1Hospodin promluvil k Mojžíšovi: 2„Udělej si dvě stříbrné trubky. Dáš je vytepat. Budou ti sloužit ke svolávání společenství a na znamení, že tábory mají táhnout dál. 3Zatroubí-li se na obě, shromáždí se k tobě ke vchodu do stanu setkávání celé společenství. 4Zatroubí-li se na jednu, shromáždí se k tobě náčelníci, vůdci Izraele. 5Zatroubíte hlasitě, a vytáhnou tábory ležící na východě. 6Zatroubíte hlasitě podruhé, a odejdou tábory ležící na jihu. Hlasitě se bude troubit při odchodu. 7Při svolávání shromáždění zatroubíte, ale ne hlasitě. 8Na trubky budou troubit Áronovi synové, kněží. Pro vás a pro vaše pokolení to bude provždy platné nařízení. 9Až ve své zemi vytáhnete do boje proti nepříteli, který vás bude utiskovat, a budete hlasitě troubit na trubky, připomenete se Hospodinu, svému Bohu, a budete osvobozeni od svých nepřátel. 10V den své radosti, o slavnostech a o novoluních budete troubit na trubky při svých zápalných obětech a pokojných obětech. Budou vás připomínat vašemu Bohu. Já jsem Hospodin, váš Bůh.“ 11Ve druhém roce, ve druhém měsíci, ve dvacátém dni toho měsíce, vznesl se oblak od příbytku svědectví. 12A Izraelité táhli ze Sinajské pouště, po jednotlivých stanovištích, dokud se oblak nezastavil na poušti Paran. 13To bylo poprvé, co táhli dál na rozkaz, který dal Hospodin prostřednictvím Mojžíše. 14Jako první táhl po oddílech prapor tábora potomků Judových. V čele jejich oddílu byl Amminadabův syn Nachšon. 15V čele oddílu kmene potomků Isacharových byl Suarův syn Netaneel. 16V čele oddílu kmene potomků Zabulonových byl Chelonův syn Eliab. 17Pak byl složen příbytek a Geršonovi a Merariovi potomci, kteří jej nosili, se vydali na cestu. 18Dále táhl po oddílech prapor tábora Rubenova. V čele jeho oddílu byl Šedeurův syn Elisur. 19V čele oddílu kmene potomků Simeonových byl Surišaddajův syn Šelumiel. 20V čele oddílu kmene potomků Gadových byl Deuelův syn Eljasaf. 21Pak táhli Kehatovi potomci, kteří nosili svatyni. Příbytek byl postaven před jejich příchodem. 22Dále táhl po oddílech prapor tábora potomků Efraimových. V čele jejich oddílu byl Ammihudův syn Elišama. 23V čele oddílu kmene potomků Manasesových byl Pedasurův syn Gamliel. 24V čele oddílu kmene potomků Benjamínových byl Gideoniho syn Abidan. 25Pak táhl po oddílech prapor tábora potomků Danových, uzavírající všechny tábory. V čele jejich oddílu byl Ammišaddajův syn Achiezer. 26V čele oddílu kmene potomků Ašerových byl Okranův syn Pagiel. 27V čele oddílu kmene potomků Neftaliových byl Enanův syn Achira. 28Toto bylo uspořádám Izraelitů, když táhli po oddílech; a takto táhli dál. 29Mojžíš řekl Chobabovi, synu Midjance Reuela, svého tchána: „Táhneme k místu, o kterém Hospodin řekl: Dám vám je. Pojď s námi, a my ti prokážeme dobro, neboť Hospodin přislíbil dobro Izraeli.“ 30On mu však řekl: „Nepůjdu! Chci jít do své země a do svého rodiště.“ 31Mojžíš řekl: „Neopouštěj nás, prosím! Znáš přece na poušti místa, kde můžeme tábořit. Budeš naším průvodcem. 32Když půjdeš spolu s námi, a přijde to dobro, které nám chce prokázat Hospodin, prokážeme dobro i my tobě.“ 33Vytáhli od hory Hospodinovy a putovali tři dny cesty. Archa smlouvy táhla ty tři dny cesty před nimi, aby jim vyhledala místo k odpočinutí. 34A když se vydali na cestu, býval ve dne Hospodinův oblak nad nimi. 35Když archa táhla dál, Mojžíš říkal: „Povstaň, Hospodine! Ať se rozprchnou tví nepřátelé! Ať před tebou utečou ti, kdo tě nenávidí!“ 36Když se archa zastavila k odpočinku, říkal: „Vrať se, Hospodine nespočetného množství Izraele!“
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 2 THE USE OF THE SILVER TRUMPETS. (Num. 10:1-36)
Make thee two trumpets of silver--These trumpets were of a long form, in opposition to that of the Egyptian trumpets, with which the people were convened to the worship of Osiris and which were curved like rams' horns. Those which Moses made, as described by JOSEPHUS and represented on the arch of Titus, were straight, a cubit or more in length, the tubes of the thickness of a flute. Both extremities bore a close resemblance to those in use among us. They were of solid silver--so as, from the purity of the metal, to give a shrill, distinct sound; and there were two of them, probably because there were only two sons of Aaron; but at a later period the number was greatly increased (
Josh 6:8;
2Chr 5:12). And although the camp comprehended 2,500,000 of people, two trumpets would be quite sufficient, for sound is conveyed easily through the pure atmosphere and reverberated strongly among the valleys of the Sinaitic hills.
