1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2 "Make yourself two trumpets of silver; make them of hammered work. You are to use them for calling the congregation together and for setting the camps on the move.
3 When both are blown, the whole congregation is to gather to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
4 If only one is blown, the chiefs, the heads of Israel's thousands, are to gather to you.
5 When you blow a signal blast, the camps on the east side are to move out.
6 When you blow a second signal blast, the camps on the south side are to move out. A signal blast is to be blown for each of their departures.
7 To gather the assembly, you are to blow, but not sound a signal blast.
8 The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to blow the trumpets; this is to be a lasting statute for you throughout your generations.
9 When you go to war in your land against an enemy who attacks you, sound a signal blast on the trumpets; you will be remembered before the LORD your God and be rescued from your enemies.
10 On your days of rejoicing, at your appointed feasts, and at the start of your months, you are also to blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over your sacrifices of peace offerings; they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the LORD your God."
11 On the twentieth day of the second month in the second year, the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle of the testimony,
12 and the children of Israel moved out from the wilderness of Sinai in their successive stages, until the cloud came to rest in the wilderness of Paran.
13 This was the first time they moved out at the word of the LORD through Moses.
14 The banner of the camp of the descendants of Judah moved out first by their troops, with Nahshon son of Amminadab over its troop.
15 Nethanel son of Zuar was over the troop of the tribe of the descendants of Issachar,
16 and Eliab son of Helon over the troop of the tribe of the descendants of Zebulun.
17 Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the descendants of Gershon and the descendants of Merari, who carried the tabernacle, moved out.
18 Next the banner of the camp of Reuben moved out by their troops, with Elizur son of Shedeur over its troop.
19 Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the troop of the tribe of the descendants of Simeon,
20 and Eliasaph son of Deuel over the troop of the tribe of the descendants of Gad.
21 Then the Kohathites moved out, carrying the holy things; the tabernacle was to be set up before they arrived.
22 Next the banner of the camp of the descendants of Ephraim moved out by their troops, with Elishama son of Ammihud over its troop.
23 Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the troop of the tribe of the descendants of Manasseh,
24 and Abidan son of Gideoni over the troop of the tribe of the descendants of Benjamin.
25 Last, the banner of the camp of the descendants of Dan, the rear guard for all the camps, moved out by their troops, with Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai over its troop.
26 Pagiel son of Ocran was over the troop of the tribe of the descendants of Asher,
27 and Ahira son of Enan over the troop of the tribe of the descendants of Naphtali.
28 That was the marching order of the children of Israel by their troops whenever they moved out.
29 Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, "We are moving out to the place the LORD spoke of when he said, 'I will give it to you.' Come along with us and we will treat you well, for the LORD has spoken good things concerning Israel."
30 He answered, "I will not go; I am going back to my own land and my own kindred."
31 Moses said, "Please do not leave us. You know where we can encamp in the wilderness; you can be eyes for us.
32 If you come with us, then whatever good the LORD does for us, we will do the same good for you."
33 So they moved out from the mountain of the LORD on a three days' journey, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went ahead of them the three days' journey to find them a place to rest.
34 The cloud of the LORD was above them by day when they moved out from the camp.
35 Each time the ark moved out, Moses would say, "Rise up, O LORD! May your enemies be scattered, and those who hate you flee from your presence."
36 And when it came to rest, he would say, "Come back, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel."