Israel Leaves Sinai
11 In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month,
1the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle of the testimony,
12
and the people of Israel
2set out by stages from the
3wilderness of Sinai. And the cloud settled down in the
4wilderness of Paran.
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They set out for the first time
5at the command of the LORD by Moses.
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The standard of the camp of the people of Judah set out
6first by their companies, and over their company was
7Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
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And over the company of the tribe of the people of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar.
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And over the company of the tribe of the people of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.
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And when
8the tabernacle was taken down, the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari,
9who carried the tabernacle, set out.
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And
10the standard of the camp of Reuben set out by their companies, and over their company was
11Elizur the son of Shedeur.
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And over the company of the tribe of the people of Simeon was
12Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
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And over the company of the tribe of the people of Gad was
13Eliasaph the son of
14Deuel.
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Then the Kohathites set out,
15carrying the holy things, and
16the tabernacle was set up before their arrival.
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And
17the standard of the camp of the people of Ephraim set out by their companies, and over their company was
18Elishama the son of Ammihud.
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And over the company of the tribe of the people of Manasseh was
19Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
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And over the company of the tribe of the people of Benjamin was
20Abidan the son of Gideoni.
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Then
21the standard of the camp of the people of Dan, acting as the
22rear guard of all the camps, set out by their companies, and over their company was
23Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
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And over the company of the tribe of the people of Asher was
24Pagiel the son of Ochran.
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And over the company of the tribe of the people of Naphtali was
25Ahira the son of Enan.
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26This was the order of march of the people of Israel by their companies, when they set out.
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And Moses said to Hobab the son of
27Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, "We are setting out for the place of which the LORD said,
28'I will give it to you.' Come with us, and we will do good to you, for
29the LORD has promised good to Israel."
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But he said to him, "I will not go. I will depart to my own land and to my kindred."
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And he said, "Please do not leave us, for you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you will serve
30as eyes for us.
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And if you do go with us,
31whatever good the LORD will do to us, the same will we do to you."
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So they set out from
32the mount of the LORD three days' journey. And the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them three days' journey, to seek out
33a resting place for them.
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34And the cloud of the LORD was over them by day, whenever they set out from the camp.
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And whenever the ark set out, Moses said,
35"Arise, O LORD, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you."
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And when it rested, he said, "Return, O LORD, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel."