1. The Lord said to Moses,
2. “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.
3. If you blow long blasts on both trumpets, all the people must meet together at the entrance of the Meeting Tent.
4. 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.)
5. “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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Only Aaron’s sons, the priests, should blow the trumpets. This is a law for you that will continue forever, for generations to come.
9. “If you are fighting an enemy in your own land, blow loudly on the trumpets before you go to fight them. The Lord your God will hear you, and he will save you from your enemies.
10. Also blow these trumpets for your special meetings, New Moon celebrations, and all your happy times together. Blow the trumpets when you give your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. This will be a special way for your God to remember you. I command you to do this; I am the Lord your God.”
11. On the 20th day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites left Egypt, the cloud rose from above the Tent of the Agreement.
12. So the Israelites began their journey. They left the desert of Sinai and traveled until the cloud stopped in the desert of Paran.
13. This was the first time the people moved their camp. They moved it the way the Lord commanded Moses.
14. The three divisions from Judah’s camp went first. They traveled under their flag. The first group was the tribe of Judah. Nahshon son of Amminadab was the commander of that group.
15. Next came the tribe of Issachar. Nethanel son of Zuar was the commander of that group.