וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

עֲשֵׂ֣ה לְךָ֗ שְׁתֵּי֙ חֲצֽוֹצְרֹ֣ת כֶּ֔סֶף מִקְשָׁ֖ה תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה אֹתָ֑ם וְהָי֤וּ לְךָ֙ לְמִקְרָ֣א הָֽעֵדָ֔ה וּלְמַסַּ֖ע אֶת־הַֽמַּחֲנֽוֹת׃

Craft for you two silver trumpets; hammered from one piece of silver, you shall craft them, rather than attaching together separate pieces of silver; they shall be for you for summoning the congregation, and for causing the camps to travel by notifying them that it is time to begin traveling.

וְתָקְע֖וּ בָּהֵ֑ן וְנֽוֹעֲד֤וּ אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ כָּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה אֶל־פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃

They shall sound them, and the entire congregation shall assemble to you at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.

וְאִם־בְּאַחַ֖ת יִתְקָ֑עוּ וְנוֹעֲד֤וּ אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ הַנְּשִׂיאִ֔ים רָאשֵׁ֖י אַלְפֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

If they shall sound one trumpet, the princes, the heads of the thousands of Israel, shall assemble to you.

וּתְקַעְתֶּ֖ם תְּרוּעָ֑ה וְנָֽסְעוּ֙ הַֽמַּחֲנ֔וֹת הַחֹנִ֖ים קֵֽדְמָה׃

You shall sound an alarm, and this sound indicates that the camps that encamp to the east, the banner of the camp of Judah, shall travel.

וּתְקַעְתֶּ֤ם תְּרוּעָה֙ שֵׁנִ֔ית וְנָֽסְעוּ֙ הַֽמַּחֲנ֔וֹת הַחֹנִ֖ים תֵּימָ֑נָה תְּרוּעָ֥ה יִתְקְע֖וּ לְמַסְעֵיהֶֽם׃

You shall sound an alarm again, and the camps that encamp to the south shall travel; following that, the camps that encamp to the west shall travel; and finally, the camps that encamp to the north, which are the tribes of the banner of Dan, shall travel. They shall sound an alarm for their travels, with each series of blasts signaling to one of the sets of camps that it is time to travel. However, according to the Ibn Ezra only the two alarms mentioned explicitly in the verses were blown. These were sounded for the tribes encamped to the east and to the south because the Tabernacle and its vessels traveled with those tribes.

וּבְהַקְהִ֖יל אֶת־הַקָּהָ֑ל תִּתְקְע֖וּ וְלֹ֥א תָרִֽיעוּ׃

When assembling the assembly, you shall sound a blast, but you shall not sound an alarm.

וּבְנֵ֤י אַהֲרֹן֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים יִתְקְע֖וּ בַּֽחֲצֹצְר֑וֹת וְהָי֥וּ לָכֶ֛ם לְחֻקַּ֥ת עוֹלָ֖ם לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶֽם׃

The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall sound the trumpets; they shall be for you as an eternal statute for your generations. The trumpets referred to in verse 2 above were to be used exclusively by Moses and his generation, based on the repetitive use of the expression “for you” there. In contrast, the trumpets referred to here were to be used by the priests in future generations as well. Clearly, these trumpets were not meant to signal that the camp was to start traveling, rather they served other functions, as described below.

וְכִֽי־תָבֹ֨אוּ מִלְחָמָ֜ה בְּאַרְצְכֶ֗ם עַל־הַצַּר֙ הַצֹּרֵ֣ר אֶתְכֶ֔ם וַהֲרֵעֹתֶ֖ם בַּחֲצֹצְר֑וֹת וֲנִזְכַּרְתֶּ֗ם לִפְנֵי֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם וְנוֹשַׁעְתֶּ֖ם מֵאֹיְבֵיכֶֽם׃

When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets; and you shall be remembered before the Lord your God, and you shall be delivered from your enemies. These trumpets were not military trumpets, but the trumpets used in the Temple. Consequently, the blasts are not part of a military procedure, but rather serve as a call to spiritual awakening, similar to a prayer to God.

וּבְי֨וֹם שִׂמְחַתְכֶ֥ם וּֽבְמוֹעֲדֵיכֶם֮ וּבְרָאשֵׁ֣י חָדְשֵׁיכֶם֒ וּתְקַעְתֶּ֣ם בַּחֲצֹֽצְרֹ֗ת עַ֚ל עֹלֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם וְעַ֖ל זִבְחֵ֣י שַׁלְמֵיכֶ֑ם וְהָי֨וּ לָכֶ֤ם לְזִכָּרוֹן֙ לִפְנֵ֣י אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ (פ)

The role of the trumpets in the Tabernacle and Temple is not limited to sounding an alarm in case of emergency. On the day of your rejoicing, at your appointed times, and on your New Moons, you shall sound the trumpets over your communal burnt offerings, and over your communal peace offerings; they shall be a remembrance for you before your God, I am the Lord your God.

וַיְהִ֞י בַּשָּׁנָ֧ה הַשֵּׁנִ֛ית בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִ֖י בְּעֶשְׂרִ֣ים בַּחֹ֑דֶשׁ נַעֲלָה֙ הֶֽעָנָ֔ן מֵעַ֖ל מִשְׁכַּ֥ן הָעֵדֻֽת׃

It was during the second year, in the second month, Iyar, on the twentieth of the month, the cloud ascended from upon the Tabernacle of the Testimony.

וַיִּסְע֧וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל לְמַסְעֵיהֶ֖ם מִמִּדְבַּ֣ר סִינָ֑י וַיִּשְׁכֹּ֥ן הֶעָנָ֖ן בְּמִדְבַּ֥ר פָּארָֽן׃

The children of Israel traveled on their journeys from the wilderness of Sinai; the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran. Since the cloud moved forward, the Israelites followed it in the direction of the wilderness of Paran, in the Sinai Peninsula.

וַיִּסְע֖וּ בָּרִאשֹׁנָ֑ה עַל־פִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה בְּיַד־מֹשֶֽׁה׃

They traveled from the beginning according to the directive of the Lord, as expressed by the movement of the cloud, and at the hand of Moses via the blowing of the trumpets.

וַיִּסַּ֞ע דֶּ֣גֶל מַחֲנֵ֧ה בְנֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֛ה בָּרִאשֹׁנָ֖ה לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְעַל־צְבָא֔וֹ נַחְשׁ֖וֹן בֶּן־עַמִּינָדָֽב׃

The banner of the camp of the sons of Judah traveled first according to their hosts; and over its host was Nahshon son of Aminadav.

וְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י יִשָׂשכָ֑ר נְתַנְאֵ֖ל בֶּן־צוּעָֽר׃

Over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Netanel son of Tzuar.

וְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י זְבוּלֻ֑ן אֱלִיאָ֖ב בֶּן־חֵלֽוֹן׃

Over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliav son of Helon. These three tribes, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun, comprised the banner of the camp of Judah.

וְהוּרַ֖ד הַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ן וְנָסְע֤וּ בְנֵֽי־גֵרְשׁוֹן֙ וּבְנֵ֣י מְרָרִ֔י נֹשְׂאֵ֖י הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן׃ (ס)

When the banner of the camp of Judah began traveling, the Tabernacle was dismantled, and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, the bearers of the Tabernacle, traveled. The sons of Gershon carried primarily the textile portions of the Tabernacle, and the sons of Merari carried the beams and the other components of the structure of the Tabernacle.

וְנָסַ֗ע דֶּ֛גֶל מַחֲנֵ֥ה רְאוּבֵ֖ן לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְעַל־צְבָא֔וֹ אֱלִיצ֖וּר בֶּן־שְׁדֵיאֽוּר׃

The banner of the camp of Reuben traveled according to their hosts; and over its host was Elitzur son of Shede’ur.

וְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י שִׁמְע֑וֹן שְׁלֻֽמִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־צוּרִֽי שַׁדָּֽי׃

Over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel son of Tzurishadai.

וְעַל־צְבָ֖א מַטֵּ֣ה בְנֵי־גָ֑ד אֶלְיָסָ֖ף בֶּן־דְּעוּאֵֽל׃

Over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Elyasaf son of De’uel. These three tribes, Reuben, Simeon and Gad, comprised the banner of the camp of Reuben.

וְנָסְעוּ֙ הַקְּהָתִ֔ים נֹשְׂאֵ֖י הַמִּקְדָּ֑שׁ וְהֵקִ֥ימוּ אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן עַד־בֹּאָֽם׃ (ס)

After the Tabernacle had been dismantled and the banner of Reuben traveled, the Kehatites, bearers of the sacred vessels of the Sanctuary traveled; they, the sons of Gershon and Merari, erected the Tabernacle before their arrival.

וְנָסַ֗ע דֶּ֛גֶל מַחֲנֵ֥ה בְנֵֽי־אֶפְרַ֖יִם לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְעַל־צְבָא֔וֹ אֱלִישָׁמָ֖ע בֶּן־עַמִּיהֽוּד׃

The banner of the camp of the children of Ephraim traveled according to their hosts; and over its host was Elishama son of Amihud.

וְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה גַּמְלִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־פְּדָה־צֽוּר׃

Over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamliel son of Pedatzur.

וְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ן אֲבִידָ֖ן בֶּן־גִּדְעוֹנִֽי׃ (ס)

Over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Avidan son of Gidoni. These three tribes, Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin comprised the banner of the camp of Ephraim.

וְנָסַ֗ע דֶּ֚גֶל מַחֲנֵ֣ה בְנֵי־דָ֔ן מְאַסֵּ֥ף לְכָל־הַֽמַּחֲנֹ֖ת לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְעַל־צְבָא֔וֹ אֲחִיעֶ֖זֶר בֶּן־עַמִּישַׁדָּֽי׃

The banner of the camp of the children of Dan, the rear guard of all the camps, traveled following the banner of the camp of Ephraim according to their hosts; and over its host was Ahiezer son of Amishadai.

