Numbers 9–10

1In the first month of the second year after Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai:

2“The Israelites are to observe the Passover at its appointed time.

3You are to observe it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month, in accordance with its statutes and ordinances.”

4So Moses told the Israelites to observe the Passover,

5and they did so in the Wilderness of Sinai, at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Israelites did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

6But there were some men who were unclean due to a dead body, so they could not observe the Passover on that day. And they came before Moses and Aaron that same day

7and said to Moses, “We are unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be excluded from presenting the LORD’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?”

8“Wait here until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you,” Moses replied.

9Then the LORD said to Moses,

10“Tell the Israelites: ‘When any one of you or your descendants is unclean because of a dead body, or is away on a journey, he may still observe the Passover to the LORD.

11Such people are to observe it at twilight on the fourteenth day of the second month. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs;

12they may not leave any of it until morning or break any of its bones. They must observe the Passover according to all its statutes.

13But if a man who is ceremonially clean and is not on a journey still fails to observe the Passover, he must be cut off from his people, because he did not present the LORD’s offering at its appointed time. That man will bear the consequences of his sin.

14If a foreigner dwelling among you wants to observe the Passover to the LORD, he is to do so according to the Passover statute and its ordinances. You are to apply the same statute to both the foreigner and the native of the land.’”

15On the day that the tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony, was set up, the cloud covered it and appeared like fire above the tabernacle from evening until morning.

16It remained that way continually; the cloud would cover the tabernacle by day, and at night it would appear like fire.

17Whenever the cloud was lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites would set out, and wherever the cloud settled, there the Israelites would camp.

18At the LORD’s command the Israelites set out, and at the LORD’s command they camped. As long as the cloud remained over the tabernacle, they remained encamped.

19Even when the cloud lingered over the tabernacle for many days, the Israelites kept the LORD’s charge and did not set out.

20Sometimes the cloud remained over the tabernacle for only a few days, and they would camp at the LORD’s command and set out at the LORD’s command.

21Sometimes the cloud remained only from evening until morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they would set out. Whether it was by day or by night, when the cloud was taken up, they would set out.

22Whether the cloud lingered for two days, a month, or longer, the Israelites camped and did not set out as long as the cloud remained over the tabernacle; but when it was lifted, they would set out.

23They camped at the LORD’s command, and they set out at the LORD’s command; they carried out the LORD’s charge according to His command through Moses.

1Then the LORD said to Moses,

2“Make two trumpets of hammered silver to be used for calling the congregation and for having the camps set out.

3When both are sounded, the whole congregation is to assemble before you at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

4But if only one is sounded, then the leaders, the heads of the clans of Israel, are to gather before you.

5When you sound short blasts, the camps that lie on the east side are to set out.

6When you sound the short blasts a second time, the camps that lie on the south side are to set out. The blasts are to signal them to set out.

7To convene the assembly, you are to sound long blasts, not short ones.

8The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to sound the trumpets. This shall be a permanent statute for you and the generations to come.

9When you enter into battle in your land against an adversary who attacks you, sound short blasts on the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God and saved from your enemies.

10And on your joyous occasions, your appointed feasts, and the beginning of each month, you are to blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and peace offerings to serve as a reminder for you before your God. I am the LORD your God.”

11On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle of the Testimony,

12and the Israelites set out from the Wilderness of Sinai, traveling from place to place until the cloud settled in the Wilderness of Paran.

13They set out this first time according to the LORD’s command through Moses.

14First, the divisions of the camp of Judah set out under their standard, with Nahshon son of Amminadab in command.

15Nethanel son of Zuar was over the division of the tribe of Issachar,

16and Eliab son of Helon was over the division of the tribe of Zebulun.

17Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and the Merarites set out, transporting it.

18Then the divisions of the camp of Reuben set out under their standard, with Elizur son of Shedeur in command.

19Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the division of the tribe of Simeon,

20and Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad.

21Then the Kohathites set out, transporting the holy objects; the tabernacle was to be set up before their arrival.

22Next, the divisions of the camp of Ephraim set out under their standard, with Elishama son of Ammihud in command.

23Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of Manasseh,

24and Abidan son of Gideoni was over the division of the tribe of Benjamin.

25Finally, the divisions of the camp of Dan set out under their standard, serving as the rear guard for all units, with Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai in command.

26Pagiel son of Ocran was over the division of the tribe of Asher,

27and Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of Naphtali.

28This was the order of march for the Israelite divisions as they set out.

29Then Moses said to Hobab, the son of Moses’ father-in-law Reuel the Midianite, “We are setting out for the place of which the LORD said: ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well, for the LORD has promised good things to Israel.”

30“I will not go,” Hobab replied. “Instead, I am going back to my own land and my own people.”

31“Please do not leave us,” Moses said, “since you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can serve as our eyes.

32If you come with us, we will share with you whatever good things the LORD gives us.”

33So they set out on a three-day journey from the mountain of the LORD, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD traveling ahead of them for those three days to seek a resting place for them.

34And the cloud of the LORD was over them by day when they set out from the camp.

35Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, “Rise up, O LORD! May Your enemies be scattered; may those who hate You flee before You.”

36And when it came to rest, he would say: “Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel.”