Numbers 10:11-28

The Voice

¹¹ When the cloud finally rose up (on the twentieth day of the second month of the second year) from over the congregation tent that housed the terms of the covenant, ¹² the Israelites set out from the Sinai Wilderness until the cloud indicated they should stop in the Paran Wilderness. ¹³ This was the first time they were organized and traveled in this manner—as the Eternal had instructed through Moses.

¹⁴ First the Judahite division left, following their banner. Judah’s tribal troops were led by Nahshon, Amminadab’s son. ¹⁵ The Issachar tribal troops were led by Nethanel, Zuar’s son; ¹⁶ and Helon’s son, Eliab, led the Zebulunite tribal troops.

¹⁷ At that point, the tent was properly disassembled and carried out by the Gershonites and Merarites.

¹⁸ They were followed by the Reubenite division, following their banner. Reuben’s tribal troops were led by Shedeur’s son, Elizur. ¹⁹ The Simeon tribe’s troops were led by Shelumiel, Zurishaddai’s son; ²⁰ and the Gadite tribal army followed the direction of Eliasaph, son of Deuel.

²¹ Next to leave were the Kohathites, who carried the holy things as instructed. The tent would be set up again before they arrived by the Gershonites and Merarites.

²² Then the Ephraimite division departed under their banner. Ephraim’s tribal troops were led by Elishama (Ammihud’s son). ²³ The Manassehite tribal troops were led by Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur; ²⁴ and Benjamin’s tribal troops were led by Gideoni’s son, Abidan.

²⁵ Finally, at the rear came the Danite division following their banner. Dan’s tribal troops were led by Ahiezer, Ammishaddai’s son. ²⁶ The Asherite tribal troops went under the leadership of Pagiel, Ochran’s son; ²⁷ and the Naphtali tribal troops under Enan’s son, Ahira. ²⁸ This is the order in which the Israelites broke camp and journeyed through the wilderness.