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Lord said to Moses, 2 “Make two trumpets of hammered silver, and use them for calling the community together and for having the camps set out. 3 When both are sounded in long blasts, the whole community is to assemble before you at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 4 But if only one trumpet is sounded, only the leaders, the heads of the clans of Israel, are to assemble before you.
5 “When you sound short blasts of the trumpet, the camps that lie on the east side are to set out. 6 When you sound the second blast, the camps that lie on the south side are to set out. Short blasts are to be sounded whenever they are to set out. 7 But when the community is to be assembled together, you are to blow long blasts, not short blasts. 8 The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to blow the trumpets. This is to be a lasting ordinance for you throughout your generations.
9 “When you go into battle in your own land against an adversary who is attacking you, you are to sound short blasts with the trumpets. Then you will be remembered before the Lord your God, and you will be delivered from your enemies. 10 Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed feasts and at your New Moon festivals—you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and your fellowship offerings. They will serve as a memorial for you before your God. I am the Lord your God.”
11 During the second year, on the twentieth day of the second month, the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle of the Testimony. 12 Then the Israelites set out from the Wilderness of Sinai, moving from place to place until the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Paran. 13 They set out this first time, according to the Lord’s command through Moses.
14 The banner of the camp of Judah set out first by their military divisions; and over the divisions was Nahshon son of Amminadab. 15 Over the divisions of the tribe of Issachar was Nethanel son of Zuar; 16 and over the divisions of the tribe of Zebulun was Eliab son of Helon. 17 Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and the Merarites set out, carrying the tabernacle.
18 Next the banner of the camp of Reuben set out by their military divisions; and over their divisions was Elizur son of Shedeur. 19 Over the divisions of the tribe of Simeon was Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, 20 and over the division of the tribe of Gad was Eliasaph son of Deuel. 21 Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things; and the tabernacle was to be set up before their arrival.
22 Next the banner of the camp of Ephraim set out by their military divisions; and over their divisions was Elishama son of Ammihud. 23 Over the division of the tribe of Manasseh was Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, 24 and over the division of the tribe of Benjamin was Abidan son of Gideoni.
25 Then the banner of the camp of Dan, serving as the rear guard for all the camps, set out by their military divisions; and over their division was Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. 26 Over the division of the tribe of Asher was Pagiel son of Ochran, 27 and over the division of the tribe of Naphtali was Ahira son Enan. 28 This was the order of march for the Israelites by their military divisions as they set out.
29 Moses said to Habab son of Reuel, the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place about 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 But he answered him, “I will not go. I am going back to my own land and my own people.”
31 But Moses said, “Please do not leave us, since you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can serve as our eyes. 32 If you come with us, whatever good the Lord does for us, the same we will do for you.”
33 So they set out from the mountain of the Lord on a three day journey. The Ark of the Testimony of the Lord went in front of them for the three days, to search out a resting place for them. 34 The cloud of the Lord was over them by day when they set out from the camp.
35 Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say,
“Rise up, O Lord!
Let Your enemies be scattered,
and let those who hate You flee before you!
36 And whenever it came to rest, he would say,
“Return, O Lord,
to the countless thousands of Israel.”