3 when they shall blow with them--There seem to have been signals made by a difference in the loudness and variety in the notes, suited for different occasions, and which the Israelites learned to distinguish. A simple uniform sound by both trumpets summoned a general assembly of the people; the blast of a single trumpet convoked the princes to consult on public affairs; notes of some other kind were made to sound an alarm, whether for journeying or for war. One alarm was the recognized signal for the eastern division of the camp (the tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun) to march; two alarms gave the signal for the southern to move; and, though it is not in our present Hebrew text, the Septuagint has, that on three alarms being sounded, those on the west; while on four blasts, those on the north decamped. Thus the greatest order and discipline were established in the Israelitish camp--no military march could be better regulated.
8 the sons of Aaron the priests shall blow with the trumpets, &c.--Neither the Levites nor any in the common ranks of the people could be employed in this office of signal giving. In order to attract greater attention and more faithful observance, it was reserved to the priests alone, as the Lord's ministers; and as anciently in Persia and other Eastern countries the alarm trumpets were sounded from the tent of the sovereign, so were they blown from the tabernacle, the visible residence of Israel's King.
9 If ye go to war--In the land of Canaan, either when attacked by foreign invaders or when they went to take possession according to the divine promise, "ye [that is, the priests] shall blow an alarm." This advice was accordingly acted upon (
Num 31:6;
2Chr 13:12); and in the circumstances it was an act of devout confidence in God. A solemn and religious act on the eve of a battle has often animated the hearts of those who felt they were engaged in a good and just cause; and so the blowing of the trumpet, being an ordinance of God, produced that effect on the minds of the Israelites. But more is meant by the words--namely, that God would, as it were, be aroused by the trumpet to bless with His presence and aid.
10 Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days--Festive and thanksgiving occasions were to be ushered in with the trumpets, as all feasts afterwards were (
Ps 81:3;
2Chr 29:27) to intimate the joyous and delighted feelings with which they engaged in the service of God.
11 It came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, &c.--The Israelites had lain encamped in Wady-Er-Rahah and the neighboring valleys of the Sinaitic range for the space of eleven months and twenty-nine days. (Compare
Exod 19:1). Besides the religious purposes of the highest importance to which their long sojourn at Sinai was subservient, the Israelites, after the hardships and oppression of the Egyptian servitude, required an interval of repose and refreshment. They were neither physically nor morally in a condition to enter the lists with the warlike people they had to encounter before obtaining possession of Canaan. But the wondrous transactions at Sinai--the arm of Jehovah so visibly displayed in their favor--the covenant entered into, and the special blessings guaranteed, beginning a course of moral and religious education which moulded the character of this people--made them acquainted with their high destiny and inspired them with those noble principles of divine truth and righteousness which alone make a great nation.
12 wilderness of Paran--It stretched from the base of the Sinaitic group, or from Et-Tyh, over that extensive plateau to the southwestern borders of Palestine.
13 the children of Israel took their journey . . . by the hand of Moses--It is probable that Moses, on the breaking up of the encampment, stationed himself on some eminence to see the ranks defile in order through the embouchure of the mountains. The marching order is described (Num. 2:1-34); but, as the vast horde is represented here in actual migration, let us notice the extraordinary care that was taken for ensuring the safe conveyance of the holy things. In the rear of Judah, which, with the tribes of Issachar and Zebulun, led the van, followed the Gershonites and Merarites with the heavy and coarser materials of the tabernacle. Next in order were set in motion the flank divisions of Reuben and Ephraim. Then came the Kohathites, who occupied the center of the moving mass, bearing the sacred utensils on their shoulder. They were so far behind the other portions of the Levitical body that these would have time at the new encampment to rear the framework of the tabernacle before the Kohathites arrived. Last of all, Dan, with the associated tribes, brought up the rear of the immense caravan. Each tribe was marshalled under its prince or chief and in all their movements rallied around its own standard.
29 Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite--called also Reuel (the same as Jethro [
Exod 2:18, Margin]). Hobab, the son of this Midianite chief and brother-in-law to Moses, seems to have sojourned among the Israelites during the whole period of their encampment at Sinai and now on their removal proposed returning to his own abode. Moses urged him to remain, both for his own benefit from a religious point of view, and for the useful services his nomad habits could enable him to render.
31 Leave us not, I pray thee . . . and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes--The earnest importunity of Moses to secure the attendance of this man, when he enjoyed the benefit of the directing cloud, has surprised many. But it should be recollected that the guidance of the cloud, though it showed the general route to be taken through the trackless desert, would not be so special and minute as to point out the places where pasture, shade, and water were to be obtained and which were often hid in obscure spots by the shifting sands. Besides, several detachments were sent off from the main body; the services of Hobab, not as a single Arab, but as a prince of a powerful clan, would have been exceedingly useful.
32 if thou go with us . . . what goodness the Lord will show unto us, the same will we do unto thee--A strong inducement is here held out; but it seems not to have changed the young man's purpose, for he departed and settled in his own district. (See on
Judg 1:16 and
1Sam 15:6).
33 they departed . . . three days' journey--the first day's progress being very small, about eighteen or twenty miles.
ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them--It was carried in the center, and hence some eminent commentators think the passage should be rendered, "the ark went in their presence," the cloud above upon it being conspicuous in their eyes. But it is probable that the cloudy pillar, which, while stationary, rested upon the ark, preceded them in the march--as, when in motion at one time (
Exod 14:19) it is expressly said to have shifted its place.
35 when the ark set forward that Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered--Moses, as the organ of the people, uttered an appropriate prayer both at the commencement and the end of each journey. Thus all the journeys were sanctified by devotion; and so should our prayer be, "If thy presence go not with us, carry us not hence" [
Exod 33:15].
