1: GOD spoke to Moses:
2: "Make two bugles of hammered silver. Use them to call the congregation together and give marching orders to the camps.
3: When you blow them, the whole community will meet you at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.
4: "When a bugle gives a single, short blast, that's the signal for the leaders, the heads of the clans, to assemble.
5: When it gives a long blast, that's the signal to march. At the first blast the tribes who were camped on the east set out.
6: At the second blast the camps on the south set out. The long blasts are the signals to march.
7: The bugle call that gathers the assembly is different from the signal to march.
8: "The sons of Aaron, the priests, are in charge of blowing the bugles; it's their assigned duty down through the generations.
9: When you go to war against an aggressor, blow a long blast on the bugle so that GOD will notice you and deliver you from your enemies.
10: Also at times of celebration, at the appointed feasts and New Moon festivals, blow the bugles over your Whole-Burnt-Offerings and Peace-Offerings: they will keep your attention on God. I am GOD, your God."
11: In the second year, on the twentieth day of the second month, the Cloud went up from over The Dwelling of The Testimony.
12: At that the People of Israel set out on their travels from the Wilderness of Sinai until the Cloud finally settled in the Wilderness of Paran.
13: They began their march at the command of GOD through Moses.
14: The flag of the camp of Judah led the way, rank after rank under the command of Nahshon son of Amminadab.
15: Nethanel son of Zuar commanded the forces of the tribe of Issachar,
16: and Eliab son of Helon commanded the forces of the tribe of Zebulun.
17: As soon as The Dwelling was taken down, the Gershonites and the Merarites set out, carrying The Dwelling.
18: The flag of the camp of Reuben was next with Elizur son of Shedeur in command.
19: Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai commanded the forces of the tribe of Simeon;
20: Eliasaph son of Deuel commanded the forces of the tribe of Gad.
21: Then the Kohathites left, carrying the holy things. By the time they arrived The Dwelling would be set up.
22: The flag of the tribe of Ephraim moved out next, commanded by Elishama son of Ammihud.
23: Gamaliel son of Pedahzur commanded the forces of the tribe of Manasseh;
24: Abidan son of Gideoni commanded the forces of the tribe of Benjamin.
25: Finally, under the flag of the tribe of Dan, the rear guard of all the camps marched out with Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai in command.
26: Pagiel son of Ocran commanded the forces of the tribe of Asher;
27: Ahira son of Enan commanded the forces of the tribe of Naphtali.
28: These were the marching units of the People of Israel. They were on their way.
29: Moses said to his brother-in-law Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, "We're marching to the place about which GOD promised, "I'll give it to you.' Come with us; we'll treat you well. GOD has promised good things for Israel."
30: But Hobab said, "I'm not coming; I'm going back home to my own country, to my own family."
31: Moses countered, "Don't leave us. You know all the best places to camp in the wilderness. We need your eyes.
32: If you come with us, we'll make sure that you share in all the good things GOD will do for us."
33: And so off they marched. From the Mountain of GOD they marched three days with the Chest of the Covenant of GOD in the lead to scout out a campsite.
34: The Cloud of GOD was above them by day when they marched from the camp.
35: With the Chest leading the way, Moses would say, Get up, GOD! Put down your enemies! Chase those who hate you to the hills!
36: And when the Chest was set down, he would say, Rest with us, GOD, Stay with the many, Many thousands of Israel.