וְעַל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י אָשֵׁ֑ר פַּגְעִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־עָכְרָֽן׃

Over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel son of Okhran.

וְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י נַפְתָּלִ֑י אֲחִירַ֖ע בֶּן־עֵינָֽן׃

Over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira son of Einan.

אֵ֛לֶּה מַסְעֵ֥י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וַיִּסָּֽעוּ׃ (ס)

These are the travels of the children of Israel according to their hosts; and they traveled.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֗ה לְ֠חֹבָב בֶּן־רְעוּאֵ֣ל הַמִּדְיָנִי֮ חֹתֵ֣ן מֹשֶׁה֒ נֹסְעִ֣ים ׀ אֲנַ֗חְנוּ אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה אֹת֖וֹ אֶתֵּ֣ן לָכֶ֑ם לְכָ֤ה אִתָּ֙נוּ֙ וְהֵטַ֣בְנוּ לָ֔ךְ כִּֽי־יְהוָ֥ה דִּבֶּר־ט֖וֹב עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Moses said to Hovav son of Re’uel the Midyanite, father-in-law of Moses: We are traveling to the place that the Lord said: I will give it to you; you should also come with us, and we will be good to you by giving you a portion of the land; as the Lord has spoken good about Israel. It is not clear whether Hovav or Re’uel is the second name of Yitro, Moses’ father-in-law. Hovav may have been Tzipora’s brother, who was the head of the family at that time; alternatively, it is possible that Hovav was Yitro and Re’uel was Tzipora’s grandfather.

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו לֹ֣א אֵלֵ֑ךְ כִּ֧י אִם־אֶל־אַרְצִ֛י וְאֶל־מוֹלַדְתִּ֖י אֵלֵֽךְ׃

He, Hovav, said to him: I will not go with you; rather, to my land, and to the land of my birth, I will go. You have hosted me honorably in your camp, but I have my own home to which I will return.

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אַל־נָ֖א תַּעֲזֹ֣ב אֹתָ֑נוּ כִּ֣י ׀ עַל־כֵּ֣ן יָדַ֗עְתָּ חֲנֹתֵ֙נוּ֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר וְהָיִ֥יתָ לָּ֖נוּ לְעֵינָֽיִם׃

He, Moses, said: Please do not leave us; for since you know our encampment in the wilderness, you shall be for us as eyes. I am not inviting you just for your benefit but for ours as well. Hovav was a Midyanite, and although the Midyanites had permanent settlements, according to one assessment they were essentially nomads. Consequently, Hovav could assist the Jewish people in their journey through the wilderness.

וְהָיָ֖ה כִּי־תֵלֵ֣ךְ עִמָּ֑נוּ וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ הַטּ֣וֹב הַה֗וּא אֲשֶׁ֨ר יֵיטִ֧יב יְהוָ֛ה עִמָּ֖נוּ וְהֵטַ֥בְנוּ לָֽךְ׃

It shall be, if you go with us, that good that the Lord shall grant us, we will be good to you. The Torah does not relate the conclusion of this story. It is possible that some members of Hovav’s family returned to their land, however, it is clear that some continued to journey with the Israelites.

וַיִּסְעוּ֙ מֵהַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה דֶּ֖רֶךְ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֑ים וַאֲר֨וֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָ֜ה נֹסֵ֣עַ לִפְנֵיהֶ֗ם דֶּ֚רֶךְ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֔ים לָת֥וּר לָהֶ֖ם מְנוּחָֽה׃

They, the Israelites, traveled from the mountain of the Lord a journey of three days and the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord was traveling before them a journey of three days, to scout for them a resting place. Additionally, the Israelites did not need to determine which path would be the easiest to travel on foot as the ark traveled before them and led them on the best path.

וַעֲנַ֧ן יְהוָ֛ה עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם יוֹמָ֑ם בְּנָסְעָ֖ם מִן־הַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ (׆) (ס)

The cloud of the Lord was upon them by day, when they traveled from the camp. The cloud covered the Israelite camp and shielded them during the daytime hours in the desert, and when they traveled it would move with them.

וַיְהִ֛י בִּנְסֹ֥עַ הָאָרֹ֖ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֑ה קוּמָ֣ה ׀ יְהוָ֗ה וְיָפֻ֙צוּ֙ אֹֽיְבֶ֔יךָ וְיָנֻ֥סוּ מְשַׂנְאֶ֖יךָ מִפָּנֶֽיךָ׃

It was when the ark traveled at the beginning of a journey, Moses said: Arise Lord, and may Your enemies, the enemies of Israel, be dispersed and may those who hate You flee from before You. The Ark of the Covenant, which contained the tablets, represented God’s Divine Presence in the world, and therefore its movement from its place of resting served as a threat to the enemies of the children of Israel.

וּבְנֻחֹ֖ה יֹאמַ֑ר שׁוּבָ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה רִֽבְב֖וֹת אַלְפֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (׆) (ס)

When it rested, he said: Repose O Lord , among the myriad thousands of Israel. Moses would pray that God would rest His Presence in the midst of the people.