INTRODUCTION: The time has come for the children of Israel to move forward. The Lord gives a few final instructions, and the children of Israel make their journey into the wilderness of Paran.

1. The Trumpets (Numbers 10:1-10 [1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [2] 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. [3] And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. [4] And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee. [5] When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. [6] 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. [7] But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm. [8] And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations. [9] And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies. [10] Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.
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1. Directions for the Trumpets (Numbers 10:1-2 [1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [2] 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.
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1. Makeup of the trumpets
1. Two trumpets of silver
2. Of a whole piece
2. Purposes of the trumpets
1. Calling of the assembly
2. Journeying of the camp
2. The Blowing of the Trumpets (Numbers 10:3-10 [3] And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. [4] And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee. [5] When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. [6] 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. [7] But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm. [8] And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations. [9] And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies. [10] Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.
   See All...)
1. Blowing the trumpet (Numbers 10:3-4 [3] And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. [4] And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.
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1. Blow both trumpets and all of the congregation assembles at the door of the tabernacle (Numbers 10:3And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
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2. Blow with one trumpet and the princes assemble (Numbers 10:4And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.
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2. Blowing the alarm (Numbers 10:5-7 [5] When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. [6] 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. [7] But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm.
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1. One alarm signals that the camps on the east are to go forward (Numbers 10:5When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward.
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2. A second alarm signifies that the camps on the south are to go forward (Numbers 10:6When 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.
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3. We would assume that the same scenario would signify the journey of those on the west and north.
4. The trumpet that sounded to call Dan to move would be the last trump.
1. The last trumpet would signify that everyone in the camp was called to go (1 Thessalonians 4:15-16 [15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
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2. Just as the last trumpet call in the wilderness meant that the entire congregation was on the move, so the last trump at the time of the rapture will indicate that the entire church of the redeemed is called up: both the living and the dead.
3. This trumpet marks the departure of the Church, but it also marks a coming oppression for the Israelites (Numbers 10:9And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.
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3. An ordinance for ever (Numbers 10:8And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations.
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4. Times for the trumpets (Numbers 10:9-10 [9] And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies. [10] Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.
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2. The Overview of the Journey (Numbers 10:11-12 [11] And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony. [12] And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.
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1. Time
1. The 20th day of the 2nd month in the 2nd year
2. The tabernacle was reared on the 1st day of the 1st month in the 2nd year.
3. The offerings of the people go from approximately the 1st day to the 13th day of the 1st month and 2nd year.
4. The passover occurs on the 14th day of the 1st month in the 2nd year, and the 14th day of the 2nd month in the 2nd year.
2. Place
1. Out of the wilderness of Sinai or the mount of the Lord in Numbers 10:33And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them.
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2. To the wilderness of Paran
3. The Order of the March (Numbers 10:13-28 [13] And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses. [14] In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. [15] And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar. [16] And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon. [17] And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle. [18] And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur. [19] And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. [20] And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel. [21] And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came. [22] And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud. [23] And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. [24] And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni. [25] And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rereward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. [26] And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran. [27] And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan. [28] Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward.
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1. Order
1. Judah (Numbers 10:14-16 [14] In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. [15] And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar. [16] And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.
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2. Gershon and Merari (Numbers 10:17And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle.
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3. Reuben (Numbers 10:18-20 [18] And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur. [19] And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. [20] And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
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4. Kohathites bearing the sanctuary (Numbers 10:21And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came.
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5. Ephraim (Numbers 10:22-24 [22] And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud. [23] And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. [24] And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.
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6. Dan (Numbers 10:25-28 [25] And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rereward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. [26] And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran. [27] And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan. [28] Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward.
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1. Rereward: is another spelling for rearward and is related to rear guard.
2. Ward is congruent to guard (Acts 12:10When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
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1. Found six times in scripture: Numbers 10:25And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rereward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
   See All...; Joshua 6:9And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
   See All..., 13; 1 Samuel 29:2And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.
   See All...; Isaiah 52:12For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward.
   See All..., Isaiah 58:8Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.
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2. It acts both as a rear guard and as reserve forces.
2. According to the Commandment of the Lord
1. This tells us that the people marched the way God wanted them to march.
2. Most assume that Gershon and Merari marched after Judah, but it is possible that they began taking down the tabernacle after Judah and still marched after Reuben.
1. Numbers 2:34And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.
   See All... says “so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward.” They did not set forward until Numbers 10:11And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony.
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2. They would have needed time to take down the tabernacle, so it would make sense for them to get started before time to fall in rank.
3. Numbers 10:6When 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.
   See All... says, “When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey.” If the sons of Gershon and Merari were marching second, it would make sense that this alarm would have been for them instead of for Reuben.
4. The Invitation Given to Hobab (Numbers 10:29-32 [29] And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel. [30] And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred. [31] And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes. [32] And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee.
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1. Who is Hobab?
1. Jethro is Moses’ father-in-law (Exodus 3:1Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
   See All...; Exodus 4:18And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.
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2. Reuel is Zipporah’s father or Moses’ father-in-law (Exodus 2:18And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?
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3. Hobab is Moses’ father-in-law (Numbers 10:29And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel.
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4. Jethro is Reuel is Hobab.
5. Who is Raguel? (Numbers 10:29And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel.
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1. Non-restrictive phrases: phrases not essential to the meaning of the noun they modify should be followed, set off, or preceded by commas.
2. Notice that the phrase “the son of Raguel the Midianite” is set off by commas. This would tell us that this is not necessary for the understanding of the passage but is additional information.
2. The Appeal to Hobab (Numbers 10:29-32 [29] And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel. [30] And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred. [31] And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes. [32] And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee.
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1. The invitation to Hobab (Numbers 10:29And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel.
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2. The rejection of Hobab (Numbers 10:30And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred.
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3. The dependency upon Hobab (Numbers 10:31And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes.
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4. The promise to Hobab (Numbers 10:32And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee.
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5. Hobab accepted (Judges 4:11Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.
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5. The Departure (Numbers 10:33-36 [33] And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them. [34] And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp. [35] And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee. [36] And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel.
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1. The Details of the Departure (Numbers 10:33-34 [33] And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them. [34] And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp.
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1. Three days’ journey
2. The ark of the covenant went before to search out a resting place.
2. The Prayers of Moses (Numbers 10:35-36 [35] And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee. [36] And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel.
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1. When the ark set forward
1. Rise up, Lord.
2. Let thine enemies be scattered.
3. Let them that hate thee flee before thee.
2. When it rested Moses said, “Return, O Lord.”

CONCLUSION: This lesson once again demonstrates the care that the Lord has for details. The people are to move forward, but not according to just any plans. They are to move forward according to God’s plans.