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The Israelites Depart from Sinai

11 And it happened, in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth of the month the cloud was lifted from upon the tabernacle of the testimony.[a] 12 And the Israelites[b] set out for their journey[c] from the desert of Sinai, and the cloud dwelled in the desert of Paran. 13 They set out for the first time[d] on the command of Yahweh in the hand of Moses.[e] 14 The standard of the camp of the descendants[f] of Judah set out for the first time according to their divisions, with Nahshon son of Amminadab over its division. 15 And Nathanel son of Zuar was over the division of the descendants[g] of Issachar; 16 Eliab son of Helon was over the division of the tribe of the descendants[h] of Zebulun.

17 The tabernacle was taken down, and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, the bearers of the tabernacle, set out. 18 And the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their divisions; Elizur son of Shedeur was over their division. 19 Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the division of the sons of the tribe of Simeon. 20 Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of the descendants[i] of Gad.

21 The Kohathites, the bearers of the sanctuary, set out, and they set up the tabernacle before they arrived. 22 And the stand of the camp of the descendants[j] of Ephraim set out according to their divisions; Elishama son of Ammihud was over its division. 23 Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of the descendants[k] of Manasseh. 24 Abidan son of Gideoni was over the division of the tribe of the descendants[l] of Benjamin.

25 Then the standard of the camp of the descendants[m] of Dan, who formed a rear guard for all the camps, set out according to their divisions; Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai was over its division. 26 Pagiel son of Ocran was over the division of the tribe of the descendants[n] of Asher. 27 Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of the descendants[o] of Naphtali. 28 These were the departures of the Israelites[p] according to their divisions; and so they set out.

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 10:11 Some modern translations (e.g., the NRSV) have “tabernacle of the covenant”
  2. Numbers 10:12 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  3. Numbers 10:12 Hebrew “journeys”
  4. Numbers 10:13 Literally “in the beginning”
  5. Numbers 10:13 Or “through Moses”
  6. Numbers 10:14 Or “sons”
  7. Numbers 10:15 Or “sons”
  8. Numbers 10:16 Or “sons”
  9. Numbers 10:20 Or “sons”
  10. Numbers 10:22 Or “sons”
  11. Numbers 10:23 Or “sons”
  12. Numbers 10:24 Or “sons”
  13. Numbers 10:25 Or “sons”
  14. Numbers 10:26 Or “sons”
  15. Numbers 10:27 Or “sons”
  16. Numbers 10:28 Literally “sons/children of Israel”

Organization of the wilderness march

11 On the twentieth day of the second month in the second year, the cloud ascended from the covenant dwelling. 12 The Israelites set out on their march from the Sinai desert, and the cloud settled in the Paran desert.

13 They marched for the first time at the Lord’s command through Moses. 14 The banner of Judah’s camp marched first with its military units. Nahshon, Amminadab’s son, commanded its military. 15 Nethanel, Zuar’s son, commanded the military of the tribe of Issachar. 16 Eliab, Helon’s son, commanded the military of the tribe of Zebulun. 17 The dwelling was taken down, and the Gershonites and the Merarites, who carried the dwelling, marched. 18 The banner of Reuben’s camp marched with its military units. Elizur, Shedeur’s son, commanded its military. 19 Shelumiel, Zurishaddai’s son, commanded the military of the tribe of Simeon. 20 Eliasaph, Deuel’s son, commanded the military of the tribe of Gad. 21 The Kohathites, who carried the holy things, marched. The dwelling would be set up before their arrival. 22 The banner of Ephraim’s camp marched with its military units. Elishama, Ammihud’s son, commanded its military. 23 Gamaliel, Pedahzur’s son, commanded the military of the tribe of Manasseh. 24 Abidan, Gideoni’s son, commanded the military of the tribe of Benjamin. 25 The banner of Dan’s camp, at the rear of the whole camp, marched with its military units. Ahiezer, Ammishaddai’s son, commanded its military. 26 Pagiel, Ochran’s son, commanded the military of the tribe of Asher. 27 Ahira, Enan’s son, commanded the military of the tribe of Naphtali. 28 This was the order of departure of the Israelites with their military units when they set out.

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