1Und Jehovah redete zu Mose und sprach: 2Mache dir zwei Trompeten von Silber; von getriebener Arbeit sollst du sie machen, auf daß sie dir seien zur Zusammenberufung der Gemeinde und zum Aufbrechen der Lager. 3Und stößt man in sie, so soll die ganze Gemeinde zum Eingang des Versammlungszeltes zu dir zusammenkommen. 4Und stoßen sie in eine, so sollen die Fürsten, die Häupter der Tausende Israels zu dir zusammenkommen. 5Und blaset ihr Lärm, so sollen die Lager aufbrechen, die vorn gelagert sind. 6Und blaset ihr Lärm zum zweitenmal, so brechen die Lager auf, die zur rechten lagern. Für die Aufbrüche sollen sie Lärm blasen. 7Und wenn ihr zur Versammlung versammelt, sollt ihr hineinstoßen und nicht Lärm blasen. 8Und die Söhne Aharons, die Priester, sollen in die Trompeten stoßen, und sie sollen euch zu einer ewigen Satzung sein für eure Geschlechter. 9Und wenn ihr in den Streit einziehet in eurem Land wider den Dränger, der euch bedrängt, so sollt ihr mit den Trompeten Lärm blasen, und euer wird vor Jehovah, eurem Gott, gedacht, auf daß ihr von euren Feinden gerettet werdet. 10Und an den Tagen eurer Fröhlichkeit und an euren Festzeiten und an euren Neumonden, da sollt ihr in die Trompeten stoßen über euren Brandopfern und über euren Dank- opfern, und sie werden zum Andenken an euch vor eurem Gott sein. Ich, Jehovah, bin euer Gott. 11Und es geschah im zweiten Jahr, im zweiten Monat, am zwanzigsten des Monats, daß die Wolke von der Wohnung des Zeugnisses aufstieg. 12Und die Söhne Israels brachen auf nach ihren Wanderungen aus der Wüste Sinai, und die Wolke weilte in der Wüste Paran. 13Und sie brachen zuerst auf nach dem Befehl Jehovahs durch Moses Hand: 14Und zuerst brach auf das Banner des Lagers der Söhne Judahs nach seinen Heerscharen, und über sein Heer war Nachschon, der Sohn Amminadabs. 15Und über das Heer des Stammes der Söhne Issaschars Nethaneel, der Sohn Zuars. 16Und über das Heer des Stammes der Söhne Sebuluns Eliab, der Sohn Chelons. 17Und die Wohnung ward abgenommen, und die Söhne Gerschons brachen auf und die Söhne Meraris, welche die Wohnung trugen. 18Und das Banner von Rubens Lager nach seinen Heerscharen brach auf. Und über ihr Heer war Elizur, Schedeurs Sohn. 19Und über das Heer des Stammes der Söhne Simeons Schelumiel, der Sohn Zurischaddais. 20Und über das Heer des Stammes der Söhne Gads Eljasaph, der Sohn Deguels. 21Und es brachen die Kohathiten auf, die das Heiligtum trugen. Und sie richteten die Wohnung auf, bis diese kamen. 22Und das Banner des Lagers der Söhne Ephraims brach auf nach seinen Heerscharen, und über sein Heer war Elischama, der Sohn Ammihuds; 23Und über das Heer des Stammes der Söhne Menaschehs Gamliel, der Sohn Pedahzurs. 24Und über das Heer des Stammes der Söhne Benjamins Abidan, Sohn Gideonis; 25Und das Banner des Lagers der Söhne Dans brach auf, als Nachzug für alle Lager nach ihren Heerscharen, und über sein Heer war Achieser, der Sohn Ammischaddais, 26Und über das Heer des Stammes der Söhne Aschers Pagiel, Sohn Ochrans. 27Und über das Heer des Stammes der Söhne Naphthalis, Achira, der Sohn Enans. 28Dies sind die Wanderzüge der Söhne Israels nach ihren Heerscharen; und sie brachen auf. 29Und Mose sprach zu Chobab, dem Sohne Reguels, dem Midianiter, Moses Schwager: Wir brechen auf nach dem Orte, von dem uns Jehovah sprach: Ich will ihn euch geben. Geh mit uns, so wollen wir dir Gutes tun; denn Jehovah hat Gutes geredet über Israel. 30Und er sprach zu ihm: Ich will nicht gehen; sondern ich will in mein Land und in meinen Geburtsort gehen. 31Und er sprach: Verlaß uns doch nicht; denn du weißt, wo wir uns lagern in der Wüste, und sollst unser Auge sein. 32Und es soll geschehen, wenn du mit uns gehst, und das Gute uns wird, das Jehovah an uns Gutes tun will, so wollen wir dir Gutes tun. 33Und sie brachen auf vom Berge Jehovahs drei Tagereisen, und die Bundeslade Jehovahs brach auf vor ihnen her drei Tagreisen, um ihnen eine Ruhestätte auszuspähen. 34Und die Wolke Jehovahs war über ihnen bei Tag, wenn sie vom Lager aufbrachen. 35Und es geschah, wenn die Lade aufbrach, daß Mose sprach: Mache dich auf, Jehovah, daß Deine Feinde sich zerstreuen und Deine Hasser vor Dir fliehen! 36Und wenn sie ruhte, sprach er: Kehre zurück, Jehovah, zu den Zehntausenden der Tausende Israels.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 2 THE USE OF THE SILVER TRUMPETS. (Num. 10:1-36)
Make thee two trumpets of silver--These trumpets were of a long form, in opposition to that of the Egyptian trumpets, with which the people were convened to the worship of Osiris and which were curved like rams' horns. Those which Moses made, as described by JOSEPHUS and represented on the arch of Titus, were straight, a cubit or more in length, the tubes of the thickness of a flute. Both extremities bore a close resemblance to those in use among us. They were of solid silver--so as, from the purity of the metal, to give a shrill, distinct sound; and there were two of them, probably because there were only two sons of Aaron; but at a later period the number was greatly increased (
Josh 6:8;
2Chr 5:12). And although the camp comprehended 2,500,000 of people, two trumpets would be quite sufficient, for sound is conveyed easily through the pure atmosphere and reverberated strongly among the valleys of the Sinaitic hills.
3 when they shall blow with them--There seem to have been signals made by a difference in the loudness and variety in the notes, suited for different occasions, and which the Israelites learned to distinguish. A simple uniform sound by both trumpets summoned a general assembly of the people; the blast of a single trumpet convoked the princes to consult on public affairs; notes of some other kind were made to sound an alarm, whether for journeying or for war. One alarm was the recognized signal for the eastern division of the camp (the tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun) to march; two alarms gave the signal for the southern to move; and, though it is not in our present Hebrew text, the Septuagint has, that on three alarms being sounded, those on the west; while on four blasts, those on the north decamped. Thus the greatest order and discipline were established in the Israelitish camp--no military march could be better regulated.
8 the sons of Aaron the priests shall blow with the trumpets, &c.--Neither the Levites nor any in the common ranks of the people could be employed in this office of signal giving. In order to attract greater attention and more faithful observance, it was reserved to the priests alone, as the Lord's ministers; and as anciently in Persia and other Eastern countries the alarm trumpets were sounded from the tent of the sovereign, so were they blown from the tabernacle, the visible residence of Israel's King.
9 If ye go to war--In the land of Canaan, either when attacked by foreign invaders or when they went to take possession according to the divine promise, "ye [that is, the priests] shall blow an alarm." This advice was accordingly acted upon (
Num 31:6;
2Chr 13:12); and in the circumstances it was an act of devout confidence in God. A solemn and religious act on the eve of a battle has often animated the hearts of those who felt they were engaged in a good and just cause; and so the blowing of the trumpet, being an ordinance of God, produced that effect on the minds of the Israelites. But more is meant by the words--namely, that God would, as it were, be aroused by the trumpet to bless with His presence and aid.
