and settled on it. They wouldn't march. But when it ascended, they would march. 23They camped at the LORD's command and they marched at the LORD's command. They followed the LORD's direction according to the LORD's command through Moses.
Trumpets
Numbers 10The LORD spoke to Moses: 2Make two silver trumpets and make them from hammered metalwork. Use them for summoning the community and for breaking camp. 3When both are blown, the entire community will meet you at the entrance of the meeting tent. 4When one is blown, the chiefs, the leaders of Israel's divisions, will meet you. 5When you blow a series of short blasts, the camp on the east side will march. 6And when you blow a second series of short blasts, the camp on the south side will march. You will blow a series of short blasts to announce their march.
7To gather the assembly, blow a long blast, not a series of short blasts. 8Aaron's sons the priests will blow the trumpets. This will be a permanent regulation for you throughout time.
9When you go to war in your land against an enemy who is attacking you, you will blow short blasts with the trumpets so that you may be remembered by the LORD your God and be saved from your enemies.
10On your festival days, your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you will blow the trumpets over your entirely burned offerings and your well-being sacrifices. They will serve as a reminder of you to your God. I am the LORD your God.
Organization of the wilderness march
11On the twentieth day of the second month in the second year, the cloud ascended from the covenant dwelling. 12The Israelites set out on their march from the Sinai desert, and the cloud settled in the Paran desert.
13They marched for the first time at the LORD's command through Moses. 14The banner of Judah's camp marched first with its military units. Nahshon, Amminadab's son, commanded its military. 15Nethanel, Zuar's son, commanded the military of the tribe of Issachar. 16Eliab, Helon's son, commanded the military of the tribe of Zebulun. 17The dwelling was taken down, and the Gershonites and the Merarites, who carried the dwelling, marched. 18The banner of Reuben's camp marched with its military units. Elizur, Shedeur's son, commanded its military. 19Shelumiel, Zurishaddai's son, commanded the military of the tribe of Simeon. 20Eliasaph, Deuel's son, commanded the military of the tribe of Gad. 21The Kohathites, who carried the holy things, marched. The dwelling would be set up before their arrival. 22The banner of Ephraim's camp marched with its military units. Elishama, Ammihud's son, commanded its military. 23Gamaliel, Pedahzur's son, commanded the military of the tribe of Manasseh. 24Abidan, Gideoni's son, commanded the military of the tribe of Benjamin. 25The banner of Dan's camp, at the rear of the whole camp, marched with its military units. Ahiezer, Ammishaddai's son, commanded its military. 26Pagiel, Ochran's son, commanded the military of the tribe of Asher. 27Ahira, Enan's son, commanded the military of the tribe of Naphtali. 28This was the order of departure of the Israelites with their military units when they set out.
The chest leads
29Moses said to Hobab the Midianite, Reuel's son and Moses' father-in-law, "We're marching to the place about which the LORD has said, 'I'll give it to you.' Come with us and we'll treat you well, for the LORD has promised to treat Israel well."
30Hobab said to him, "I won't go; I'd rather go to my land and to my folk."
31Moses said, "Please don't abandon us, for you know where we can camp in the desert, and you can be our eyes. 32If you go with us, whatever good the LORD does for us, we'll do for you."
33They marched from the LORD's mountain for three days. The LORD's chest containing the covenant marched ahead of them for three days to look for a resting place for them. 34Now the LORD's cloud was over them by day when they marched from the camp. 35When the chest set out, Moses would say, "Arise, LORD, let your enemies scatter, and those who hate you flee."36When it rested, he would say, "Return, LORD of the ten thousand thousands of Israel."
Complaint at Taberah
Numbers 11When the people complained intensely in the LORD's hearing, the LORD heard and became angry. Then the LORD's fire burned them and consumed the edges of the camp. 2When the people cried out to Moses, Moses prayed to the LORD, and the fire subsided. 3The name of that place was called Taberah,l because the LORD's fire burned against them.
Complaint over the lack of meat
4The riffraff among them had a strong craving. Even the Israelites cried again and said, "Who will give us meat to eat?5We remember the fish we ate in Egypt for free, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 6Now our lives are wasting away. There is nothing but manna in front of us."
7The manna was like coriander seed and its color was like resin. 8The people would roam around and collect it and grind it with millstones or pound it in a mortar. Then they would boil it in pots and make it into cakes. It tasted like cakes baked in olive oil. 9When the dew fell on the camp during the night, the manna would fall with it.
Moses' complaint about leadership
10Moses heard the people crying throughout their clans, each at his tent's entrance. The LORD was outraged, and Moses was upset. 11Moses said to the LORD, "Why have you treated your servant so badly? And why haven't I found favor in your eyes, for you have placed the burden of all these people on me?12Did I conceive all these people? Did I give birth to them, that you would say to me, 'Carry them at the breast, as a nurse carries an unweaned child,' to the fertile land that you promised their ancestors?13Where am I to get meat for all these people? They are crying before me and saying, 'Give us meat, so we can eat.'14I can't bear this people on my own. They're too heavy for me. 15If you're going to treat me like this, please kill me. If I've found favor in your eyes, then don't let me endure this wretched situation."
16The LORD said to Moses, "Gather before me seventy men from Israel's elders, whom you know as elders and officers of the people. Take them to the meeting tent, and let them stand there with you. 17Then I'll descend and speak with you there. I'll take some of the spirit that is on you and place it on them. Then they will carry the burden of the people with you so that you won't bear it alone. 18To the people you will say, 'Make yourselves holy for tomorrow; then you will eat meat, for you've cried in the LORD's hearing, "Who will give us meat to eat? It was better for us in Egypt." The LORD will give you meat, and you will eat. 19You won't eat for just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days,20but for a whole month until it comes out of your nostrils and nauseates you. You've rejected the LORD who's been with you and you have cried before him, saying, "Why did we leave Egypt?" '"
21Moses said, "The people I'm with are six hundred thousand on foot and you're saying, 'I will give them meat, and they will eat for a month.'22Can flocks and herds be found and slaughtered for them? Or can all the fish in the sea be found and caught for them?"
23The LORD said to Moses, "Is the LORD's power too weak? Now you will see whether my word will come true for you or not."
24So Moses went out and told the people the LORD's words. He assembled seventy men from the people's elders and placed them around the tent. 25The LORD descended in a cloud, spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and placed it on the seventy elders. When the spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but only this once. 26Two men had remained in the camp, one named Eldad and the second named Medad, and the spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they hadn't gone out to the tent, so they prophesied in the camp. 27A young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp."