Numbers 10:1-10

The Silver Trumpets

1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

2 "Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for ¹summoning the congregation and for breaking camp.

3 And when ²both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting.

4 But if they blow only one, then ³the chiefs, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you.

5 When you blow an alarm, ⁴the camps that are on the east side shall set out.

6 And when you blow an alarm the second time, ⁵the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out.

7 But when the assembly is to be gathered together, ⁶you shall blow a long blast, but you shall not ⁷sound an alarm.

8 ⁸And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations.

9 And ⁹when you go to war in your land against the adversary who ¹⁰oppresses you, then you shall ¹¹sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be ¹²remembered before the LORD your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies.

10 ¹³On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and ¹⁴at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. They shall be ¹⁵a reminder of you before your God: I am the LORD your God."

Numbers 10:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 10

This chapter gives an account of the directions given for making two silver trumpets, and of the use of them, the ends and purposes for which they were to be made, Nu 10:1-10; and of the time of taking up of the cloud from the tabernacle, and of the removal of the camp of Israel from the wilderness of Sinai, and of the order of their march, Nu 10:11-28; when Moses most earnestly passed Hobab, his brother in law, to continue with him, Nu 10:29-32; and the chapter is closed with the prayer of Moses at the setting forward of the ark, and the resting of it, Nu 10:33-36.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 1:13; Joel 1:14; [Psalms 81:3]
• 2. Jeremiah 4:5; Joel 2:15
• 3. Numbers 1:16; Numbers 7:2; Exodus 18:21
• 4. ver. 14; See Numbers 2:3-9
• 5. ver. 18; See Numbers 2:10-16
• 6. ver. 3
• 7. Joel 2:1
• 8. 1 Chronicles 15:24; 2 Chronicles 13:12
• 9. Numbers 31:6; 2 Chronicles 13:14; [Joshua 6:5]
• 10. Judges 2:18; Judges 4:3; Judges 10:8, 12; 1 Samuel 10:18
• 11. [See ver. 7 above]
• 12. See Genesis 8:1
• 13. Numbers 29:1; 1 Chronicles 15:24; 2 Chronicles 5:12, 13; 2 Chronicles 7:6; 2 Chronicles 29:26-28; Ezra 3:10; Nehemiah 12:35
• 14. Psalms 81:3; See Numbers 28:11
• 15. ver. 9