Numbers 10

Command of making two silver Trumpets, with a direction, to what end, when, how, by whom, and with what good success they should be used, verse 1. 2. Etc. a relation of the Israelites removing out of the wilderness of Sinai, to that of Paran, 11. In what order they marched, 14. Moseh his endeavour to get Hobab his father in Law, to go along with him. 29. The prosecution of the journey. 33. The prayer of Moseh, which he used, when the Ark was removed, and set down again, 35.

1. Moreover, the LORD spoke unto Moseh, saying:

2. Make thee two silver Trumpets; [The use whereof was threefold. First, to call the Congregation together, v. 2. To wit, the Ecclesiastical, verse 3. 7. 10. And the Civil, verse 4. Secondly, to make the Camp to break up to journey, v. 2. 5, 6. Thirdly, to arm the Militia, and rouse them up to fight against the enemies, verse 9.] of tight (or massy) [or beaten work. See above, chapter 8. And verse 4. Where mention is made of golden Candlestick, which was of pure beaten massy gold] and they shall be unto thee, for the Congregation, and for the marching of the Camps. [i.e. to call the Congregation together, and to make the Camp to march.]

3. When they [viz. the Priests, whose office it was; See below verse 8.] shall blow [viz. not with a broken tune, as below v. 5, 6. 7. But with a plain long produced unison; as appears by the comparing of those verses] with the same, [i.e. with both of them, as appeareth by comparing the next verse] then shall the whole congregation be gathered unto thee, at the door of the tent of the Congregation.

4. But when they shall blow with the one, then the chief the Heads of the Thousands of Israel shall be assembled to thee.

5. When ye shall blow, [viz. for the first time (or journey) as appears by comparing this verse with the next] with a broken sound, [understand such a one as doth not make a steady, plain unison, but a differing, interchanging, quavering and uneven tune; and thus the Hebrew word is taken in the following verses, 6, 7, 9.] then the Camps which are camped Eastwards, shall march.

6. But when ye shall blow the second time, with a broken sound, then the Camps, which Camp Southward shall march: they shall blow with a broken sound for their marches.

7. But in assembling the Congregation, ye shall blow, yet make no broken sound.

8. And the sons of Aaron the Priest, shall blow with these Trumpets: and they shall be unto you for a perpetual institution, [Hebr. Institution of eternity. See Gen.13. on v. 15.] by your generations.

9. And when you shall march in your land to fight against your Enemy that distresseth you, ye shall likewise make a broken sound with these Trumpets: then shall ye he had in remembrance before the face of the LORD your God, and ye shall be delivered from your enemies: [Understand, not as if the deliverance and good success of the people of God depended on the blowing of those Trumpets; but that they were not to blow or sound the same, or march forth to battle, but according to God’s command, and relying on him alone for help: in which cases, the sounding of the Trumpets was a token to them of God’s assistance. How remembrance is attributed unto God, See Gen. 8. On v. 1.]

10. Likewise on the day of your rejoicing, [i.e. when the LORD shall have removed any notable judgement from, or bestowed any extraordinary mercy upon you; over which they were wont to rejoice, and to give God public and solemn thanks in the Assembly. See Psalm 48. And 118.] and in your set high times [wherein honest rejoicing and cheerfulness was not onely allowed, but also enjoyed them, Deuteronomy 16:14.] and in the beginnings of your months, [Hebr. Heads of, etc. so below, chapter 28. 11. See hereof an example, Neh. 8. Comparing the first verse with the tenth and eleventh] ye shall likewise blow with the Trumpets, over your burnt offerings, et over your thank-offerings; and they shall be for a remembrance unto you, before the face of the LORD your God; [the sense is, that the LORD would be gracious unto them, and do them good, if they should assemble according to his command, for to return him praise and thanks for his praise and thanks for his mercies and benefits. Compare this with Annot. On the former verse] I am the LORD your God.

11. And it came to pass in the second year in the second month, [Of which see above, chapter 1. On v. 1.] on the twentieth of the month, that the Cloud [spoken of before, chapter 9. Verse 15.] was lifted up from above the Tabernacle of the Tabernacle of the Testimony. [See above, chapter 1. On verse 50.]

12. And the children of Israel marched up by (Or, according to) their marches, [i.e. in such order and array, as God had commanded and prescribed them to march, above, chapter 2.] out of the wilderness of Sinai: and the Cloud remained [Heb. dwelled, i.e. rested] in the wilderness of Paran. [See Gen. 14. On v. 6. Before the children of Israel fully arrived in this wilderness, they had yet an other camping or leaguer place called Tab era bel. chapter 11. 34. And a third called Hazeroth, below, chapter 11. 35. From whence they arrived at last in the wilderness of Paran, below, chapter 12. V. 16.]

13. Thus they marched for the first (time) according to the mouth [i.e. command. See Gen. 41. On v. 40.] of the LORD by the hand [i.e. ministry or direction and conduct, See Exod. chapter 4. 13.] of Moseh.

