Numbers 10:21

_AND THEY FIRST TOOK THEIR JOURNEY ACCORDING TO THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD BY THE HAND OF MOSES._ They first took their journey ... by the hand of Moses. It is probable that Moses, on the breaking up of the encampment, stationed himself on some eminence to see the ranks defile in order through the embouchure of the mountains. The marching order is described, Numbers 2:1; but as the vast horde are represented here in actual migration, it may be proper to notice the extraordinary care that was taken for ensuring the safe conveyance of the holy things. In the rear of Judah, which, with the tribes of Issachar and Zebulun, led the van, followed the Gershonites and Merarites with the heavy and coarser materials of the tabernacle. Next in order were set in motion the flank divisions of Reuben and Ephraim; and then came the Kohathites, who occupied the center of the moving mass, beari

11-28 After the Israelites had continued nearly a year at mount Sinai, and all was settled respecting their future worship, they began their march to Canaan. True religion begins with the knowledge of the holy law of God, and humiliation for sin, but we must go on towards perfection, in acquaintance with Christ and his gospel, and those effectual encouragements, motives, and assistances to holiness, which it proposes. They took their journey according to the commandment of the Lord, Deuteronomy 1:6-5, and as the cloud led them. Those who give themselves to the direction of God's word and Spirit, steer a steady course, even when they seem bewildered. While they are sure they cannot lose their God and Guide, they need not fear losing their way. They went out of the wilderness of Sinai, and rested in the wilderness of Paran. All our removes in this world are but from one wilderness to anot...

EXPOSITION THE ORDER OF MARCH FROM SINAI (Numbers 10:11-4). NUMBERS 10:11 On THE TWENTIETH DAY of THE SECOND MONTH. This answered approximately to our May 6th, when the spring verdure would still be on the land, but the heat of the day would already have become intense. We may well suppose that the departure would have taken place a month earlier, had it not been necessary to wait for the due celebration of the second or supplemental passover (Numbers 9:11). As this march was, next to the actual exodus, _the _great trial of Israel's f

AND THE KOHATHITES SET FORWARD,.... After the standard of the camps of Reuben, and between that and the standard of the camp of Ephraim, to, which there is an allusion in Psalms 80:2; BEARING THE SANCTUARY, or the holy things, as Jarchi; the ark, as Aben Ezra; though not that only, which indeed might be eminently called so, it standing in the most holy place, over which were the mercy seat and cherubim, the residence of the divine Majesty; but all the holy things in the holy place, the candlestick, shewbread table, and the two altars, the altar of incense in the holy place, and the altar of burnt offerings in the court these they bore on their shoulders, and had no wagons allowed for their assistance: AND [THE OTHER] DID SET UP THE TABERNACLE AGAINST THEY CAME; that is, the sons of Gershon and Merari, who went before between the standard of Judah and the

THE DEPARTURE FROM SINAI. The stay at Sinai lasted about 11 months (_cf. Numbers 10:11_ with Exodus 19:1), and the people now moved to the wilderness of Paran (the modern El Tih), N. of Sinai. The order of the march here differs in some respects from that described in ch. 2; for there it is assumed that all the Levites kept together (Numbers 2:17), whereas here the Gershonites and Merarites, with the hangings and frame of the Tabernacle, are to follow the division of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, whilst the Kohathites, with the Ark and the furniture of the Tabernacle, are to follow the division of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad. The arrangement was intended to secure that the Tabernacle should be set up before the arrival of its

THE OTHER: i.e. the Gershonites and Merarites. See Numbers 10:17....

AND THE OTHER DID SET UP THE TABERNACLE— _The other_ is not in the text: Calmet explains it, "that the Kohathites set up the tabernacle against _they, i.e._ the priests, arrived." Houbigant renders it, _and the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sacred things, and the tabernacle was erected while they came._ The two families, says he, of the Levites, _Gershon_ and _Merari,_ march after the tribe of Judah; that, the front of the army standing still, and pitching their tents, they might erect, without any delay, the tabernacle, when it was to be erected: that so the Kohathites might find it prepared to receive the holy vessels, when they came after the second part of the army: and this is taken notice of in the first march of the Israelites, as it was to be the rule of all the rest....

PART TWO: SINAI TO KADESH-BARNEA (NUMBERS 10:11-36; NUMBERS 11; NUMBERS 12; NUMBERS 13; NUMBERS 14) I. FROM SINAI TO HAZEROTH (Numbers 10:11-36; Numbers 11; Numbers 12) A. DEPARTURE, AND ORDER OF MARCH, vv. 11-28 TEXT Numbers

THE DEPARTURE FROM SINAI 12. Paran] see on Exodus 15:22. They do not actually reach Paran till Exodus 12:16....

THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOK OF NUMBERS IN THE DESERT NUMBERS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 10 THE TWO *TRUMPETS – NUMBERS 10:1-10 V1 The *LORD said to Moses, V2 ‘Make two *trumpets. Make them from silver and use a hammer to make them into the correct shape. Use the *trumpets to call the people together. Also, use the *trumpets to tell the people that they must move the camp. V3 When the priests blow into both the *trumpets, everyone must come. They must meet you at the entrance to *God’s Tent. V4 If the priests blow into just one *trumpet, only the leaders of Israel’s *tribes need to meet you....