10:1-10The two silver trumpets were used to coordinate the tribes as they moved through the wilderness. To keep so many people in tight formations required clear communication and control. Trumpet blasts also reminded Israel of God’s protection over them.
Life Application Study BibleNumbersChapter 10
Numbers 10
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 215, 216, 217
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10Numbers 10
The Silver Trumpets
1Now the LORD said to Moses, 2“Make two trumpets of hammered silver for calling the community to assemble and for signaling the breaking of camp. 3When both trumpets are blown, everyone must gather before you at the entrance of the Tabernacle.* 4But if only one trumpet is blown, then only the leaders—the heads of the clans of Israel— must present themselves to you. 5“When you sound the signal to move on, the tribes camped on the east side of the Tabernacle must break camp and move forward. 6When you sound the signal a second time, the tribes camped on the south will follow. You must sound short blasts as the signal for moving on. 7But when you call the people to an assembly, blow the trumpets witha different signal. 8Only the priests, Aaron’s descendants, are allowed to blow the trurnpets. This is a permanent law for you, to be observed from generation to generation. 9” When you arrive in your own land and go to war against your enemies who attack you, sound the alarm with the trumpets. Then the LORD your God will remember you and rescue you from your enemies. 10Blow the trumpets in times of gladness, too, sounding them at your annual festivals and at the beginning of each month. And blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and peace offerings. The trumpets will remind the LORD your God of his covenant with you. [am the LORD your God.”
B. FIRST APPROACH TO THE PROMISED LAND (10:11—14:45)
As the Israelites approached the Promised Land, Moses sent leaders to scout out the land and its people. But the scouts returned with a discouraging report—'It is indeed a bountiful country.... But the people living there are powerful.... We can’t go up against them!” “ Although Joshua and Caleb disagreed, the Israelites had already made up their minds and began to complain. As punishment for their lack of faith, God condemned them to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. Our obedience must be complete and timely. 1. The people complain
The Israelites Leave Sinai
1111]n the second year after Israel’s departure from Egypt—on the twentieth day of the second month*—the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle of the Covenant.* 12So the Israelites set out from the wilderness of Sinai and traveled on from place to place until the cloud stopped in the wilderness of Paran. 13When the people set out for the first time, following the instructions the LORD had given through Moses, 14Judah’s troops led the way. They marched behind their banner, and their leader was Nahshon son of Amminadab. '®They were joined by the troops of the tribe of Issachar, led by Nethanel son of Zuar, 16and the troops of the tribe of Zebulun, led by Eliab son of Helon. 17Then the Tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonite and Merarite divisions of the Levites were next in the line of march, carrying the Tabernacle with them. 18Reuben’s troops went next, marching behind their banner. Their leader was Elizur son of Shedeur. 19They were joined by the troops of the tribe of Simeon, led by Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, 20and the troops of the tribe of Gad, led by Eliasaph son of Deuel. 21Next came the Kohathite division of the Levites, carrying the sacred objects from the Tabernacle. Before they arrived at the next camp, the Tabernacle would already be set up at its new location. 22Ephraim’s troops went next, marching behind their banner. Their leader was Elishama son of Ammihud. 23They were joined by the troops of the tribe of Manasseh, led by Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, 24and the troops of the tribe of Benjamin, led by Abidan son of Gideoni. 25Dan’s troops went last, marching behind their banner and serving as the rear guard for all the tribal camps. Their leader was Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. 26They were joined by the troops of the tribe of Asher, led by Pagiel son of Ocran, 27and the troops of the tribe of Naphtali, led by Ahira son of Enan. 28This was the order in which the Israelites marched, division by division. 29One day Moses said to his brother-in-law, Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, “We are on our way to the place the LORD promised us, for he said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us and we will treat you well, for the LORD has promised wonderful blessings for Israel!” 30But Hobab replied, “No, I will not go. I must return to my own land and family.” 31“Please don’t leave us,” Moses pleaded. “You know the places in the wilderness where we should camp. Come, be our guide. 32If you do, we'll share with you all the blessings the LORD gives us.” 33They marched for three days after leaving the mountain of the LORD, with the Ark of the LORD's Covenant moving ahead of them to show them where to stop and rest. 34As they moved on each day, the cloud of the LORD hovered over them. 35And whenever the Ark set out, Moses would shout, “Arise, O LORD, and let your enemies be scattered! Let them flee before you!” 36And when the Ark was set down, he would say, “Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel!”
Textual footnotes
- the Tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony.
- Tabemacle of the Testimony.
- 10:3 Hebrew Tent of Meeting.
- 10:11a This day in the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in jate April, May, or early June.
- 10:11b Or
Life Application Notes 2 notes
10:21Those who travel, move, or face new challenges know what it is to be uprooted. Life is full of changes, and few things remain stable. The Israelites were constantly moving through the wilderness. They were able to handle change only because God’s presence in the Tabernacle was always with them. The portable Tabernacle signified God and his people moving together. For us, stability does not mean lack of change, but moving with God in every circumstance. could think of nothing but the delicious Egyptian food they had left behind. Somehow they forgot that the brutal whip of Egyptian slavery was the cost of eating that food. Before we judge the (sraelites too harshly, it's helpful to think about what occupies our attention most of the time. Are we grateful for what God has given us, or are we always thinking about what we would like to have? We should not allow our unfulfilled desires to cause us to forget God’s gifts of life, food, health, work, and friends.
Charts, profiles & sidebars from the printed pages
Study feature · page 216
ISRAEL’S DEPARTURE FROM SINAI It has been two years since Israel feft Egypt. Having received God's travel instructions through Moses, Israel set out from Maunt Sinai into the wilderness of Paran on their way toward the Promised Land.
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Study feature · page 217
10:29-32 By complimenting Hobab’s wilderness skills, Moses let him know he was needed. People cannot know you appreciate them if you do not tell them they are important to you. Complimenting those who deserve it builds lasting relationships and helps people know they are valued. Think about those who have helped you this month. What can you do to let them know how much you need and appreciate them? 11:1, 6-15 The Israelites complained, and then Moses complained. But God responded positively to Moses and negatively to the rest of the people. Why? The people complained to one another, and nothing was accomplished. Moses took his complaint to God, who could solve any problem. Many of us are 900d at complaining to each other. We need to learn to take Our problems to the One who can do something about them. 11:4 The foreign rabble reters to a mixed crowd of Egyptians and others who had followed Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 12:38). 11:4-6 Dissatisfaction comes when our attention shifts from What we have to what we don’t have. The people of Israet didn’t Seem to notice what God was doing for them—setting them free, Making them a nation, giving them a new land—because they Were so wrapped up in what God wasn’t doing for them. They