Keraia
Numbers 10

Numbers 10:5

The Two Silver Trumpets · Numbers 10:1–10
Read Numbers 10

Translations

Modern
When you sound short blasts, the camps that lie on the east side are to set out.
Traditional
When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward.
Literal
And you shall blow a short blast, and the camps that lie on the east side shall set out.
Latin
Si autem prolixior atque concisus clangor increpuerit, movebunt castra primi qui sunt ad orientalem plagam.

Original

Hebrew
English
When you sound short blasts, the camps that lie on the east side are to set out.

Notes

Numbers 10:5–8

When it was time to journey to the next destination, the trumpets sounded to signal when to camp and when to move. This sound was in addition to the movement of the pillar of cloud (compare 9:15–22 and chapter 2).

Numbers 10:1–10

  • Israel needed clear signals so the tribes could receive instructions. Two silver trumpets provided a simple and effective way to signal all the tribes to move.

  • These trumpets were not the ram’s horns (Hebrew shofar) often mentioned in the Old Testament (for example, Joshua 6:4–6). Israelite craftsmen made them from hammered silver brought out of Egypt.

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Deuteronomy, Book of Numbers, Book of Trumpet

Topics

Priest: Duties of Sound the Trumpet in Summoning Assemblies and in Battle Priests: Services of Blowing the Trumpets on Various Occasions Trumpet used for Regulating the Journeys of the Children of Israel Trumpet: Uses of, Prescribed by Moses