NSB(i)
1 Jehovah said to Moses:
2 »Make two trumpets of hammered silver to use for calling the people together and for breaking camp.
3 »When long blasts are sounded on both trumpets, the whole community is to gather around you at the entrance to the tent of my presence.
4 »When only one trumpet is sounded, then only the leaders of the clans are to gather around you.
5 »When short blasts are sounded, the tribes camped on the east will move out.
6 »When short blasts are sounded a second time, the tribes on the south will move out. So short blasts are to be sounded to break camp,
7 »Long blasts are to be sounded to call the congregation together.
8 »Aaron’s sons the priests are to blow the trumpets. The following rule is to be observed for all time to come.
9 »When there is war in your land and you defend yourselves against an enemy attack, sound the signal for battle on these trumpets. I, Jehovah your God, will help you and save you from your enemies.
10 »Joyful occasions such as your New Moon Festivals and your other religious festivals, you are to blow the trumpets when you present your burnt offerings and your fellowship offerings. Then I will help you. I AM JEHOVAH YOUR GOD!«
11 The cloud over the tent of Jehovah’s presence lifted the twentieth day of the second month in the second year after the people left Egypt.
12 At last the Israelites started on their journey out of the Sinai Desert. The cloud came to rest in the wilderness of Paran.
13 Jehovah gave the command through Moses for them to march.
14 They were in the same order each time they moved. Those under the banner of the division led by the tribe of Judah started out first, company by company, with Nahshon son of Amminadab in command.
15 Nethanel son of Zuar was in command of the tribe of Issachar.
16 Eliab son of Helon was in command of the tribe of Zebulun.
17 Then the tent would be taken down. The clans of Gershon and Merari carried it.
18 Next, the banner of the division led by the tribe of Reuben would start out, company by company. Elizur son of Shedeur was in command.
19 Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was in command of the tribe of Simeon,
20 and Eliasaph son of Deuel was in command of the tribe of Gad.
21 The Levite clan of Kohath started the march. They carried the sacred objects. By the time they arrived at the next camp, the tent had been set up again.
22 Next, the banner of the division led by the tribe of Ephraim would start out, company by company, with Elishama son of Ammihud in command.
23 Gamaliel son of Pedahzur commanded the tribe of Manasseh.
24 Abidan son of Gideoni commanded the tribe of Benjamin.
25 Finally, the banner of the division led by the tribe of Dan, serving as the rear guard of all the divisions, started out, company by company. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai was in command.
26 Pagiel son of Ochran commanded the tribe of Asher.
27 Ahira son of Enan commanded the tribe of Naphtali.
28 This was the order of march, company by company, when the Israelites broke camp and set out.
29 Moses said to his brother-in-law Hobab son of Jethro the Midianite: We are about to start out for the place Jehovah said he would give us. He promised to make Israel prosperous, so come with us, and we will share our prosperity with you.
30 Hobab answered: »No, I am going back to my native land.«
31 »Please do not leave us,« Moses said. »You know where we can camp in the desert. You can be our guide.
32 »If you come with us, we will share with you all the blessings that Jehovah gives us.«
33 The people left Sinai, the holy mountain. They traveled three days. Jehovah’s Ark of the Covenant always went ahead of them to find a place for them to camp.
34 They moved camp to camp with the cloud of Jehovah over them by day.
35 When the Ark of the Covenant started out, Moses would say: »ARISE, JEHOVAH; scatter your enemies and put to flight those who hate you!«
36 And when it stopped, he would say: »RETURN, O JEHOVAH, to the countless thousands of Israel!«