14. For at first (there) marched the Banner of the Camp of the children of Judah, according to their hosts: [i.e. according to the orders and marshalling settled in the Camp of Juda, under their respective Commanders of their thousands and their hundreds, and so in the sequel] and over his Host, (there) was Nahession the son of Amminadab.

15. And over the Host of the Tribe of the children of Issachar, (there) was Nathaniel the son of Zuar.

16. And over the host of the Tribe of the children of Zebulon, (there) was Eliab the son of Helon.

17. Then the Tabernacle was taken off, and the sons of Gerson, and the sons of Merari marched, carrying the Tabernacle. [These marched immediately after the banner of the children of Juda, that they might set up the Tabernacle where they were to camp, against the arriving of the Kohathites, who were to carry the Sanctuary, or the holy vessels and furniture themselves in person. See verse 21.]

18. After that, (there) marched the banner of the Camp of Reuben, according to their hosts: and over his host (there) was Eliasaph the son of Sedeur.

19. And over the host of the Tribe of the children of Simeon, (there) was Selamiel, the son of Zuri Saddai.

20. And over the host of the Tribe of the children of Gad, (there) was Eliasaph the son of Debuel.

21. Then (there) marched the Kohathites, carrying the Sanctuary: and (the others) [viz. the Gersonites and Merarites, being gone before, and marched away with the Camp of the Tribe of Juda, as may be seen by the 17. Verse] did set up the Tabernacle, against that these [viz. the Kohathites] came.

22. After that marched the Banner of the Camp of the children of Ephraim, by their hosts, and over his host (there) was Elisama the son of Ammihud.

23. And over the host of the Tribe of the children of Manasseh, (there) was Gamaliel the son of Pedazur.

24. And over the host of the Tribe of the children of Benjamin, (there) was Abidan the son of Gideoni.

25. Then (there) marched the Banner of the Camp of the children of Dan, concluding all the Camps together by their hosts: (Hebr. Gathering all the Camps. This is set down thus, in regard that Dan with the two other Tribes joined to his Banner, did bring up the Rear, and so concluded all the rest that marched before, that none should tarry behind. Thus the Rear is likewise spoken of Jos. chapter 6. 13.] and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammisaddai.

26. And over the host of the Tribe of the children of Aser, (there) was Pagiel the son of Ochran.

27. And over the host of the Tribe of the children of Naphtali, (there) was Abira the son of Enan.

28. These were the marches of the children of Israel, by their hosts when they journeyed. [i.e. these were the Orders, according to which the Israelites did march, when they removed and journeyed.]

29. Moseh now said, [Or, had said, for some hold that this happened when he was first come to him in wilderness, Exodus 18:27.] to Hobab [this is held to be the same, that Exodus 18:1. Was called Jethro] the son of Reguel, [Heb. Reuel, or Rebuel.] the Midianite Moseh’s father in Law: We journey toward that place, whereof the LORD said, I will give thee that: go with us, and we shall do well to thee, for the LORD hath spoken the good (or, that which is good) over Israel. [compare Genesis 18:19.]

30. But he said to him, I will not go: but I will go to my Country, and to my Kindred. [Some are of opinion, that this absolute refusal was but for that time, and that he would first return homewards, but came again afterwards unto the Israelites, seeing the Scripture maketh mention of his posterities dwelling among them, Jude 1:16. And chapter 4. 11, 17. 1 Samuel 15. On v. 6. 2 Kings 10. V. 15. 1 Chronicles 2:55. Jeremiah 35:2.]

31. And he said: forsake us not (I Pray) for since thou knowest, that we camp in the wilderness, thou shalt be eyes to us. [Heb. two eyes; i.e. a good guide and leader, to conduct us most conveniently through these untrodden, unknown, and over-grown ways, which thou art better acquinted with then any of us. Oth. And thou hast been our eyes.]

32. And it shall come to pass when thou shalt go with us; and that same good shall happen, whereby the LORD shall do well by us, that we shall likewise do well unto thee.

33. So they marched three days journey from the mount of the LORD; [Understand Mount Sinai, and Horeb, called the Mount of the LORD, because that there the LORD had revealed himself, and given his Law upon the same. See Exodus 3:1. And 33. 6. Deuteronomy 1:2. 1King 19. 8.] and the ark of the Covenant of the LORD [so called, because that therein were laid up the two stone, Tables by Moseh, when the LORD had made a Covenant with the children of Israel, as they were coming out of Egypt, and marching towards the land of Canaan, Exodus 25:16. 1 Kings 8:9. 2 Chron. 5. 10.] journeyed [viz. being carried by the Priests, Deuteronomy 31:9.] three days journeys to spy out a resting place of them.

34. And the cloud of the LORD was over them by day, when they marched forth out of the Camp.

35. Now it came to pass in the marching of the Ark, that Moseh said; Arise, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered, [Hebr. Thine enemies shall be scattered, & c.] and thy haters flee from thy face.

36. And when it rested, he said; Return, LORD (to) [Oth. With, by] the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel. [i.e. to the great number of the children of Israel, being almost numberless.