Preface:    God has Moses oversee the construction of two trumpets (clarions), which would be used to move the tribes of Israel. Then the entire encampment would move out from the Sinai region.

The Bible Summary of Numbers 10 (in 140 characters or less): Make two silver trumpets to direct the congregation. In the second month the cloud lifted and they set out as the LORD had commanded.

There are many chapter commentaries on the book of Numbers. By the third draft, this should be the most extensive examination of Numbers 10, where you will be able to examine in depth every word of the original text. Every attempt has been made to make this both a complete and self-contained study. Therefore, all references, vocabulary, and related concepts should be found within this extensive study. Easy access links to more in-depth studies of some vocabulary words, concepts and doctrines are also provided.

Outline of Chapter 10:

Introduction

         vv.     1–

         vv. 

         vv. 

         vv. 

         vv. 

Chapter Summary

Addendum

Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines:

         Preface               Quotations

         Introduction         Sinai Region (a map)

         Introduction 

         Introduction         Titles and/or Brief Descriptions of Numbers 10 (by various commentators)

         Introduction         Brief, but insightful observations of Numbers 10 (various commentators)

         Introduction         Fundamental Questions About Numbers 10

         Introduction         The Prequel of Numbers 10

         Introduction 

         Introduction 

         Introduction         The Principals of Numbers 10

         Introduction         The Places of Numbers 10

         Introduction         By the Numbers

         Introduction         Timeline for Numbers 10

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Numbers 10

         Introduction         Outlines of Numbers 10 (Various Commentators)

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Numbers 10 from the Summarized Bible

         Introduction         The Big Picture (Numbers 1–15)

         Introduction 

         Introduction 

         Introduction         Changes—additions and subtractions (for Numbers 10)

         Introduction 

         v. 

         v. 

         v.       2              The Chazozra (from Google AI)

         v.       2              The Shofar (from Google AI)

         v.       2              The Chazozra (a graphic)

         v.       2              The Shofar (a graphic)

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         v.       4              Two Men Playing a Straight Trumpet (a graphic)

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         v.      17              The Encampment of the Tribes of Israel (a graphic)

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         Summary            A Set of Summary Doctrines and Commentary

         Summary            Why Numbers 10 is in the Word of God

         Summary            What We Learn from Numbers 10

         Summary            Jesus Christ in Numbers 10

         Summary            Edersheim Summarizes Numbers 10

         Summary 

         Addendum 

         Addendum          Josephus’ History of this Time Period

         Addendum          A Complete Translation of Numbers 10

         Addendum          Doctrinal Teachers Who Have Taught Numbers 10

         Addendum          Word Cloud from a Reasonably Literal Paraphrase of Numbers 10

         Addendum          Word Cloud from Exegesis of Numbers 10

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An Introduction to Numbers 10

I ntroduction: What I found most striking, at first, about Numbers 10, is its simple practicality. There are certain functions that you, Moses, need to perform. Sometimes you will want to assemble the adult males of Israel; and sometimes you will want to assemble the leaders. Sometimes you will want to tell the people it is time to break camp and move out; sometimes it will be time to stop and make camp somewhere. This can be done by using a horn. Actually, two horns, also called chazozras or clarions.

Two things take place in this chapter. Horns are fashioned and they would be used to provide signals to the tribes of Israel. Secondly, all Israel moves out from Sinai. Generally speaking, they would be moving toward the north. They will eventually approach the Land of Canaan through the negev (Numbers 13).

Sinai Region (a map); from Douglas Jacoby; accessed March 29, 2025. There are differences of opinion regarding the location of Mount Sinai. But, generally speaking, the jews would have begun in Goshen, moved south. At some point, they would have crossed a water barrier (called the Sea of Reeds) moving east. They would have moved southeast toward Mount Sinai. In this chapter, they will break camp and move north to the Negev. These movements are generally agreed to. Specifics, as to the exact location of the water they crossed over and the location of Mount Sinai are still up for discussion.

In this chapter, God will call for horns or clarions to be manufactured and they will have numerous uses.

Up until this time, the Israelites have prepared to travel. Everyone had their assigned duties and the Levites had been cleansed for service. In Numbers 10, as God ordered in Exodus 33, the Jews will finally set out from Mount Sinai. In retrospect, from the end of Exodus until about this time, this information was recorded not in chronological order, but in a topical order, as Moses brought these things back to mind. Some were received on Mount Sinai during his two times up there and some were received in the desert of Sinai (when he was outside the camp) and some things were spoken to him in the tabernacle. At this point, we are actually breaking camp and moving away from Mount Sinai and toward the promised land. Numbers 10 is the end of the honeymoon. It has appeared that since the golden calf incident that the cutting out of the cancerous element of Israel possibly did the trick. However, the implication of the Numbers 9 incident and one of the first things which will occur when the Jews come into the desert away from the mountain, will indicate that these are a hard-hearted, rebellious generation that God will have to strike dead in the desert.

Timeline for Numbers

There is very little narrative in the book of Numbers; so this information may have been given to Moses in a few days or, at most, a few weeks; and Moses both wrote these things down and informed the people. Because of information previously studied in the introduction, we are not 100% certain if all of this material was given to Moses while in the newly erected Tabernacle. I would lean towards that being the case.

As I have done previously, since this chapters is what God is saying to Moses, I will begin and end the chapter with quotation marks. I will not insert a new set of quotation marks for each new paragraph.

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Vv. 1–10 make up a literary unit. I will break that down into three passages.

Here is how others have translated this passage:

Ancient texts:                       Note: I compare the Hebrew text to English translations of the Latin, Syriac (= Aramaic) and Greek texts, using the Douay-Rheims translation; George Lamsa’s translation, and Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton’s translation as revised and edited by Paul W. Esposito, respectively. I often update these texts with non-substantive changes (e.g., you for thou, etc.). I often use the text of the Complete Apostles’ Bible instead of Brenton’s translation, because it updates the English text.

