The Israelites' Removal from Sinai to Paran, Part 1

(Numbers 10:13) And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

In verse 12 at the end of the last post, we were told that the pillar of cloud lifted and the children of Israel moved from the wilderness of Sinai to the wilderness of Paran where the cloud again rested.  The people set out on this first journey according to the commandment of the Lord that had been earlier described as the movement of the cloud, and by the directions that had been given to Moses and were carried out by him as follows:

(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.

Numbers 2 explained the four standards, the tribes grouped under each standard, where they should camp, and the order of their marching.  The Israelites under the standard of Judah were to move first; these included the tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.  These were camped on the east side and had been instructed in Numbers 2:9 to move out first.  The captain of the tribe of Judah was Nahshon, the son of Amminadab.

(15) And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar.

The captain of the tribe of Issachar that was also under the standard of Judah, was Nethanel, the son of Zuar.

(16) And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.

The captain of the host or army, if you will, of the children of Zebulun was Eliab, the son of Helon.  The tribe of Zebulun also moved under the standard of Judah.

(17) And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle.

The tabernacle was taken down; according to Numbers 1:51, this would have been done by the Levites.  Then specifically the Gershonites and Merarites moved forward carrying the tabernacle.  Numbers 3 described the tribes of the sons of Levi and their particular duties as it related to the moving of the tabernacle.  The Gershonites were responsible for the tent, the skin covering, and all the curtains and linen hangings of the tabernacle.  The Merarites carried the boards of the tabernacle, including all the bars, pillars, and sockets.

(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.

Next the standard of Reuben moved forward.  According to Numbers 2, the standard of Reuben camped on the south side, and the tribes under that standard were Reuben, Simeon, and Gad.  The captain of the host of Reuben 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.

The captain of the host of the tribe of Simeon, which was under the standard of Reuben, 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.

The captain of the army of Gad, which was also under the standard of Reuben, was Eliasaph, the son of Deuel.

(21) And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary; and the other did set up the tabernacle before they came.

Next the Kohathites moved forward, carrying the holy things, including the Ark of the Covenant with the mercy seat, the showbread table, the gold candlestick, the altars, and all the vessels and furnishings of the sanctuary.  The Gershonites and Merarites, who had marched before the Kohathites, had the tabernacle set up before the Kohathites came with the holy things.

Because Blogger limits the number of labels I can have per post, I will continue this in the next post:

The Israelites' Removal from Sinai to Paran, Part 2