1.
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
spake. See note on Numbers 1:1 .
2.
Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.
two: here only two. Later, 120 (2 Chronicles 5:12 ).
trumpets. These were of two principal kinds: those called chazozerah, made of silver, and straight; the other, shophar, a horn. These must be distinguished. The other words are yobel , a jubilee horn (Exodus 19:16 ); and tako'a, the blast of a trumpet (Ezekiel 7:14 ).
of a whole piece = of beaten work.
use them: for four purposes: (1) assembly; (2) journeying; (3) for war; (4) for the feasts.
assembly = whole congregation: i e. in its civil character.
3.
And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
door = entrance.
tabernacle of the congregation = tent of meeting. App-40 .
4.
And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.
5.
When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward.
blow. Hebrew. teru'ah = a prolonged blowing.
6.
When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys.
7.
But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm.
congregation = assembly = a portion only, in its military character.
8.
And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations.
sons. Compare Leviticus 1:5 .
9.
And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
10.
Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.
solemn days = appointed seasons. Between Numbers 10:10 and Numbers 10:11 comes in the account of Jethro, Exodus 18 . See Deuteronomy 1:7-14 , where the choosing of judges takes place after Horeb, but is recorded in Exodus 18 before Horeb.
11.
And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony.
twentieth day, &c. See App-50 .
tabernacle = habitation. Hebrew. mishkan. App-40 .
12.
And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.
children = sons.
took their journeys. Hebrew idiom, "journeyed for their journeyings" = set forward. On 20th of Ziph, 1490, and ended 10th Abib 1451. Lasted 38 years and 15 days.
13.
And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
commandment. Hebrew mouth. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 ; "mouth "put for what is spoken by it.
14.
In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
the first place. For the order of the twelve tribes, see App-45 .
camp. Note distinction between "camp" and "host". Compare Numbers 2:3 .
Nahshon. Compare Numbers 1:7 ; Numbers 2:3 .
15.
And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar.
16.
And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.
17.
And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle.
18.
And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur.
19.
And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
20.
And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
Deuel, called also Reuel, Numbers 2:14 .
21.
And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came.
the other: i.e. the Gershonites and Merarites. See Numbers 10:17 .
22.
And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud.
23.
And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
24.
And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.
25.
And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rereward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
26.
And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran.
27.
And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan.
28.
Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward.
29.
And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel.
Baguel, called also Eeuel (Exodus 2:18 ).
30.
And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred.
31.
And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes.
32.
And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee.
33.
And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them.
mount of the LORD = mountain of Jehovah: because His glory had there been revealed.
three days. From 20-23 Ziph. App-50 .
34.
And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp.
Read this verse after Numbers 10:36 . See following note.
35.
And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.
(Numbers 10:35-36 ) These two verses are marked Hebrew Manuscripts by "inverted Nuns", i.e. the Hebrew letter (n) inverted and used as brackets, to show that Numbers 10:35 and Numbers 10:36 are thus enclosed to show that Numbers 10:34 should follow Numbers 10:36 . This is shown by the Structure:
33 | The setting forth of the ark. 35 | "Rise up, O Jehovah" Words 36 | "Return, O Jehovah" Spoken. 34 | The setting forth of the cloud.
There are eight of these inverted nuns. See notes on Psalms 107:23-28 .
Rise up. A beautiful prayer. Compare Psalms 3:7 ; Psalms 7:6 ; Psalms 10:12 ; Psalms 17:13 ; Psalms 44:26 .
36.
And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel.
These two verses are marked Hebrew Manuscripts by "inverted Nuns", i.e. the Hebrew letter (n) inverted and used as brackets, to show that Numbers 10:35 and Numbers 10:36 are thus enclosed to show that Numbers 10:34 should follow Numbers 10:36 . This is shown by the Structure:
33 | The setting forth of the ark. 35 | "Rise up, O Jehovah" Words 36 | "Return, O Jehovah" Spoken. 34 | The setting forth of the cloud.
There are eight of these inverted nuns. See notes on Psalms 107:23-28 .
Return. Either, Return, O Jehovah; or, Cause to return. Compare Deuteronomy 30:3 .Psalms 14:7 ; Psalms 126:1 . The former better. Compare Exodus 33:14-16 .