10 Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days--Festive and thanksgiving occasions were to be ushered in with the trumpets, as all feasts afterwards were (
Ps 81:3;
2Chr 29:27) to intimate the joyous and delighted feelings with which they engaged in the service of God.
11 It came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, &c.--The Israelites had lain encamped in Wady-Er-Rahah and the neighboring valleys of the Sinaitic range for the space of eleven months and twenty-nine days. (Compare
Exod 19:1). Besides the religious purposes of the highest importance to which their long sojourn at Sinai was subservient, the Israelites, after the hardships and oppression of the Egyptian servitude, required an interval of repose and refreshment. They were neither physically nor morally in a condition to enter the lists with the warlike people they had to encounter before obtaining possession of Canaan. But the wondrous transactions at Sinai--the arm of Jehovah so visibly displayed in their favor--the covenant entered into, and the special blessings guaranteed, beginning a course of moral and religious education which moulded the character of this people--made them acquainted with their high destiny and inspired them with those noble principles of divine truth and righteousness which alone make a great nation.
12 wilderness of Paran--It stretched from the base of the Sinaitic group, or from Et-Tyh, over that extensive plateau to the southwestern borders of Palestine.
13 the children of Israel took their journey . . . by the hand of Moses--It is probable that Moses, on the breaking up of the encampment, stationed himself on some eminence to see the ranks defile in order through the embouchure of the mountains. The marching order is described (Num. 2:1-34); but, as the vast horde is represented here in actual migration, let us notice the extraordinary care that was taken for ensuring the safe conveyance of the holy things. In the rear of Judah, which, with the tribes of Issachar and Zebulun, led the van, followed the Gershonites and Merarites with the heavy and coarser materials of the tabernacle. Next in order were set in motion the flank divisions of Reuben and Ephraim. Then came the Kohathites, who occupied the center of the moving mass, bearing the sacred utensils on their shoulder. They were so far behind the other portions of the Levitical body that these would have time at the new encampment to rear the framework of the tabernacle before the Kohathites arrived. Last of all, Dan, with the associated tribes, brought up the rear of the immense caravan. Each tribe was marshalled under its prince or chief and in all their movements rallied around its own standard.
29 Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite--called also Reuel (the same as Jethro [
Exod 2:18, Margin]). Hobab, the son of this Midianite chief and brother-in-law to Moses, seems to have sojourned among the Israelites during the whole period of their encampment at Sinai and now on their removal proposed returning to his own abode. Moses urged him to remain, both for his own benefit from a religious point of view, and for the useful services his nomad habits could enable him to render.
31 Leave us not, I pray thee . . . and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes--The earnest importunity of Moses to secure the attendance of this man, when he enjoyed the benefit of the directing cloud, has surprised many. But it should be recollected that the guidance of the cloud, though it showed the general route to be taken through the trackless desert, would not be so special and minute as to point out the places where pasture, shade, and water were to be obtained and which were often hid in obscure spots by the shifting sands. Besides, several detachments were sent off from the main body; the services of Hobab, not as a single Arab, but as a prince of a powerful clan, would have been exceedingly useful.
32 if thou go with us . . . what goodness the Lord will show unto us, the same will we do unto thee--A strong inducement is here held out; but it seems not to have changed the young man's purpose, for he departed and settled in his own district. (See on
Judg 1:16 and
1Sam 15:6).
33 they departed . . . three days' journey--the first day's progress being very small, about eighteen or twenty miles.
ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them--It was carried in the center, and hence some eminent commentators think the passage should be rendered, "the ark went in their presence," the cloud above upon it being conspicuous in their eyes. But it is probable that the cloudy pillar, which, while stationary, rested upon the ark, preceded them in the march--as, when in motion at one time (
Exod 14:19) it is expressly said to have shifted its place.
35 when the ark set forward that Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered--Moses, as the organ of the people, uttered an appropriate prayer both at the commencement and the end of each journey. Thus all the journeys were sanctified by devotion; and so should our prayer be, "If thy presence go not with us, carry us not hence" [
Exod 33:15].