In verses one through ten, the children of Israel are still at mount Sinai. So it's getting close to the time of departure from mount Sinai. Remember that when they came to mount Sinai it was approaching the time of the first Passover, and here it is one year and a month later; and Moses has been up on the mount many times receiving the Law, and ten commandments, as well as all the instructions for God's form of worship: also the pattern for the Tabernacle, the Panels, the altars, the Ark of the Covenant, and so on. During this period of time the people had fallen into heathen worship of the golden calf, and many lost their lives over their refusal to repent. Aaron and his sons were selected by God to be the priest families here at Sinai, and the entire congregation had been numbered for the army. The Levites were given other duties pertaining to the Tabernacle rather than serving in the armed forces, and given over for the support of Aaron and his sons, the priests, in their duties.

So there is now order to the camp; an avenue of approach to God through His way, the Tabernacle, the holy of holies, and the mercy seat, and the people are now ready to set out on their journey to the promise land of Canaan. However there is one more detail that has to be taken care of, and that is what the first ten verses of this chapter is about. Remember there is a communication problem, as phones simply didn't exist back then. You have an army of over 603,000 men, along with their families and cattle; and they have been divided into tribal groups and family groups. The children of Israel now total well over two million people, and they have to be able to move as a unit, and be able to protect themselves from their enemies.

Numbers 10:2 "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."

Numbers 10:3 "And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation."

When the both the trumpets "blow" and give an uninterrupted sound, it is time for the entire assembly to meet at the tabernacle. When this long blast sounds it will be with two different sound tones, and letting the people know its time for the tent meeting.

Numbers 10:4 "And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee."

Back in chapter one, God appointed princes over each of the tribes, and when just one long blast with one trumpet sounds, then each of these princes of each tribe will come for a council with Moses and Aaron.

Numbers 10:5 "When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward."

So here when the trumpet sounds are short sharp blasts, they alerted the men and families of the tribes of Judah, Issachar and Zebulon on the east side of the tabernacle to fall into their ranks with their families, and move out.

Numbers 10:6 "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."

Then when the second blasts of sharp sound of the trumpets sound, the people of the tribes of Reuben Simeon and Gad [the south side] would prepare and move out on their journey.

Numbers 10:7 "But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm."

Here again, when the blast of the trumpet is one long sound, it is time to meet at the the tabernacle of the congregation. This stresses the fact that it was important to know the sound of the trumpet, when it is time to move out, from when it was time to meet at the tabernacle. Even today armies move at the sound of the trumpet, and each soldier must know the sounds and order of the blast of the trumpets. Remember that these tribal unites are units of an army arranged in an order, and able to move and control the people instantly by the blast or sound of trumpets.

Numbers 10:8 "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."

The blowing of the trumpets was to be done by the two sons of Aaron, and these trumpet sounds God established as an ordinance to all the tribes forever, not just for this journey through the wilderness. The end of this earth age of flesh man will come to a close with the sound of the seventh and last trumpet, and instantly all flesh and blood corruptible body will be changed.

I Corinthians 15:50 "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption."

Paul has just spent 49 verses of I Corinthians 15 explaining that each of us have two bodies, the "flesh and blood body" is the "corruptible body", and the "spiritual body", as the angels have, we call the "soul" is the "incorruption" or "incorruptible body". Jesus let us know that only in this earth age of flesh man, can the corruptible body exist. However, when Our Lord returns to set up his kingdom here on earth, as talked about in Revelation 19:11-18, changes will be made. These flesh bodies will end and be changed, and all souls will immediately be in the kingdom of God. Satan will be removed to the pit and all the evil things of this flesh earth age will be done and over with. So this is talking about that time when we move from one earth age to another, and this other earth age will be for a thousand years, and there will be no death for that time, and that is why we must all be in our incorruptible bodies at that moment in time.

I Corinthians 15:51, 52 "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed," [51] "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

"Sleep" as used here, in the Hebrew text it means "to die". There is a time coming very shortly when every soul living in this earth age of flesh man will be changed instantly, faster than you can wink your eye. That moment of Christ's kingdom here on earth will be brought in with the blast of the seventh trumpet. Jesus gave us a listing of six other things that will happen before that seventh or last trump sounds. Five of those trumps events have already occurred; the sixth trumpet will sound when Satan and his fallen angels arrival to earth for his five month period, which will not be far off. When that last blast of the trumpet sound, this earth will be over and done with. No more flesh bodies, no more doctors, lawyers, hospitals, or anything that caters to these flesh bodies; which includes growing old, and having one generation appear to be older than another generation. All souls will be in their incorruptible bodies for the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, and it will be right here on earth.

This also should alert each of us that if someone comes and appears to be like Christ, and you are still in your flesh body, with the age marks, and pain on your flesh body, and a son that looks far younger than you, that person is a fake. Satan is the fake that comes at the sixth trump, and he comes having the supernatural power of the heavenly realm because God allowed him to do what he will do. YHVH has warned each of us of this time, and he expects us to have the knowledge of those events sealed in our minds. If you don't, at the sounding of the sixth trump, it will be to late, for you will be taken by Satan and God will allow it. You will be as the five foolish virgins that slept and never prepared themselves with the truth, the oil that would have provided them the light of events that were going on around them.

But notice that this ordinance holds true to the final generation, and it all ends with a blast of the trumpet. God promised that the trumpets will be with us throughout our generation, as long as there is flesh man. He made this an ordinance for all times, and He even set the events of the latter days and the very end of the age to the trumpets. Yes the seals of the latter days are not in order, but the trumpets are in order.

Numbers 10:9 "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 is telling His people that when the time comes and you go into the promise land, when you sound the trumpet, then the victory will be yours. I will make it safe for you to go in and take your enemies and destroy them. The very first battle at Jericho was fought with trumpets. The Israelites marched around the city seven times, and sounded the trumpets and the walls came tumbling down.

You sound the trumpet, and remember all these things I told you, and I will make it safe for you. This promise is just as good today as it was in Moses day. You seek God instruction, follow His instructions, sound the alarm, and give Him the glory for the victory, then God will keep you safe from your enemies. The priests always lead the people into battle, for the purpose of sounding the trumpets, and giving God the praise.

It won't be long from this time, that Moses will send out twelve spies into the land of Canaan to spy out the land. Ten of the men came back with false reports of giants in the land and the people believed them. The people just didn't trust God to save them from their enemies; so God allowed these doubters to stumble through the wilderness for the next thirty eight years and die off in the wilderness. Because of their lack of faith it would be their children that would be the ones to move in and claim the land.

Then when the children of Israel did enter into the promise land, they learned this lesson again the hard way, as in the second battle after Jericho wells fell, they overlooked this verse, and left God out of their battle plans against the tiny town of Ai. The results were the loss of many men, and the Israelites ran like cowards. Once Joshua figured out why they lost the battle, and he made the corrections, YHVH was never overlooked or taken for granite again in all the rest of the battles to gain their promise land.

Every time one of God's people lose in a battle, it is when they did not do things God's way. They didn't ask of the Lord and seek His help, but charge off in their own direction. The Israelites lost only one battle in taking their land, and that was the second battle at Ai, and that was because Joshua and the Elders did not seek God help and direction. All the other battle were won, because that mistake was never overlooked again.

Numbers 10:10 "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.""

This is talking about all the days of happiness, or holidays, and solemn days, or feast days. Our days of gladness would be like Thanksgiving, and the forth of July; while our feast days are Passover, and Christmas. Of course today we don't have burnt offerings, or peace offerings, but we do stop the thank God for those blessings and protection that He has given us. But we should always remember to thank the Father for our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. It is at these times when we come together in our congregations and give special thanks to the Lord. In many churches the first Sunday of each month is set aside for the Communion table, when special thanks is given for the precious blood of Christ, and His gift that is ours through His death and resurrection.

So all the detail have now been taken care of, the numbering of the men, the numbering of the Levites, the construction of the tabernacle, and all the forms for approaching God are set, and the Laws, Commandments and ordinances are all in order. It is time to move out, and head for the Promise land. As God gave each of these items to His people, He watched as one problem after another came up, and he had to fine turn each of these things. All the detail are in order, and it is time for Aaron's sons to blow the trumpet.

Numbers 10:11 "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."

This sets the date that the Israelites would begin their journey to the promise land. The started on the 20th day of the month of Ziph, and ended on the tenth day of Abib 1451, when they crossed through the parted Jordan river, to enter into the promise land. God made a promise to Abraham in Genesis 15:13; "And He said unto Abram, "Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, (and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;"

Jacob and his sons and their families went down into Egypt to escape the famine in the land of Canaan, and in time, Joseph died and a Pharaoh that knew not Joseph came to power and put the children of Israel under bondage. Israel was a stranger to Pharaoh that came to power, and the Israelites became slaves to the Egyptians.

Genesis 15:14 "And also that nation [Egypt], whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance."

God did judge them harshly with ten plagues until on the tenth plague, God claimed the life of the firstborn of all Egypt; of man and animal alike.

