SECTION 1. THE PREPARATIONS TO GO FORWARD FROM SINAI WITH YAHWEH'S
PROVISIONS RELATED THERETO (1:1-10:10).
THE MOBILISATION OF THE ARMY OF ISRAEL, AND THE PREPARATION OF THE
LEVITES FOR THEIR WORK OF BEARING THE ARK AND DWELLINGPLACE OF YAHWEH
(1:1-4:49).
The first stage towards entry into the lan... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER 10 THE SILVER TRUMPETS AND THE COMMENCEMENT OF THEIR
JOURNEYING.
The problem for any large company on the march in those days was
communication. In the case of Israel this was partly resolved by the
use of two silver trumpets, by the blowing of which quick messages
could be rapidly imparted... [ Continue Reading ]
B. THE JOURNEY FROM SINAI TO KADESH (NUMBERS 10:11 TO NUMBERS 12:15).
This section comprises of:
a The setting forward from Sinai and the order of the march (Numbers
10:11).
b The people complain and are smitten, Moses intervenes (Numbers 11:1)
c Murmuring for meat instead of manna (Numbers 11:4... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TROOPS IN THE VAN (NUMBERS 10:14).
Numbers 10:14
‘And in the first place the standard of the camp of the children of
Judah set forward according to their hosts, and over his host was
Nahshon the son of Amminadab. And over the host of the tribe of the
children of Issachar was Nethanel the son... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LEVITES WHO BORE THE DWELLINGPLACE (NUMBERS 10:17)
Numbers 10:17
‘And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the
sons of Merari, who bore the tabernacle, set forward.'
Behind the leading troops set forward the sons of Gershon and Merari,
the Levites who bore the Dwellingp... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TROOPS IN THE CENTRE OF THE MARCH (NUMBERS 10:18).
Numbers 10:18
‘And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to
their hosts: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur. And over
the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son
of Zurishaddai. And ov... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LEVITES WHO BORE THE HOLY THINGS (NUMBERS 10:21)
Numbers 10:21
‘And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the holy things, and the
others set up the tabernacle in readiness for their coming.'
Next came the remainder of the Korathites bearing all ‘the holy
things' apart from the Ark which led th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TROOPS WHO FOLLOWED UP IN THE REAR (NUMBERS 10:22).
Numbers 10:22
‘And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward
according to their hosts: and over his host was Elishama the son of
Ammihud. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh
was Gamaliel the son o... [ Continue Reading ]
MOSES ASKS HOBAB TO ACCOMPANY THEM (NUMBERS 10:29).
Hobab, Moses' Midianite brother-in-law, was with them, giving
assistance to Moses with his knowledge of wilderness lore, but
determined to return to his own people. Moses pleaded with his
brother-in-law to continue to accompany them and give them... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OF YAHWEH LEADS THE WAY (NUMBERS 10:33).
Ahead of the fighting contingents went the Ark of the Covenant of
Yahweh. It was a regular feature of nations going forth to war that
they were led by a sacred symbol, and nothing was more sacred than the
Ark. This was why its blue cl... [ Continue Reading ]