Números 10
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Números 10
NJB (MT versing) The Silver Trumpets The Silver Trumpets Other Events and Instructions (9:1-10:10) The Silver Trumpets The Trumpets 10:1-10 10:1-10 10:1-10 10:1-8a 10:1-4 10:5-8 10:8b-10 10:9-10 The Tribes Leave Sinai Departure From Sinai Israel on the March The Israelites Break Camp The Order of March 10:11-16 10:11-13 10:11-16 10:11-12 10:11-12 10:13-16 10:13-16 10:14-17 10:17-20 10:17-20 10:17 10:17 10:18-21 10:18-20 10:18-20 10:21-24 10:21-24 10:21 10:21 10:22-24 10:22-24 10:22-24 10:25-28 10:25-28 10:25-28 10:25-28 10:25-27 10:28 Moses' Proposal to Hobab 10:29-32 10:29-32 10:29-32 10:29 10:29-32 10:30 10:31-32 The People Set Out The Departure 10:33-34 10:33-36 10:33-34 10:33-34 10:33 10:34-35 (35b) 10:35-36 (35b) (36b) 10:35-36 (35b) (36b) 10:35-36 10:36 (36b) Etc.
Números 10:1-10
10:2 "two trumpets of silver" We find the same kind of trumpets in Egypt. This proves the historicity of this account. The marching order of the Hebrew tribes, the wheeled ox-carts, the silver trumpets, and the shaving of the entire bodies of the priests are all elements of Egyptian culture (see Intro. to Numbers). From Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews 3.12.6; and from Arch of Titus we learn that these silver trumpets were straight in shape with a flared end and were about eighteen inches long. These trumpets had several functions. When both were blown together it signaled Israel to meet at the tent of meeting, Num. 10:2,3. When only one was blown, the leaders gathered at the tent of meeting, Num. 10:4. When they were blown the whole camp was to move out, Num. 10:2,5-6. When they are blown it was time to prepare for battle, Num. 10:7,9. They were blown at the beginning of feast days, Num. 10:10. Remember that the camp of Israel was designed in the same way as Rameses II's army, so Israel was organized as an army and marched as an army. There is Jewish tradition (Mishnah) that the silver trumpets were blown, not only one or two of them, but with different sounds. a long blast three different notes See SPECIAL TOPIC: HORNS USED BY ISRAEL. Josephus described the silver trumpets in Antiq. 3.12.6. 10:5 NASB, NRSV "blow an alarm" "sound of the advance" TEV, JPSOA "short blasts" "trumpet blast is accompanied by a battle cry" "a fanfare is sounded" "trumpet a signal" This Hebrew term (BDB 929) can mean a shout a war cry (cf. Num. 10:9; 31:6; Josh. 6:5,20) an alarm a blast for march a shout for joy The exact differentiation between the signals the trumpets gave is uncertain (JPSOA footnote). 10:6 The MT does not list all the tribes but the LXX does. 10:8 "a perpetual statute" Notice its usage in Exod. 12:14,17; Lev. 3:17; 7:36. See SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam) and SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR GOD'S REVELATION. 10:9 "be saved from your enemies" See SPECIAL TOPIC: SALVATION (OT). 10:10 "I am the Lord your God" This is covenant language. For "Lord" see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. For "God" see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C. There is no VERB in this phrase, just the FIRST PERSON PRONOUN and two NOUNS (BDB 43 and 217).
Números 10:11-16
10:11-21:35 A new literary unit which covers 38 years begins here. Israel leaves Mt. Sinai and moves to Kadesh, Num. 10:11-12:16 Israel at Kadesh, Num. 13:1-20:13 Israel leaves Kadesh for the plains of Moab, Num. 20:14-21:35 10:11 "the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth of the month" This is a very specific date. This would be nineteen days after the census of Num. 1:1. The specificity is evidence of the historicity of the account. See Special Topics: SPECIAL TOPIC: THE OT AS HISTORY. SPECIAL TOPIC: OT HISTORIOGRAPHY COMPARED TO NEAR EASTERN CULTURES. SPECIAL TOPIC: OT HISTORICAL NARRATIVE. ▣ "the cloud" This special physical symbol of YHWH's presence (cf. Num. 10:34) is described in Exod. 13:21-22; 14:19-28; 24:15-18; 40:34-5; Num. 9:15-22 (see the notes at these verses online). See SPECIAL TOPIC: COMING ON THE CLOUDS. ▣ At the end of Num. 10:11 in the MT, the Samaritan Pentateuch inserts a text from Deut. 1:6-8. 10:12 "wilderness of Sinai. . .wilderness of Paran" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE WILDERNESSES OF THE EXODUS and SPECIAL TOPIC: LOCATION OF MT. SINAI. The oasis of Kadesh-Barnea was in the wilderness of Paran. 10:13 "according to the commandment of the Lord" This theme of Israel's obedience is recurrent in Numbers (cf. Num. 1:54; 2:34; 5:4; 9:5, 23; 10:13). 10:14 "the standard of the camp" See full note at Num. 2:2. Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, p. 226, thinks this denotes a division of the army and not a banner. ▣ "the sons of Judah" This tribe moves out first in front as a way to show its preeminence. because of the prophecy of Gen. 49:10 because of the sins of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi because of the size of the tribe
Números 10:17-20
10:17 "the tabernacle was taken down" See full note at Numbers 4. The priests packed it and the Levities carried it.
