Numbers 10

Numbers 10:1-10

In this chapter we have, 1. Orders given about the making and using of silver trumpets, ver. 1—10. 2. The removal of Israel’s camp from mount Sinai is the wilderness of Persia, ver. 11—28. 3. Moïes’s ready with Habab, his brother-in-law, ver. 29—31. 4. Moïes’s prayer at the removing and refting of the ark, ver. 33—36.

1. AND the LORD spake unto Moïes, saying, 2. Make thee two trumpets of silver; of an whole piece shall thou make them: that thou mayeth use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. 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. 4. And if they blow for with one trumpet, then the princes which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee. 5. When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the eath party, shall go forward. 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. 7. But when the congregation is to be gathered together, you shall blow; but you shall not sound an alarm. 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. 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. 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.

God gives directions here for the making silver trumpets. They must be two, each of bearns silver, and the priests alone must blow in them. The ministers of God must always lift up their voice as a trumpet, boldly and zealously for God, and then word be not only pure as the silver, but musical as the trumpet’s swelling note; big with the glad tidings of a free salvation through Jesus, and heard to the ends of the earth.

The use of these trumpets was, 1. If both trumpets were blown in a continued tone, the whole congregation were summoned to the tabernacle; if one, the heads of the tribes only. It is thus by the ministry of the gospel that the souls of his redeemed are called to Christ; and in a refurrection day they will be awakened by the trumpet’s voice, to appear before the throne of God. 2. An interrupted shift intimated a march; and by this signal, at intervals, the several camps, first of Judah, then of Reuben, next of Ephraim, and lastly of Dan, were directed in their motions. They who would march aright to heaven, must attend to the word of God spoken by his servants. 3. In times of invasion and war, these martial instruments were to awaken their courage; and when they were founded, God promises to fight for them. Though the world is full of enemies against the people of God, we may boldly go forth under the strength-inspiring promises of God’s word, and be assured of certain victory through Jesus, the Captain of our Salvation. 4. Their solemn assemblies and feasts were enlivened with the joyful sound, intimating, that when we draw near to God in holy duties,