1 The LORD spoke to Moses and said, 2 “Make two silver trumpets for yourself; make them of hammered work. They shall serve you for summoning the congregation and for setting the camps in motion. 3 When they blow both of them, the whole congregation shall gather before you at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. 4 If they blow only one, the leaders, the heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather before you. 5 When you sound an alarm blast, the camps on the east shall set out. 6 When you sound a second alarm blast, the camps on the south shall set out. They shall sound an alarm blast for their departures. 7 But when gathering the assembly, you shall blow without sounding an alarm blast. 8 Aaron's sons, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. This shall be a perpetual statute for you throughout your generations. 9 When you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, sound the alarm with the trumpets. You shall be remembered before the LORD your God and be saved from your enemies. 10 On your day of rejoicing, at your appointed times, and at the beginnings of your months, blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and your sacrifices of peace offerings. They shall be a memorial for you before your God. I am the LORD your God.”

11 On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle of the Testimony. 12 The Israelites set out on their journeys from the wilderness of Sinai, and the cloud settled in the wilderness of Paran. 13 They set out for the first time at the LORD's command through Moses. 14 The standard of the camp of the descendants of Judah set out first, by their divisions. Nahshon son of Amminadab was over its army. 15 Nethanel son of Zuar was over the army of the tribe of the descendants of Issachar, 16 and Eliab son of Helon was over the army of the tribe of the descendants of Zebulun. 17 The tabernacle was taken down, and the descendants of Gershon and Merari set out, carrying the tabernacle.

18 The standard of the camp of Reuben set out, by their divisions. Elizur son of Shedeur was over its army. 19 Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the army of the tribe of the descendants of Simeon, 20 and Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the army of the tribe of the descendants of Gad. 21 The Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things. The tabernacle was set up by the time they arrived.

22 The standard of the camp of the descendants of Ephraim set out, by their divisions. Elishama son of Ammihud was over its army. 23 Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the army of the tribe of the descendants of Manasseh, 24 and Abidan son of Gideoni was over the army of the tribe of the descendants of Benjamin.

25 The standard of the camp of the descendants of Dan set out, by their divisions, as the rear guard of all the camps. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai was over its army. 26 Pagiel son of Ocran was over the army of the tribe of the descendants of Asher, 27 and Ahira son of Enan was over the army of the tribe of the descendants of Naphtali. 28 This was the order of the Israelites' journeys by their divisions, and they set out.

29 Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place of which the LORD said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will do good to you, for the LORD has spoken good concerning Israel.” 30 He said to him, “I will not go. I will go instead to my own land and my own kindred.” 31 He said, “Please do not leave us, for you know how we are to camp in the wilderness, and you will be our eyes. 32 If you go with us, whatever good the LORD does for us, we will do for you.” 33 They set out from the mountain of the LORD on a three-day journey. The ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them on the three-day journey to seek out a resting place for them. 34 The cloud of the LORD was over them by day when they set out from the camp.

35 Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say,

36 When it came to rest, he would say,