AM Bible Study Group; May 19, 2010
Numbers 10:1-36
Theme: This passage describes the beginning of the march of the people of Israel to the promised land.
The tenth chapter of Numbers bridges two main divisions of the book. From Chapters 1-9, we’ve read of the preparations for the march to the promised land; and from chapters 10 on to 25, we read of the march itself. The book begins with a census; and just before entering the promised land in chapter 26, another census is taken—forty years later. With this chapter, the year-and-two-month long preparation of the people’s presence before God in Mount Sinai—having begin in Exodus 19—now comes to a close; and the trek to the promised land is begun.
I. THE TWO SILVER TRUMPETS (vv. 1-10).
A. God provided that two silver trumpets be crafted to facilitate communication with His people during their march. These are symbolic of a two-way communication because, on the one hand, they are to communicate God’s call for the camp to move out (vv. 2-7); and on the other hand, they are to be used in calling upon God in times of war, or for celebration before God during the feasts (vv. 9-10). Note that only the priests are to blow them (v. 8). They are not to issue a call on man’s initiative, but only on God’s.
B. There are different kinds of blasts of the trumpet to be used; and each meant something unique (see verse 7). The blowing of both trumpets signaled the call for the whole congregation to gather to the door of the tabernacle (v. 3, 7). The blowing of only one, however, called the heads of the divisions alone to meet (v. 4). An “advance” was also to be sounded—probably a short ‘staccato’ sound—to call the tribes to move forward. Verses 5-6 suggests that this is how the different camps were to be signaled to begin their march; and if this is to be assumed for all the different divisions—including the call for the ark to lead the way—then a total of seven blasts would have been used to call the whole nation forward. The priests were to blow the trumpets as “remembrance” before God, and as an expression of trust in Him, at times of war (v. 9). And they were also to be blown in the celebration of the feasts (v. 10). Thus, they were blown “every seventh day, every seventh month, every seventh year, and every year that occurred after forty-nine years” (see R.K. Harrison, Numbers: An Exegetical Commentary [Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1992], p. 170).
C. Note that our Lord’s return for us is signaled by a trumpet blast (Matthew 24:31; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16)—announcing the greatest feast of all!
II. THE ORDER OF THE MARCH (vv. 11-28).
A. The march began on the 20th day of the second month of the second year after the exodus (vv. 11-13). It was signaled by the movement of the cloud (see 9:15-23). Each of the camps marched out in order (see the attached diagram; “The Marching Order in Numbers 10“).
B. Note that the camps marched in the same order that was established in chapter 2. And also note that the setting up of camp was so arranged that the tabernacle would be set up in preparation for the arrival of the articles of the tabernacle. This was no ‘mob’ scrambling around in the desert. The very marching of the camps show that God is a God of great wisdom and order! What an awesome sight the tribes in array must have been! How terrifying it must have been to any warring nation that might have thought to attack it!
III. THE INVITATION TO JOIN (vv. 29-32).
A. Apparently, Moses’ brother-in-law Hobab was with them—perhaps being present because of his father-in-law’s visit in Exodus 18. In Judges 4:11, this man is called Moses “father-in-law”; but the Hebrew word that is used (hōtēn) may have reference to a relative by marriage—which could include “brother-in-law”. He was invited to come along; but at first, he refused. Nevertheless, Moses made a further appeal because his familiarity with the land was needed; and along with it came the promise of blessings. Apparently Hobab joined them; because his presence among the people is indicated in Judges 1:16 and 4:11.
B. Our own journey in God’s call to us through Jesus Christ ought to involve an invitation—and even an earnest appeal—to join us (see 2 Corinthians 5:20-21).
IV. THE ARK IN THE LEAD (vv. 33-34).
A. In the lead of the camps was the ark. It must be that, when the camps began to break out to move forward, the sons of the Kohathites, who were responsible for the ark, ran forward before the first camp marched.
B. Years later, when the generation to follow came to the promised land, it was the priests carrying the ark who first set foot in the Jordan—at which point God gathered the Jordan up in a heap so that the people could cross (Joshua 3:8, 11, 14-17). The ark was thus always kept near the cloud; and always identified with the presence and power of God. It was He who led them!
V. THE AFFIRMATION OF GOD’S PRESENCE (vv. 35-36).
A. As an affirmation of God’s constant leading, when the camp broke out, Moses evoked the presence of the Lord in their journey. As Psalm 68:1-2 says; “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; let those also who hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.”
B. When the camp settled, Moses again evoked God’s presence. As Psalm 132:8-9 says; “Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let Your saints shout for joy.”
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The orderly march of the nation, as it’s described for us in this passage, is a good reminder to us of Peter’s words in 1 Peter 2:11-12; “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
Click on the graphic to download the diagram; requires the free Adobe PDF reader.
