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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Numbers 10:11 - 10:28
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The Departure from Sinai
v. 11. And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, after the departure from Egypt, that the cloud was taken up from off the Tabernacle of the Testimony, as a signal for striking the camp and moving on to the next station;
v. 12. And the children of Israel took their journeys, they set forth on the continuation of their trip, out of the Wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested, came to rest in the Wilderness of Paran, the general direction of the march at this time being northward. The Wilderness of Paran is the great central plateau of the Sinaitic Peninsula, and shows the characteristic physical features of the entire country between Egypt and Canaan, rugged mountain ranges being traversed by desolate valleys, in some of which intermittent streams are found.
v. 13. And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses, this being the first time since the giving of the Law that its precepts were carried out in a departure.
v. 14. In the first place, as the vanguard of the entire army, 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.
v. 15. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel, the son of Zuar.
v. 16. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab, the son of Helon. Cf Num_2:3-9.
v. 17. And the Tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the Tabernacle, that is, the curtains and the framework of both the tent and the court, which they transported on the wagons furnished by the princes of the people, Num_7:6-8.
v. 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.
v. 19. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai.
v. 20. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph, the son of Deuel. Cf Num_2:10-16.
v. 21. And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the Sanctuary, the sacred furniture and the holy vessels, Num_7:9; and the other, the Gershonites and the Merarites, did set up the Tabernacle against they came (until they reached the place). This was the reason why these two companies of Levites preceded the tribes led by the Reubenites, Cf Num_2:17, since they thereby gained enough time to have the tent erected before the Kohathites came with the furniture, the altars and the holy vessels.
v. 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.
v. 23. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur.
v. 24. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan, the son of Gideoni. Cf Num_2:18-24.
v. 25. And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rearward of all the camps throughout their hosts; and over his host was Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai.
v. 26. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel, the son of Ocran.
v. 27. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira, the son of Enan. Cf Num_2:25-31.
v. 28. Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward. It was all done decently and in order, without confusion and loss of time. Those that know and fear God do not live according to their own desire, but according to God's will and command, following His leadership in everything.