Numbers 10
BBCNumbers 10:1
10:1-10 Moses was instructed to make two silver trumpets. These were to be used to: (a) assemble the congregation . . . at the door of the tabernacle of meeting (vv. 3, 7); (b) give the signal for marching forward; (c) assemble the leaders (only one trumpet was used for this) (v. 4); (d) sound an alarm in time of war (v. 9); (e) announce certain special days, such as feast days (v. 10). Different trumpet calls were used for these different purposes. Sounding the advance in verse 5 was the signal to march. The tribes on the east side of the tabernacle set out first. The second sound of advance was the signal for those on the south side to start. Presumably those on the west and north followed in that order. The trumpets were not only for the wilderness march, but were to be used in the land as well (v. 9). Note the words “in your land.” God would fulfill His promise made to Abraham. His descendants would be given a land, but their disobedience and faithlessness would delay their entrance for forty years.
Numbers 10:11
II. FROM SINAI TO THE PLAINS OF MOAB (10:1122:1) A. Setting out from the Sinai Wilderness (10:11-36)10:11 Verse 11 marks a definite division in the book. Up to this point, the people had camped at Mount Sinai. From verse 11 to 22:1 is the record of the journey from Mount Sinai to the Plains of Moab, just outside the Promised Land. This journey covered a period of almost forty years. They did not start until the twentieth day because of the celebration of the second Passover (see Num_9:10-11). 10:12, 13 The first section of the journey was from Mount Sinai to the Wilderness of Paran. However, there were three stops before they reached this wilderness Taberah, Kibroth Hattaavah, and Hazeroth. They actually reached the Wilderness of Paran in Num_12:16. 10:14-28 The order in which the tribes marched is given next. The leader of each tribe was at its head. The order is the same as in chapter 2, with one exception: in Num_2:17, it seems that the Levites marched after Gad and before Ephraim. In 10:17, the Gershonites and Merarites are listed after Zebulun, and the Kohathites after Gad. Apparently the Gershonites and Merarites moved on ahead with their equipment so they could have it all set up at the camping site when the Kohathites arrived with the sacred vessels. 10:29-32 Hobab was Moses’ brother-in-law. Raguel (same as Reuel and Jethro) was Hobab’s father and therefore Moses’ father-in-law. Being a Midianite, Hobab was probably very familiar with the wilderness. Perhaps that is why Moses invited him to accompany the Israelites"You can be our eyes." Many Bible interpreters believe that this invitation showed a lack of faith on Moses’ part, since God had already promised to guide. Another view is held by Kurtz, who suggests, The pillar of cloud determined the general route to be taken, the place of encampment, and the length of tarry in each location; yet human prudence was by no means precluded with respect to arranging the encampment so as to combine most advantageously the circumstances of water, pasture, shelter, supply of fuel. In all these particulars, Hobab’s experience, and knowledge of the desert, would be exceedingly useful as supplementary to the guidance of the cloud. 10:33, 34 The ark of the covenant was wrapped in the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy (Num_4:5), and was carried by the Kohathites at the front of the procession. The trip from Sinai to Kadesh Barnea lasted three days. The glory cloud overshadowed the people as the Lord searched out a resting place for them. 10:35, 36 We are not told whether Hobab actually did accompany the Israelites. However, it appears from Jdg_1:16 and Jdg_4:11 that he did, since his descendants are found among the Israelites. Whenever the ark set out in the morning, Moses called on the LORD for victory. And when at evening it rested, he prayed for the LORD to return to the people of Israel.