The Septuagint was the earliest known translation of a book (circa 200 b.c.). Since this translation was made before the textual criticism had been developed into a science and because different books appear to be translated by different men, the Greek translation can sometimes be very uneven.

When there are serious disparities between my translation and Brenton’s (or the text of the Complete Apostles’ Bible), I look at the Greek text of the Septuagint (the LXX) to see if a substantive difference actually exists (and I reflect these changes in the English rendering of the Greek text). I use the Greek LXX with Strong’s numbers and morphology available for e-sword. The only problem with this resource (which is a problem for similar resources) is, there is no way to further explore Greek verbs which are not found in the New Testament. Although I usually quote the Complete Apostles’ Bible here, I have begun to make changes in the translation when their translation conflicts with the Greek and note what those changes are.

The Masoretic text is the Hebrew text with all of the vowels (vowel points) inserted (the original Hebrew text lacked vowels). We take the Masoretic text to be the text closest to the original. However, differences between the Masoretic text and the Greek, Latin and Syriac are worth noting and, once in a great while, represent a more accurate text possessed by those other ancient translators.

In general, the Latin text is an outstanding translation from the Hebrew text into Latin and very trustworthy (I say this as a non-Catholic). Unfortunately, I do not read Latin—apart from some very obvious words—so I am dependent upon the English translation of the Latin (principally, the Douay-Rheims translation).

The comparisons which I do are primarily between the English translations which are taken from the ancient tongues. For the most part, the variances are so minor that I rarely investigate them any further than that.

Underlined words indicate differences in the text.

Bracketed portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls are words, letters and phrases lost in the scroll due to various types of damage. Underlined words or phrases are those in the Dead Sea Scrolls but not in the Masoretic text.

I will only list the translation from the Dead Sea Scrolls if it exists and if it is different from the Masoretic text.

The Targum of Onkelos is actually the Pentateuchal Targumim, which are The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan Ben Uzziel. On the Pentateuch With The Fragments of the Jerusalem Targum From the Chaldee by J. W. Etheridge, M.A. From http://www.becomingjewish.org/texts/targum/onkelos_Numbers.html and first published in 1862.

Occasionally, there is an obvious error in the English translation, and I correct those without additional mention or footnoting. For instance, the online version of the Targum of Onkelos which I use has gorund in Ex. 4:9; I simply corrected the text. This may occur once or twice in a chapter.

I attempt to include translations which are different in their vocabulary and phrasing. On many occasions, I may include a translation which is not substantially different than another listed translation.

Most of the translations can be found here.

Ancient texts:

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        And so speaks Y^ehowah unto Moses, to say, “Make for yourself two clarions of silver, [of] hammered work you will make them and they have been to you for a convocation of the company and for a pulling up (of stakes) and for a breaking up (of) the camp. And they have given a blast in them and has gathered unto you all the company, unto an opening of a Tent of Appointment. And if in one they will give a blast, and has gathered unto you the leaders, heads of thousands of Israel.

Dead Sea Scrolls                   .

Targum (Onkelos)                  . Translation for Onkelos and Pseudo-Jonathan by J. W. Etheridge, M.A. (1862).

Targum (Pseudo-Jonathan)   .

Jerusalem targum                  .

Updated Douay-Rheims         .

Douay-Rheims 1899 (Amer.) And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

Make thee two trumpets of beaten silver, wherewith thou mayest call together the multitude when the camp is to be removed.

And when thou shalt sound the trumpets, all the multitude shall gather unto thee to the door of the tabernacle of the covenant.

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

Aramaic ESV of Peshitta        Mar-Yah spoke to Mosha, saying,

"Make two shofars of silver. You shall make them of beaten work. You shall use them for the calling of the congregation, and for the journeying of the camps.

When they blow them, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the door of the Tabernacle.

If they blow just one, then the princes, the heads of the thousands of Yisrael, shall gather themselves to you.

Lamsa’s Peshitta (Syriac)     .

V. Alexander’s Aramaic T.     .

Samaritan Pentateuch           And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying

Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.

And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

And if they blow [but] with one [trumpet], then the princes, [which are] heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.

Updated Brenton (Greek)       And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

Make to yourself two silver trumpets: you shall make them of hammered work; and they shall be to you for the purpose of calling the assembly, and of removing the camps.

And you shall sound with them, and all the congregation shall be gathered to the door of the tabernacle of witness.

And if they shall sound with one, all the rulers, even the princes of Israel, shall come to you.

Significant differences: 

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             And the Lord said to Moses, 

Make two silver horns of hammered work, to be used for getting the people together and to give the sign for the moving of the tents. 

When they are sounded, all the people are to come together to you at the door of the Tent of meeting. 

If only one of them is sounded, then the chiefs, the heads of the thousands of Israel, are to come to you.

Easy English                          .

Easy-to-Read Version–2008  The LORD said to Moses, "Make two trumpets. Use silver and hammer it to make the trumpets. These trumpets will be for calling the people together and for telling them when it is time to move the camp. If you blow long blasts on both trumpets, all the people must meet together at the entrance of the Meeting Tent. But if you blow long blasts on only one trumpet, only the leaders will come to meet with you. (These are the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel.).

God’s Word™                         The LORD said to Moses, "Make two trumpets out of hammered silver. Use them to call the community together and as a signal to break camp. When you blow both trumpets, the whole community will meet with you at the entrance to the tent of meeting. If only one trumpet blows, the leaders, the heads of the divisions of Israel, will meet with you.

Good News Bible (TEV)         The LORD said to Moses, "Make two trumpets of hammered silver to use for calling the people together and for breaking camp. When long blasts are sounded on both trumpets, the whole community is to gather around you at the entrance to the Tent of my presence. But when only one trumpet is sounded, then only the leaders of the clans are to gather around you.