Exodus 2:29, 30 "And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of their captives that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle." [29] "And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead." [30]

God dealt harshly with Egypt to where the Egyptians were willing to part with their cattle, their gold and silver, Jewels and raiment, just to get the Israelites out of their land. They left the land the day after that Passover of the death angel, on the fifteenth day of Abib, and were now encamped at the foot of mount Sinai where God had just given them all the laws and instruction of what was expected of them as His people. So it's now time to pack up and start the rest of the journey from the base camp of mount Sinai.

This cloud is not just an ordinary cloud, but one that is set over the ark of the covenant, and God uses it to manifest Himself through it. The cloud is a visible to the human eye, but still is God's way to speak directly to His people. This cloud was there from the moment after the Passover, and directed them out of Egypt, through the Red sea, and all the way to mount Sinai. The cloud is tied directly to the Ark of the Covenant, from Exodus 25 on, but prior to that date, it was just there.

Numbers 10:12 "And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran."

This verse twelve is actually a summary that will be explained it the verses that follow. Although the wilderness of Paran was not their first stop but their third stop. The trip through the wilderness was a thirty eight years and fifteen day journey, that started on the 20th day of Ziph 1490 B.C., and ended the 10th day of Abib, in 1451 B.C.

Numbers 10:13 "And the first took their journey according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses."

God is in command and leading their movement and their place of rest for encampment. So they are now moving out on their journey.

Numbers 10:14 "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."

It is important to notice that there was a difference between the standard of the "camp", and where it says "hosts". When the Israelites would set up camp, the tabernacle would be placed in the center of the camp site, and the four parts of Levi would be in the center. Then around the outside of the camp site the Israelites would be divided into four sets of camp sites, to the North, South, East and West. Each campsite consisted of three tribes, as we discussed in Numbers 3. The first tribe to set up camp was the tribe of Judah, along with the tribes of Issachar and Zebulon. So this sets the order of setting up of camp at their next place of rest. Judah's standard or flag was that of the Lions welp. So what is given here is historical, and not so much biblical as to what went on their standards and banners. Though it says Judah went first, out in front of all the tribes, were the Kohathites, carrying the ark of the covenant. God was out there in front leading the way to the promise land. Remember we are talking about an army of soldiers numbering some 72,600 men, along with their families.

Numbers 10:15 "And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar."

Issachar was the second tribe to follow Judah, also encamping on the side of the east from the tabernacle. The army of men of Issachar numbered 54,400 men with Nethaneel as their general over them.

Numbers 10:16 "And over the host of the tribe of the chldren of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon."

Zebulun's forces numbered 57,400 men, with Eliab leading their forces.

Numbers 10:17 "And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle."

Gershon and Merari of the tribe of Levi each had duties in packing and unpacking certain parts of the tabernacle, and they followed the forces of Zebulun. Notice from Numbers 1 that the actural order of movement was different than how they were numbered, for in the record, the tribe of Reuben was listed in the records as first on the books. Here the Gershonites and Merarites actually moved after the first three tribes set forth.

Numbers 10:18 "And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur."

Elizur was the captain over the 46,500 troops of the Reubenites. Notice that all twelve of these leaders are the same as the ones chosen by God from Numbers 1:1-16.

Numbers 10:19 "And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai."

The 59,300 man forces of the tribe of Simeon was Shelumiel.

Numbers 10:20 "And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel."

The tribe of Gad had 45,650 men with Eliasaph leading the army.

Numbers 10:21 "And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came.

"The other did set up the tabernacle" were the families of the "Gershonites and the Merarites", the families of Levi that were assigned the duties of the setting up and taking down of the Tabernacle. These two families of Levites then followed the children of Gad, and went before the tribe of Ephraim. So we see that the Levites were well protected, and God did not allow the Levites to take part in the battles of the Israelites, and their men were not numbered amongst the soldiers and given the duties of that would have them carry swords.

Numbers 10:22 "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."

The forces of the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500 men with Elishama as their captain. Ephraim was the younger son of Joseph, and Jacob passed the blessing of the Abrahamic covenant on to this tribe of Ephraim in Genesis 48:20.

Numbers 10:23 "And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur."

The men of Manasseh numbered 32,200 men, with Gamaliel as their leader. Though Ephraim received the blessing from Jacob, Manasseh, Joseph's oldest son also received a blessing that He would become a great Nation.

Numbers 10:24 "And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni."

Benjamin numbered 35,400 men with Abidan as their captain. In the camp on the west side of the tabernacle were the tribes of the Jacobs wife Rachel, who died giving birth to Benjamin.

Numbers 10:25 "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." 

The standard on the flag of Dan was the Eagle, and their troops numbered 62,700 men, with Ahiezer the captain in charge of this tribe.

