1 Então o Senhor disse a Moisés:2 Faz duas trombetas de prata batida, para com elas convocares o povo para uma reunião, ou para levantarem o acampamento. Quando ambas as trombetas tocarem ao mesmo tempo, o povo ficará a saber que deverá juntar-se à entrada do tabernáculo. Se for uma só a tocar, então é porque são só convocados os chefes das tribos para virem ter contigo.5 Serão também precisos toques diferentes para distinguir entre a convocação de toda a assembleia do povo e o sinal de levantar o acampamento e continuar a marcha. Então, quando se tratar do sinal de prosseguir a deslocação, as tribos que estão a oriente do tabernáculo serão as primeiras a partir; ao segundo sinal, ir-se-ão as que estão ao sul. Só aos sacerdotes é permitido tocar as trombetas. É uma ordem permanente, a ser seguida por toda as gerações vindouras.9 Quando chegarem à terra prometida e tiverem de combater, Deus vos ouvirá e vos salvará dos vossos inimigos quando tocarem em sinal de alarme, com estas duas trombetas. Usem-nas pois, igualmente em tempos de alegria como por exemplo nas vossas festividades anuais, assim como no início de cada mês, para se alegrarem com os vossos holocaustos e sacrifícios de paz, como memorial para o povo de Israel da aliança que Deus fez convosco. Eu sou Jeová, o vosso Deus.11 A nuvem ergueu-se então sobre o tabernáculo no dia 20 do segundo mês do segundo ano após a saída de Israel do Egipto; e foi assim que os Israelitas deixaram o deserto do Sinai, seguindo a nuvem até ela se deter sobre o deserto de Parã. Esta foi então a sua primeira deslocação após terem recebido as instruções que o Senhor deu a Moisés respeitantes às viagens que teriam de realizar.14 À cabeça da coluna ia a tribo de Judá, agrupada atrás do seu pendão, e conduzida por Nassom, o filho de Aminadabe. Logo a seguir vinha a tribo de Issacar, chefiada por Netanel, filho de Zuar, e após eles, a tribo de Zebulão, com Eliabe (filho de Helom) à frente.17 O tabernáculo fora pois desarmado; e os homens dos grupos de Gerson e de Merari, da tribo de Levi, vinham logo a seguir na linha de marcha, transportando o tabernáculo aos ombros.18 Vinha a seguir a bandeira do campo de Rúben, com Elizur, filho de Sedeur, conduzindo o povo. E depois era a tribo de Simeão, trazendo à cabeça Selumiel, filho de Zurisadai; e após eles, a tribo de Gad, com Eliasafe, filho de Deuel.21 Seguiam-se-lhes os coatitas, carregando com os objectos que lhes competiam, do interior do santuário. Quando estes chegavam ao novo local, já os outros tinham montado a estrutura do tabernáculo.22 A seguir, na ordem da coluna, vinha a tribo de Efraim, sob a sua bandeira, conduzindo por Elisama, filho de Amiude; e depois a tribo de Manassés, com Gamaliel (filho de Pedazur) à frente, e a tribo de Benjamim, levados por Abidã, filho de Gideoni. A coluna fechava com as seguinte três tribos, ordenadas assim: Dan sob a chefia de Alezer, filho de Amisadai; Aser, com Pagiel, filho de Ocrã, como chefe; e Naftali, conduzidos por Airá, filho de Enã.28 Esta era a ordem pela qual se deslocavam as tribos.29 Um dia Moisés disse para o seu cunhado Hobabe, filho de Reuel, midianita, sogro de Moisés: Estamos, enfim, a caminhar para a terra prometida! Vem connosco e te faremos bem. Olha que o Senhor fez promessas maravilhosas a Israel!30 Mas ele respondeu-lhe: Não, eu tenho de regressar à minha terra e à minha família.31 Fica connosco, insistiu Moisés, porque, sendo que conheces bem todos os caminhos do deserto, seria uma grande ajuda para nós. Já sabes, se vieres, partilharás connosco de todas as boas coisas que o Senhor nos der e nos fizer.33 E assim viajaram durante três dias, após terem deixado o monte do Senhor, levando a arca à cabeça da coluna, para lhes mostrar o local onde deviam parar.34 Era de dia quando iniciaram a marcha, com a nuvem deslocando-se à frente deles.35 E quando a arca partia, Moisés dizia: Levanta-te, Senhor, e dispersa os teus inimigos! Que fujam diante de ti!36 Assim também, quando a arca tornava a ser posta no chão, dizia: Volta, Senhor, para os milhares de Israel!

1 And the LORD spoke to 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, who are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall assemble themselves to 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 convened, 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.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 from the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.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 moved forward, bearing the tabernacle.18 And the standard of the camp of Reuben moved 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 moved forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other set up the tabernacle against they came.22 And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim moved 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 moved forward, which was the rear-ward 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 moved forward.29 And Moses said to Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses's father-in-law, We are journeying to the place of which the LORD said, I will give it to you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel.30 And he said to him, I will not go; but I will depart to my 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 wilt go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD shall do to us, the same will we do to thee.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 seek 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 moved forward, that Moses said, Arise, LORD, and let thy enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.36 And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, to the many thousands of Israel.