The Message                         .

Names of God Bible               .

NIRV                                      .

New Simplified Bible              .

Thought-for-thought translations; dynamic translations; paraphrases:

Casual English Bible             .

Contemporary English V.       The LORD told Moses: Have someone make two trumpets out of hammered silver. These will be used to call the people together and to give the signal for moving your camp. If both trumpets are blown, everyone is to meet with you at the entrance to the sacred tent. But if just one is blown, only the twelve tribal leaders need to come together.

The Living Bible                     .

New Berkeley Version           .

New Life Version                    .

New Living Translation           .

UnfoldingWord (Simplified)    Yahweh also told Moses, "Tell someone to make two trumpets by hammering each one from one lump of silver. Blow the trumpets to summon the people to come together and also to signal that they must move their tents to a new location. If both trumpets are blown, it means that everyone must gather together at the entrance of the sacred tent. If only one trumpet is blown, it means that only the twelve leaders of the tribes must gather together.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          .

Beck’s American Translation .

Common English Bible           .

New Advent (Knox) Bible       .

Translation for Translators     .

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Christian Standard Bible        .

Berean Study Bible                .

Conservapedia                       .

Revised Ferrar-Fenton Bible  .

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           .

The Heritage Bible                          And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

Make for yourself two trumpets of silver; you shall make them molded by hammering; they shall be for the calling of the congregation, and for the departure of the camps.

And when they shall blow with them, all the congregation shall meet you by appointment at the door of the tent of appointed meeting.

And if they blow with one, the princes, the heads of the thousands of Israel, shall meet you by appointment.

International Standard V        Silver Trumpets

The Lord also told Moses, “Make two trumpets, crafting them from beaten silver, for use in calling the congregation together and for notifying the camps to set out for travel. Sound them when the whole assembly is to gather together at the entrance of the appointed place of meeting. V. 4 will be placed with the next passage for context.

Lexham English Bible            .

NIV, ©2011                             .

Unfolding Word Literal Text   .

Urim-Thummim Version         YHWH spoke to Moses saying, Make yourself two trumpets of silver; of hammered work you will fashion them that you may use them for the calling of the nation, and for the pulling up stakes of the camps. And when they will blow with them, all the nation will assemble themselves to you at the entrance of the Tabernacle at the Appointed Place. If they blow with one trumpet then the commanders that are chiefs of the thousands of Israel will gather themselves to you.

Wikipedia Bible Project          .

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

Christian Community (1988)  Yahweh spoke to Moses and said: “Make two trumpets of hammered silver that you shall use for calling the people together, and for sounding the order to move on. Whenever both trumpets are sounded, the whole community is to gather around you, at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. But if only one trumpet is sounded, then only the leaders, the chiefs of clans are to gather around you. Jl 2:1; 2:15

New American Bible(2011)    .

The Catholic Bible                  .

New Jerusalem Bible             .

NRSV (Anglicized Cath. Ed.) .

Revised English Bible–1989            .

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           .

Eth Cepher Bible                    AND Yahuah spoke unto El־Mosheh, saying, Make you two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shall you make them: that you may use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.  And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to you at the door of the Tabernacle of the assembly.  And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Yashar’el, shall gather themselves unto you.

exeGeses companion Bible   .

Hebraic Roots Bible               . stakes

Kaplan Translation                 .

The Scriptures–2009              And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying, 

“Make two silver trumpets for yourself, make them of beaten work. And you shall use them for the gathering of the congregation and for breaking camp. 

“And when they blow both of them, all the congregation shall meet before you at the door of the Tent of Appointment. 

“And if they blow one, then the leaders, the heads of the thousands of Yisra’ěl, shall gather to you.

Tree of Life Version                Adonai spoke to Moses saying, Make two trumpets of hammered silver for yourself. They are for summoning the community and having the camps set out. Whenever both are sounded, the whole community is to gather toward you at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. But if only one is sounded, the princes—the heads of the tribes of Israel—are to gather toward you.

Weird English, Olde English, Anachronistic English Translations:

Alpha & Omega Bible            AND JESUS SPOKE TO MOSES, SAYING,

MAKE TO YOURSELF TWO SILVER TRUMPETS: YOU SHALL MAKE THEM OF BEATEN WORK; AND THEY SHALL BE TO YOU FOR THE PURPOSE OF CALLING THE ASSEMBLY, AND OF REMOVING THE CAMPS.

AND YOU SHALL SOUND WITH THEM, AND ALL THE CONGREGATION SHALL BE GATHERED TO THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE OF WITNESS.

AND IF THEY SHALL SOUND WITH ONE, ALL THE RULERS EVEN THE PRINCES OF ISRAEL SHALL COME TO YOU.

Awful Scroll Bible                   Sustains To Become persists to be the speaker to Moses, to the intent: Be making two trumpets of silver, you was to make them a beaten work, they are to have become, for you to call together the assembly and pull up the camp. As they are to have been blown, the assembly is to have met, at the opening of the tent of the appointed place. Was one to be blown, the lifted up ones, even the chiefs of the thousands of Contends-with-he-mighty are to have met.

Concordant Literal Version    Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying. Make for yourself two bugles of silver. Out of a stiff shell shall you make them. And they will become yours for the calling of the congregation and for the journeying of the camps. When they blow long on both of them, then the whole congregation will congregate with you at the opening of the tent of appointment. Yet should they blow long on just one, then the princes, heads of the thousands of Israel, will congregate with you.

exeGeses companion Bible   BLAST, AND BLAST BLAST OF TRUMPETS

And Yah Veh words to Mosheh, saying,

Work two trumpets of silver;

work them by spinning:

to use for the convocation of the witness

and for the journeying of the camps.

And when they blast with them,

all the witness congregates to you

at the opening of the tent of the congregation.

And if they blast one,

then the hierarchs,

the heads of the thousands of Yisra El,

congregate to you.

Orthodox Jewish Bible           And Hashem spoke unto Moshe, saying,

Make thee two tzotzerot (trumpets) of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them; that thou mayest use them for the calling of the Edah, and for the setting out of the machanot.

And when they shall sound them, Kol HaEdah shall assemble themselves to thee at the entrance of the Ohel Mo'ed.

And if they sound but with one, then the Nasi'im, which are heads of Yisroel’s thousands, shall gather themselves unto thee.

Rotherham’s Emphasized B.                                      § 12. The Ordinance of the Silver Trumpets.

Chapter 10.

And Yahweh spake unto Mosesˎ saying:

Make thee two trumpets of silver, <of beaten work> shalt thou make them,—and they shall be unto thee for calling the assembly, and for setting forward the camps. <As soon as they blow therewith> so soon shall all the assembly assemble themselves unto thee, unto the entrance of the tent of meeting. And <if ||only once|| they blow> then shall the princes, the heads of the thousands of Israel, gather themselves unto thee.

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Amplified Bible                .

The Expanded Bible              .

International Standard V        .

Kretzmann’s Commentary    .

Lexham English Bible            The Silver Trumpets

Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

“Make yourself two silver trumpets; make them of hammered-work. You will use them [Literally “They will be for you”] for calling the community and for breaking the camp. You will blow them, and all the community will assemble to the doorway of the tent of assembly. But if they blow only one, the leaders, the heads of the thousands of Israel, will assemble to you.

Syndein/Thieme                     .

The Voice                               .

Bible Translations with Many Footnotes:

The Complete Tanach           .

The Geneva Bible                  .

Kaplan Translation                 The Trumpets

God spoke to Moses, saying:

Make yourself two silver trumpets. Make them out of beaten metal. They shall be used by you to assemble the community and to make the camps break camp for their journeys.

When [both of the trumpets] are sounded with a long note, the entire community shall assemble at the Communion Tent entrance.

If a long note is sounded on [only] one of them, the princes, who are leaders of thousands in Israel, shall come together to you. The Kaplan Translation, particularly in Numbers through Deuteronomy, takes note of historic rabbinic opinions.

trumpets

Josephus describes them as a little less than one cubit (18') long, a little thicker than an ordinary flute, with a bell-like end (Antiquities 3:12:6).

beaten metal

See Exodus 25:18,31.

both

(Rashi).

NET Bible®                             .

New American Bible(2011)    .

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. .

Updated ASV                         .

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

A Faithful Version                  .

C. Thomson Updated OT       .

Charles Thomson OT            Because at the command of the Lord, they were to move, and at the command of the Lord, by the ministry of Moses, they kept the watch of the Lord; therefore the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Make for thyself two silver trumpets. Thou shalt make them of ductile silver, each beaten out of one piece. And they shall serve thee to assemble the congregation, and to cause the camps to remove. When thou shalt blow with them, all the congregation shall assemble at the door of the tabernacle of the testimony; but when one is blown, all the chiefs, the leaders of Israel, shall come to thee. Numbers 9:23 is included for context.

Context Group Version          .

English Standard Version      .

Green’s Literal Translation    .

Legacy Standard Bible           .

Literal Standard Version        .

Modern English Version         .

Modern Literal Version 2020  And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, You make two trumpets of silver, you will make them of beaten work. And you will use them for the assembly of the congregation and for the journeying of the camps. And when they will blow them, all the congregation will gather themselves to you at the door of the tent of meeting. And if they blow but one, then the rulers, the heads of the thousands of Israel, will gather themselves to you.

New American Standard B.    .

New European Version          .

New King James Version       .

Niobi Study Bible                   .

Revised Mechanical Trans.    ...and YHWH spoke to Mosheh saying, make for you two silver straight trumpets, beaten work you will make them, and they will exist for you for the meeting of the company, and for the journeying with the camps, and they will blow in them, and all the company will meet with you at the opening of the appointed tent, and if with one[883] they will blow, and they will meet with you, the captains, the heads of thousands of Yisra'eyl,...

883. That is one of the trumpets.

Updated ASV                         The Silver Trumpets

And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, “Make you two trumpets of silver; of beaten work you shall make them: and you shall use them for the calling of the congregation, and for breaking camp. And when both of them are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And if they blow only one, then the chieftains, the heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves to you.

Updated Bible Version 2.17   .

A Voice in the Wilderness      .

Webster’s Bible Translation  .

World English Bible                .

Young's Literal Translation     .

Young's Updated LT              .

The gist of this passage: 

1-4

Translation: And so Y^ehowah spoke unto Moses, saying,...

Almost every chapter of Numbers begins with this phrase.

The way that I read this is, Moses goes into the Tabernacle for guidance and God tells him what to do. He may go into the Tabernacle every day or even two or three times in a day; but God would speak to Moses only on occasion.

Some people make some sort of prayer station in their homes, and maybe there is a cross there or a picture of Jesus, and they see this as their place away from it all to pray to God. One might even cite our understanding of Moses speaking with God in the Tabernacle as a justification for doing something like this.

Let me explain to you why that is wrong. The symbol of a cross means absolutely nothing in the Church Age, even though that is often symbolic of a Christian church and some sort of cross is made outside (sometimes three crosses). If we want to get our symbols right, the Roman cross looked more like a T than a †. Furthermore, there is nothing magic about a symbol in the Church Age. That is, you cannot be in the middle of a disaster and be delivered because you have grabbed onto your cross (whether it is a piece of jewelry or whatever).

Secondly, no one has any idea what Jesus looks like beyond a few general characteristics because there is no physical description to be found of Him in the New Testament (apart from His transfiguration, which does not really tell us what Jesus looked like). From a passage in the Psalms, Jesus apparently had a beard. He would not have had long hair.