Números 10:21-24
10:21 NASB, REB "the holy objects" NKJV, NRSV, LXX "the holy things" TEV, JPSOA "the sacred objects" NJB, Peshitta "the sanctuary" The UBS Text Project, p. 222, says "the sanctuary" (BDB 874) has an "A" rating (i.e. high probability). But, in its clarifying note it asserts that it refers to the tabernacle furnishing in this context.
Números 10:25-28
10:25 "the rear guard" The tribe of Dan was the last. It formed a military unit known as "the rear guard." While Israel traveled through the wildernesses she had to always be on guard for attack. Her camp and marching order were designed after Rameses II's army camp. Moses was trained in Egypt's military schools.
Números 10:29-32
10:29 "Hobab the son of Reuel" See full note on this man online at Exodus 18, Contextual Insights, A. He is known by several names. Jether ‒ Exod. 4:18 Ruel ‒ Exod. 2:18 (Num. 10:29) Hobab ‒ Num. 10:29; Jdgs. 4:11 Jethro ‒ Exod. 18:1 See a good brief note in the NET Bible, p. 297. Several groups joined Israel in their journey to Canaan. Moses' father-in-law (Midianite or Kenite) ‒ Num. 10:29-32 a mixed multitude ‒ Exod. 12:38 the rabble (possibly the same as #2) ‒ Num. 4:1 10:31 Moses pleads with this father-in-law to change his mind and come with Israel to the land of Canaan (the IMPERFECT of Num. 10:31 is used in a JUSSIVE sense).
Números 10:33-34
10:33 "the mount of the Lord" This refers to Mt. Sinai Mt. Horeb In later passages this descriptive title is used for Mt. Zion, which is a collective term for Jerusalem and especially Mt. Moriah, the site of the Temple. ▣ "the ark of the covenant" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ARK OF THE COVENANT and SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT. The ark was normally in the Holy of Holies within the inner shrine, but when Israel traveled it was taken to the front! YHWH went before His people in guidance and protection. ▣ "a resting place" Here, this (BDB 629) refers to a proper camping site (TEV, NJB). This term also has the connotation of peace, security, and rest because of YHWH's presence with His people. The term is used of the "Promised Land" (i.e., Canaan) in Deut. 12:9; Ps. 95:11. In Isaiah 32:18 it has an eschatological connotation.
Números 10:35-36
10:35-36 This is a poetic structure (see SPECIAL TOPIC: HEBREW POETRY). Numbers 10:35 was spoken when the cloud lifted and the people set out. rise ‒ BDB 877, KB 1086, Qal IMPERATIVE; Israel's Deity dwelt above the cherubim on the ark Lord ‒ this is the covenant name for God; see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D let Your enemies be scattered ‒ BDB 806, KB 918, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense (i.e., a prayer); note Israel's enemies are YHWH's enemies let those who hate you flee before you ‒ BDB 630, KB 684, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense The MT marks vv. 35-36 with an inverted nun (i.e., Hebrew letter), which was their way to assert that the text was out of place. The LXX has vv. 35, 36 and v. 34. Remember, the MT added many interpreted features to the consonantal text but these additions by the Masoretic scholars in the A.D. period are not inspired. 10:38 These are Moses' words when the cloud stopped and Israel camped. return ‒ BDB 996, KB 1427, Qal IMPERATIVE; it is used in the sense of a prayer asking YHWH to dwell again in the Holy of Holies thousands ‒ see SPECIAL TOPIC: THOUSAND (eleph) Here, this term may denote "Lord of Hosts." See SPECIAL TOPIC: LORD OF HOSTS. This would be imagery of YHWH as the Divine Warrior fighting for Israel (i.e., 1 Sam. 17:45; Isa. 1:24; 21:10; Zeph. 2:19). See NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 545-549, for a good summary of YHWH as Israel's Divine Warrior.