.” 36 And when it rested, he said, “Return, O Lord, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.”
Numbers 10
New King James Version
Two Silver Trumpets
10 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “Make two silver trumpets for yourself; you shall make them of hammered work; you shall use them for (A)calling the congregation and for directing the movement of the camps. 3 When (B)they blow both of them, all the congregation shall gather before you at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 4 But if they blow only one, then the leaders, the (C)heads of the divisions of Israel, shall gather to you. 5 When you sound the (D)advance, (E)the camps that lie on the east side shall then begin their journey. 6 When you sound the advance the second time, then the camps that lie (F)on the south side shall begin their journey; they shall sound the call for them to begin their journeys. 7 And when the assembly is to be gathered together, (G)you shall blow, but not (H)sound the advance. 8 (I)The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and these shall be to you as an [a]ordinance forever throughout your generations.
9 (J)“When you go to war in your land against the enemy who (K)oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be (L)remembered before the Lord your God, and you will be saved from your enemies. 10 Also (M)in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be (N)a memorial for you before your God: I am the Lord your God.”
Departure from Sinai
11 Now it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud (O)was taken up from above the tabernacle of the Testimony. 12 And the children of Israel set out from the (P)Wilderness of Sinai on (Q)their journeys; then the cloud settled down in the (R)Wilderness of Paran. 13 So they started out for the first time (S)according to the command of the Lord by the hand of Moses.
14 The [b]standard of the camp of the children of Judah (T)set out first according to their armies; over their army was (U)Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 15 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar. 16 And over the army of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.
17 Then (V)the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set out, (W)carrying the tabernacle.
18 And (X)the standard of the camp of Reuben set out according to their armies; over their army was Elizur the son of Shedeur. 19 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 20 And over the army of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
21 Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the (Y)holy things. (The tabernacle would be [c]prepared for their arrival.)
22 And (Z)the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set out according to their armies; over their army was Elishama the son of Ammihud. 23 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 24 And over the army of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.
25 Then (AA)the standard of the camp of the children of Dan (the rear guard of all the camps) set out according to their armies; over their army was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran. 27 And over the army of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan.
28 (AB)Thus was the order of march of the children of Israel, according to their armies, when they began their journey.
29 Now Moses said to (AC)Hobab the son of (AD)Reuel[d] the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, (AE)‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and (AF)we will treat you well; for (AG)the Lord has promised good things to Israel.”
30 And he said to him, “I will not go, but I will depart to my own land and to my relatives.”
31 So Moses said, “Please do not leave, inasmuch as you know how we are to camp in the wilderness, and you can [e]be our (AH)eyes. 32 And it shall be, if you go with us—indeed it shall be—that (AI)whatever good the Lord will do to us, the same we will do to you.”
33 So they departed from (AJ)the mountain of the Lord on a journey of three days; and the ark of the covenant of the Lord (AK)went before them for the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them. 34 And (AL)the cloud of the Lord was above them by day when they went out from the camp.
35 So it was, whenever the ark set out, that Moses said:
(AM)“Rise up, O Lord!
Let Your enemies be scattered,
And let those who hate You flee before You.”
36 And when it rested, he said:
“Return, O Lord,
To the many thousands of Israel.”
Footnotes
- Numbers 10:8 statute
- Numbers 10:14 banner
- Numbers 10:21 Prepared by the Gershonites and the Merarites
- Numbers 10:29 Jethro, Ex. 3:1; LXX Raguel
- Numbers 10:31 Act as our guide
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.