The key to prayer is the condition of your soul, not the place from where prayer is offered. You can be outside raking leaves, and stop and offer a prayer to God, and they prayer will reach God, provided that you are in fellowship. However, you can be in your home chapel with 27 hanging pictures of Jesus, and fifteen crosses, but if you are out of fellowship and offer up a prayer, then that prayer goes all the way to the ceiling and stops. A right thing must be done in a right way. My point being, where you are has nothing to do with prayer. Where your soul is has everything to do with prayer.

Now, this does not mean that having a specific place in a house is a bad thing (minus the crosses and minus the pictures of Jesus). A family might gather to meet for a lesson (which may be given by the father or they may listen to a lesson taught by a well-qualified pastor). What is most necessary is a room without distractions, so the family members can concentrate.

On occasion, a church meets in a home. It is also okay to have a place set aside for this with a minimum of distractions.

Numbers 10:1a And so Y^ehowah spoke unto Moses, saying,...

Prior to moving out, there will have to be some way for Moses to keep order. We will have two million people wandering across the desert and there will be times when Moses will have to gt their attention.

Translation: ...“Make two trumpets of silver for yourself.

Today’s project for Moses is overseeing the construction of two trumpets.

Periodically, Moses would enter into the Tabernacle and pray to God and, sometimes, he would hear God’s actual voice. As we have studied, Moses did this on a regular basis. No one else did anything like this, apart from David. The Tabernacle was not located in Jerusalem in the time of David, but he brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem (essentially, it had been kept separate from the Tabernacle for a considerable amount of time). David could not bring the Ark into the palace, nor could he just leave it outside. So he prepared a tent for the Ark, and that became the place where David would often go. So this was somewhat of a makeshift Tabernacle—nowhere near as fancy as the real thing—while the Tabernacle was up in the north. As a result, two priesthoods developed for a time.

So Moses goes into the Tabernacle and God speaks to him, and He says, “Make two silver trumpets for your use.”

This would be different from a shofar, which is a horn made from a ram’s horn. This is something that the people of Israel knew how to fabricate, and this would have a different sound.

Based upon what we read here, the sound of this horn, under the right conditions, might carry for several miles.

Numbers 10:1–2a And so Y^ehowah spoke unto Moses, saying, “Make two trumpets of silver for yourself. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

The basic differences are these. The chazozra is made by hand out of silver and is a straight horn. The shofar is an actual ram’s horn whose shape is sometimes modified using heat.

The Chazozra (a graphic); from Holy Land Gifts; accessed March 28, 2025. In case you are wondering, that is 4' long and costs $150 (I don’t get a commission for this).

The Shofar (a graphic); from Blogs.Bible.org; accessed March 28, 2025. This link actually takes you to a page where the difference between these two instruments is discussed in some detail, bringing in many passages from the Bible.

The shofar is often called a horn and the chazozra is often called a trumpet.

Translation: You will make them [of] hammered (out) work...

The trumpet, the chazozra, is made out of silver. It would be hammered out, possibly from one piece.

Remember that the Israelites, a year ago, were slaves in Egypt. When they left Egypt, they were able to take with them a limited amount of stuff. When a man has a skill—say he works with silver and other metals—then he will have tools related to this work. The Israelites learned to become very skilled in certain realms because, as slaves, this gave them the best jobs. Therefore, they adapted to their slavery by using their skills and intelligence. We focused in Exodus on the horrendous grunt work that so many of the Israelites did. But this was not all that the Israelites did. My point here is, some of these men with such skills would have naturally brought their tools with them when they left Egypt. That is what a man is going to do. I do not remember a time when I did not have at least one tool bag and set of tools in my vehicle (car or truck) at all times. I never ask myself, “I wonder if I might need a phillips head screw driver because I am just driving to church and back.” I don’t ask myself that, because it is always with me. They are always packed.

I had a roommate once who remarked to me, “I don’t understand a man who does not have any tools.” When I was growing up, I had a father who could work on cars. Not just the most basic jobs, but I remember him installing a transmission in his truck. He built our house from a kit (which was not uncommon in the 1950s); and he built our swimming pool (I know for a fact that he had never build a swimming pool before). My skills were considerably diminished compared to his. I learned how to do my brakes, to change my oil, and a few perfunctory jobs. I built a shed once from scratch, mostly because I had a recently-built shed next door which I copied, almost board-for-board (I built a slightly smaller one with a different and simpler roof line).

My point in all of this is, men who have tools and specific skills will travel with these tools. So, a small number of Israelites were able to work in silver. Even though God addresses Moses directly, using the 2^nd person masculine singular continually, this does not mean that Moses is going to take out his set of tools and manufacture a horn. God may give him a name; Moses may know of some people specifically, or he may speak to the leaders of the tribes and tell them, I need a silversmith.

Translation: ...and they will be for you an assembly of the congregation...

The horns will be used to call an assembly of the congregation (which usually meant adult males). How exactly this would look and how they would be organized is not given to us here.

Translation: ...and for a pulling up (of stakes) of the encampment.

These horns would be used to indicate that it is time to move out.

When the encampment of Israel was going to move, they would first get everything ready; then they would move out. It was more or less a two-step process. So, if they looked the Tabernacle and the cloud was going up, the people began to pack their things for moving (the Levites would also be dismantling the Tabernacle to move). Then when the trumpets are blown, everyone moves out in an orderly fashion.

Numbers 10:2b-d You will make them [of] hammered (out) work and they will be for you an assembly of the congregation and for a pulling up (of stakes) of the encampment. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Trumpets, insofar as we know, were long metal tubes which were straight and thin and the ends, like all brass instruments, were flared. God states the purpose of the two trumpets—they are to convene the companies of Israel and to assist them on their journey.

