Return, Yahweh

Numbers 10 begins with the two silver trumpets. Made of beaten silver, they were blown by the priests for a statute forever. A blast on both gathered the whole congregation at the Tent of Meeting; one trumpet called only the leaders. An alarm signaled the camps to march, east side first. In battle against an oppressor, they were to sound an alarm, and you will be remembered before Yahweh your God, and you will be saved from your enemies. At feasts and new moons, the trumpets were a memorial before God.

On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle. For the first time, Israel set out from Sinai in the order God had commanded: Judah's camp first, then the Gershonites and Merarites with the tabernacle, then Reuben's camp, then the Kohathites bearing the sanctuary, then Ephraim's camp, and finally Dan's camp as the rear guard.

Moses urged Hobab, his relative, to come with them: Don't leave us, please; because you know how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. He promised to share whatever good God gave them. The chapter ends with two short prayers that Israel would use for generations. When the ark set out: Rise up, Yahweh, and let your enemies be scattered! When it rested: Return, Yahweh, to the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel. Psalm 68:1 echoes this prayer.