Numbers 10:26 "And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran."

Pagiel was the captain over the 41,500 men from Asher.

Numbers 10:27 "And over the host of the tribe of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan."

Naphtali numbered 53,400 men in arms, with Ahira their captain. The tribes of Dan, Asher and Naphtali were camped together north of the tabernacle.

Numbers 10:28 "Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward."

Numbers 10:29 "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."

"Raguel" the name of Moses' father in law, in Exodus 2:18 is given as "Reuel", the point to make is that Raguel was not in the lineage of the Kenites, as many seem to think. This misunderstanding comes from the fact that this Midianite priest was living in the land of the Kenites, and raising his family and herds of sheep there. The Midianites were the sons of Abraham also but were birthed by Keturah, as we read in Genesis 25:1, 2 "Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah." [1] "And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah." [2] It was following the death of Sarah that Abraham took Keturah for his wife.

The Midianites were the offspring from Midian, and the time of Moses was over four hundred years later. The Priest of Midian were of the same mind as the Abraham, because they were of the seed of Abraham. However they were not considered in the blessing promises that were passed on to Midians brother Isaac, Jacob and on to the sons of Joseph, as recorded in Genesis 48:17 - 20.

Genesis 48:19, 20 "And his father refused, and said, "I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations." 19] "And he [Jacob] blessed them that day, saying, "In thee shall Israel bless, saying, `God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh:' " and he set Ephraim before Manasseh." [20]

The Abrahamic Covenant was thus continued: From Abraham, to Isaac to Jacob. And here it passed on to Ephraim, with Manasseh also getting part of the blessing. It then becomes important to know that in time, (Genesis 25:5, 6) "Abraham gave all that he had to unto Isaac," [5] "But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country."

Though the Midianites were not part of Israel, they also worshipped the one True God YHVH, whereas the Kenites did not. It was no accident that Moses ended up in the land of the Kenites, but also living within that land was Reuel [Requel]. In Exodus 3:1 "Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the sesert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb." Mount Horab is Mount Sinai, and this is the land were Moses kept sheep for Reuel the priest of Midianites, who had the title of "Jethro" [or leader]: After Moses fled from Egypt and the hand of Pharaoh: It was on mount Horab [Sinai] that God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, and told him to go back to Egypt, and lead them out of their bondage.

So Moses is promising Hobab, that if he will go along with them to the land of Canaan, that the Lord would make it good for him and his family, just as God will for the children of Israel.

Numbers 10:30 "And he said unto him, "I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred." "

"Hobab the Midenite, Moses' father in law" had a responsibility to the Midianites, he was the priest for his kindred, and of course he would not forgo that responsibility for the gain that following the Israelites could bring to his family. However we know that if he had, he would have died roaming the wilderness, for looking back we see the Israelites had 38 years of wandering before they would enter the promise land. Hobab's family, land and belongings were back in the land of the Kenites, and he wanted to go back home.

Numbers 10:31 "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."

Moses pleaded with Hobab to stay and give counsel to Him, as they encamped and passed through the wilderness. See where God had his hand in setting Hobab's mind to return back home, for God wanted Moses' eyes fixed on Him. Moses knew that Hobab had knowledge of this desert area, the wells and pit falls, and Moses wanted Hobab to share that knowledge with him. Remember that there are over two million in this group moving through the desert with Moses.

Numbers 10:32 "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." "

Numbers 10:33 "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."

So the journey through the wilderness is starting, with the Ark of the Covenant out front of their movement.

Numbers 10:34 "And the cloud of the Lord was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp."

Numbers 10:35 "And it came to pass, when the ark went forward, that Moses said, "Rise up, Lord, and let Thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate Thee flee before Thee." "

Numbers 10:36 "And when it rested, He said, "Return, O Lord, unto the many thousands of Israel." "

In the Hebrew MSS manuscripts, verses 34 and 35 are inverted, by "inverted nuns", "i.e. the Hebrew letter ( ) (n) inverted and used as brackets, to show that verses 35, and 36 are thus enclosed to show that verse 34 should follow verse 36." So the structure should be:

33: The setting forth of the ark.

35: "Rise up O Jehovah" [spoken word]

36: "Return O Jehovah" [spoken word]

34: The setting forth of the cloud.

In the Scriptures there are eight of these inverted "nuns". These locations in the Scripture are in Psalms 107:23-28; Psalms 3:7; 7:6 Psalms 10:12, 17:13, 44:26 and 68:1. "Return, O Lord" in the text is "cause us to Return O Jehovah."

So after three days in journey, the children of Israel are on their way to the land of Canaan. It took only three days of travel to have trouble start in the ranks.