Translation: And they will be blown together...

Two of the signals are given in vv. 3–4. If the two trumpets are blown together, that will signal one particular assembly.

Translation: ...and all the assembly has gathered to you...

Although this says, all the congregation, generally speaking, this would be all adult males.

Translation: ...at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.

They would all gather to the Tent of Meeting, although exactly how that is organized is not specified here.

Numbers 10:3 And they will be blown together and all the assembly has gathered to you at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Some of the translation here are difficult to follow. Simply, the horns will be blown and that will be the sign for the sons of Israel to gather themselves to the tent of meeting. We are talking such a large group that there would only be a small percentage of men who would actually be right at the tent of meeting and everyone would have fallen in behind them.

Translation: And if by one [trumpet] they have blown,...

If only one trumpet is blown, that would be a different signal.

Translation: ...then the leaders have gathered unto you,...

If one trumpet is blown, just the leaders of the tribes would be gathered. It is not clear to me if we are talking about several leaders for each tribe or a single leader for each tribe.

Translation: ...the heads of the divisions of Israel. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

They are called the heads of the divisions of Israel. This is not one head for each tribe, but a number of men, like military heads, who will come forward.

Numbers 10:4 And if by one [trumpet] they have blown, then the leaders have gathered unto you, the heads of the divisions of Israel. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Two trumpets blowing at the same time means the entire congregation will assemble themselves and one trumpet means that only the princes of Israel need assemble themselves.

Numbers 10:1–4 And so Y^ehowah spoke unto Moses, saying, “Make two trumpets of silver for yourself. You will make them [of] hammered (out) work and they will be for you an assembly of the congregation and for a pulling up (of stakes) of the encampment. And they will be blown together and all the assembly has gathered to you at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. And if by one [trumpet] they have blown, then the leaders have gathered unto you, the heads of the divisions of Israel. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

These trumpets or horns are also called chazozras or clarions. You have perhaps heard the phrase a clarion call. Now, literally, this is about using this kind of horn in order to gather the troops. Colloquially, this means, a strong request for something to happen; such as a leader’s clarion call to action. When you hear that phrase, simply imagine someone standing up with this long horn, giving it a blast which can be heard for perhaps two miles.

Two Men Playing a Straight Trumpet (a graphic); from ejvmall; accessed March 30, 2025.

Numbers 10:1–4 Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, “Oversee the construction of two silver trumpets, which trumpets you will use. The trumpets will be made from silver, hammered out by a professional, and they will be used to assemble various groups of men or to break camp and move out. When the two trumpets are blown together, that is a signal for the entire assembly of adult males to come and gather at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. If only one trumpet is blown, that is the signal that the leaders will gather before you. These are the heads of the divisions of Israel. (Kukis paraphrase)

——————————

Quite frankly, I am not 100% comfortable with my translation below.

Here is how others have translated this passage:

Ancient texts:

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        And you (all) have given out a shout and they have pulled up (stakes) the camps the ones bivouacking eastward. And you (all) have given out a shout, a second (one), and have pulled up (stakes) the camps, the ones bivouacking southward. [And you (all) might sound a trumpet of significance, a third (time), and will pick up and move the camps on the west. And you (all) might sound a trumpet of significance, a fourth (time), and will pick up and move the camps on the north.] A shout they have given out to their pulling up (of stakes). And in an assemblage the organized assembly, you (all) will give a blast and you (all) will not shout. The two sentences in the brackets come from the LXX.

Dead Sea Scrolls                   .

Jerusalem targum                  .

Targum (Onkelos)                  .

Targum (Pseudo-Jonathan)   .

Aramaic Targum                    .

The Psalms Targum              .

Updated Douay-Rheims         .

Douay-Rheims 1899 (Amer.) But if the sound of the trumpets be longer, and with interruptions, they that are on the east side, shall first go forward.

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.

But when the people is to be gathered together, the sound of the trumpets shall be plain, and they shall not make a broken sound.

Aramaic ESV of Peshitta        When you blow an alarm, the camps that lie on the east side shall go forward.

When you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that lie on the south side shall go forward. They shall blow an alarm for their journeys.

But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm.

Original Aramaic Psalms        .

V. Alexander’s Aramaic T.     .

Plain English Aramaic Bible   .

Lamsa’s Peshitta (Syriac)     .

Samaritan Pentateuch           When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward.

When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys.

But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm.

Updated Brenton (Greek)       And you shall sound an alarm, and the camps pitched eastward shall begin to move.

And you shall sound a second alarm, and the camps pitched southward shall move; and you shall sound a third alarm, and the camps pitched westward shall move forward; and you shall sound a fourth alarm, and they that encamp toward the north shall move forward: they shall sound an alarm at their departure.

And whenever you shall gather the assembly, you shall sound, but not an alarm.

Significant differences:           The big difference is, in the Greek, there is a third and fourth alarm sounded.

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             When a loud note is sounded, the tents placed on the east side are to go forward. 

At the sound of a second loud note, the tents on the south side are to go forward: the loud note will be the sign to go forward. 

But when all the people are to come together, the horn is to be sounded but not loudly.

Easy English                          .

Easy-to-Read Version–2008  "Short blasts on the trumpets will be the way to tell the people to move the camp. The first time you blow a short blast on the trumpets, the tribes camping on the east side of the Meeting Tent must begin to move. The second time you blow a short blast on the trumpets, the tribes camping on the south side of the Meeting Tent will begin to move. But if you want to gather the people together for a special meeting, blow the trumpets in a different way--blow a long steady blast on the trumpets. Only Aaron's sons, the priests, should blow the trumpets. This is a law for you that will continue forever, for generations to come. V. 8 is included for context.

God’s Word™                         When they hear the trumpet fanfare, the tribes that are camped on the east side will break camp first. When the trumpets sound a second fanfare, the tribes that are camped on the south will break camp. The fanfare is the signal to break camp. But when you gather the assembly, the trumpets will blow without sounding a fanfare.

Good News Bible (TEV)         When short blasts are sounded, the tribes camped on the east will move out. When short blasts are sounded a second time, the tribes on the south will move out. So short blasts are to be sounded to break camp, but in order to call the community together, long blasts are to be sounded.

The Message                         .

Names of God Bible               .

NIRV                                      .

New Simplified Bible              .

Thought-for-thought translations; dynamic translations; paraphrases:

Casual English Bible             .

Contemporary English V.       Give a signal on a trumpet when it is time to break camp. The first blast will be the signal for the tribes camped on the east side, and the second blast will be the signal for those on the south. But when you want everyone to come together, sound a different signal on the trumpet.

The Living Bible                     .

New Berkeley Version           .

New Life Version                    .

New Living Translation           .

The Passion Translation        .

Unfolding Bible Simplified      If the trumpets are blown loudly, the tribes that are to the east of the sacred tent should start to move. When the trumpets are blown loudly the second time, the tribes that are to the south should start to move. The loud blasts on the trumpet will signal that they should start to move. When you want only to gather the people together, blow the trumpets, but do not blow them as loudly.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          .

Beck’s American Translation .

Common English Bible           .

New Advent (Knox) Bible       .

Translation for Translators     .

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Berean Study Bible                When you sound short blasts, the camps that lie on the east side are to set out.  When you sound the short blasts a second time, the camps that lie on the south side are to set out. The blasts are to signal them to set out.  To convene the assembly, you are to sound long blasts, not short ones.

Christian Standard Bible        .

Conservapedia Translation    .

Revised Ferrar-Fenton Bible  .

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           .

The Heritage Bible                          When you blow a loud acclamation, then the camps that are pitched on the east shall pull up.

When you blow a second loud acclamation, the camps pitched on the south shall pull up; they shall blow a loud acclamation for their departures.

And when the congregation is to be gathered together, you shall blow, and not shout.

International Standard V        .

H. C. Leupold                         .

Lexham English Bible            When you will blow a blast, the camps that are camping on the east will set out; when you blow a second blast, the camps that are camping on the south will set out; they will blow a blast for their journeys. But when summoning the assembly, you will blow, but you will not signal with a loud noise.

NIV, ©2011                             .

Unfolding Bible Literal Text    When you blow a loud signal, the camps on the east side must begin their journey. When you blow a loud signal the second time, the camps on the south side must begin their journey. They must blow a loud signal for their journeys. When the community gathers together, blow the trumpets, but not loudly.

Urim-Thummim Version         When you blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the eastern quadrant will pull up stakes. When you blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the southern quadrant will pull up stakes, they will blow an alarm for their breaking camp. But when the nation is to be gathered together, you will blow but you will not sound an alarm.

Wikipedia Bible Project          .

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

Christian Community (1988)  When the trumpet sounds shrilly, the camps to the east shall move on. At the second shrill blast, the camps pitched to the south shall move on. The trumpet blast shall be shrill when they are to leave; but to gather the peo ple, the trumpet shall be sounded plainly. The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to sound the trumpets; this is a law for you and your descendants for all time to come. V. 8 is included for context.

New American Bible (2011)   .

The Catholic Bible                  .

New Jerusalem Bible             .

NRSV (Anglicized Cath. Ed.) .

Revised English Bible–1989   .

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           .

Eth Cepher Bible                    .

exeGeses companion Bible   .

Hebraic Roots Bible               .

Kaplan Translation                 .

The Scriptures–2009              “And when you blow a shout, the camps that lie on the east side shall depart. 

“And when you blow a shout the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall depart – they blow a shout for them to depart. 

“And when the assembly is to be assembled, you blow, but do not shout.

Tree of Life Version                When you sound the trumpet the first time, the camp of those camped on the east is to set out.

When you sound the trumpet blast the second time, the camp of those camped on the south is to set out. Short blasts will be the signal for their moving out.

To gather the whole national community, you are to sound the sustained blasts, but not the short blasts.

Weird English, Olde English, Anachronistic English Translations:

Alpha & Omega Bible            AND YOU SHALL SOUND AN ALARM, AND THE CAMPS PITCHED EASTWARD SHALL BEGIN TO MOVE.

AND YOU SHALL SOUND A SECOND ALARM, AND THE CAMPS PITCHED SOUTHWARD SHALL MOVE; AND YOU SHALL SOUND A THIRD ALARM, AND THE CAMPS PITCHED WESTWARD SHALL MOVE FORWARD; AND YOU SHALL SOUND A FOURTH ALARM, AND THEY THAT ENCAMP TOWARD THE NORTH SHALL MOVE FORWARD: THEY SHALL SOUND AN ALARM AT THEIR DEPARTURE.

AND WHENEVER YOU SHALL GATHER THE ASSEMBLY, YOU SHALL SOUND, BUT NOT AN ALARM.

Awful Scroll Bible                   Is there to have been blown a blast, the encampments that are camping on the east, are to have pulled up.

As there is to have been blown a blast a second time, the encampments that are camping on the south, are to have pulled up. Even were there to be blown a blast for their pulls up.

As the assembly is to be gathered, they were to be blown - was there to be a blast?

Concordant Literal Version    When you blow a short blast then the camps encamping eastward will journey. When you blow the second blast then the camps encamping southward will journey. When you blow the third blast then the camps encamping westward will journey. When you blow the fourth blast then the camps encamping northward will journey. Short blasts shall they blow for their decamping; yet when the assembly is to assemble you shall blow long and not sound short blasts.

exeGeses companion Bible   When you blast blast,

the camps encamping eastward pull stakes.

When you blast blast secondly,

then the camps encamping southward pull stakes:

they blast blast for their journeys.

And to congregate the congregation, blast,

but not blast blast.

Orthodox Jewish Bible           When ye sound a teruah, then the machanot that camp on the east shall go forward.

When ye sound a teruah the second time, then the machanot that camp on the south shall set out; they shall sound a teruah for their settings out.

But when the Kahal is to be gathered together, ye shall sound it, but ye shall not sound a teruah.

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. .

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Amplified Bible                .

The Expanded Bible              .

International Standard V        “When one trumpet is blown, the elders and the heads of the thousands of the Israelis are to gather to you. When you sound an alarm, the ones encamped on the east side are to begin to travel.

“When you sound the alarm the second time, those encamped on the south are to begin to travel. Alarms are to be sounded for their travels.

“But when you blow the trumpet to assemble the whole congregation, don’t use the same sound as you do for sounding an alarm. [The Heb. lacks as you do for sounding an alarm]

“The descendants of Aaron the priest are to blow the trumpets. Have them do this for you permanently throughout your generations to come.”

vv. 4 & 8 are included for context.

Kretzmann’s Commentary    

Lexham English Bible            .

Syndein/Thieme                     .

The Voice                               .

Bible Translations with Many Footnotes:

The Complete Tanach           .

The Geneva Bible                  .

Kaplan Translation                 When you sound a series of short notes, the camps to the east shall begin the march.

Then, when you sound a second series of short notes, the camps to the south shall set out.

However, when the community is to be assembled, [the trumpets] shall be sounded with a long note, and not with a series of short notes.

short notes

(Targum). In the Talmud there is a dispute as to whether the teruah mentioned here was a stacatto note or a series of three short notes (Rosh HaShanah 33b). It is also noted that the series of short notes was preceded and followed by a single long note (Sifri; Rosh HaShanah 34a; Rashi).

the camps to the south...

The Tabernacle would then move on. See Numbers, 10:17,21. Some say that a third blast would signal the beginning of the march for the western camp, and a fourth for the northern camp (Ramban; Josephus, Antiquities 3:12:6; Septuagint). In other sources, however, this is debated (Sifri).

NET Bible®                             .

New American Bible (2011)   .

New Catholic Bible                 .

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. But <when ye blow an alarm>^e then shall set forward the camps that are encamped eastwards; and <when ye blow a second alarm> then shall set forward the camps that are encamped southwards,—<an alarm> shall they blowˎ for setting them forward. But <in calling together the convocation>^f ye shall blowˎ but shall not sound an alarm.

^e Heb.: terû‛âh, which seems—a protracted or repeated blowing.

^f Is this “convocation” that of the “princes” named in verse 4?

Updated ASV                         And When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out. And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out;[50] an alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out. But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow a long blast, but you shall not sound an alarm.

[50] LXX IT and Coptic Version add: “And you shall trumpet a third signal, and the camps encamping along the sea shall set out. And you shall trumpet a fourth signal, and the camps encamping towards the north shall set out.”

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

A Faithful Version                  . Parts

C. Thomson Updated OT       .

Charles Thomson OT            .

Context Group Version          .

English Standard Version      .

Green’s Literal Translation    .

Legacy Standard Bible           .

Literal Standard Version        .

Modern English Version         .

Modern Literal Version 2020  And when you* blow an alarm, the camps that lie on the east side will take their journey. And when you* blow an alarm the second time, the camps that lie on the south side will take their journey. They will blow an alarm for their journeys. But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you* will blow, but you* will not shout out an alarm.

New American Standard B.    .

New European Version          .

New King James Version       .

Niobi Study Bible                   .

Owen's Translation                .

Revised Mechanical Trans.    ...and you will blow a signal, and the camps camping to the east will journey, and you will blow a second signal, and the camps camping to the south will journey, a signal they will blow for their journeys, and make the assembly assemble, you will blow and you will not make a signal,...

Updated ASV                         .

Updated Bible Version 2.17   .

A Voice in the Wilderness      .

Webster’s Bible Translation  .

World English Bible                .

Young's Literal Translation     .

Young’s Updated LT             .

The gist of this passage: 

5-

Translation: And you (all) have given out a war cry [or, have blown out the alarm]...

In vv. 1–4, two trumpets were fashioned and used in order to gather all the tribes or just the leaders of the tribes.

In vv. 5–7, the trumpets are not specifically named. What appears to be the case is, the trumpet is used, but not mentioned. Most of the time, I would suggest that this is all being done with the voice, that a war cry is given out, but how would even a number of voices reach out over the tremendous region over which Israel is encamped and indicate to them what to do. Therefore, despite my translation, let me suggest that both horns are used, and that perhaps, a long blast (or perhaps a short blast) is given that indicates moving out potentially into battle.

Translation: ...and the camps have pulled up (stakes), the ones bivouacking to the east.

This signal would let those tribes to the east of the Tabernacle know that they needed to break camp and move out.

Numbers 10:5 And you (all) have given out a war cry [or, have blown out the alarm] and the camps have pulled up (stakes), the ones bivouacking to the east. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

This is not a trumpet sound and then a shout, but rather a description of a type of trumpet sound. The troups camped on the east side of the tabernacle, at this sound, would march. Rotherham renders this but when ye blow an alarm and footnotes it, explaining that it likely means a protracted or repeated blowing. We find such an alarm alluded to in Joel 2:1: Blow a trumpet in Zion an dsound and alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble for the day of Yahweh is coming; surely it is near.

Translation: And you (all) have give out a second war cry [or, have blown out a second alarm]...

Whatever the war cry sounded like (a long or a short blast of the two horns), it is given twice here.

Translation: ...and the camps have pulled up (stakes), the ones bivouacking to the south.

The tribes camped south of the Tabernacle would break camp and move out.