Numbers 10:4

4 If thou sound but once, the princes and the heads of the multitude of Israel shall come to thee.

Numbers 10:4 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 10:4

And if they blow [but] with one [trumpet]
With only one of them, or but once, with one sounding, and that an even one as before:

then the princes, [which are] the heads of the thousands of Israel,
shall gather themselves unto thee:
and they only or alone, as Aben Ezra: by this token, or by this difference of blowing both trumpets, or only one, it was, easily known when the whole congregation or when the princes only were to meet Moses at the same place, the door of the tabernacle of the congregation; and all are to attend divine service, and the ministry of the word, even the whole church of God, and all the members of it, high and low, rich and poor, princes and people.

Numbers 10:4 In-Context

2 Make thee two trumpets of beaten silver, wherewith thou mayest call together the multitude when the camp is to be removed.
3 And when thou shalt sound the trumpets, all the multitude shall gather unto thee to the door of the tabernacle of the covenant.
4 If thou sound but once, the princes and the heads of the multitude of Israel shall come to thee.
5 But if the sound of the trumpets be longer, and with interruptions, they that are on the east side, shall first go forward.
6 And at the second sounding and like noise of the trumpet, they who lie on the south side shall take up their tents. And after this manner shall the rest do, when the trumpets shall sound for a march.
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.