To The Reader

Fellowship with scripture and a friend.

Numbers 10

SILVER TRUMPETS

I’m guessing that these were more like what we would call a horn or bugle. There are no valves in these trumpets. And I have a theory that each trumpet was tuned to a different pitch, that way, you could hear the harmonic interval if they both sounded together and you’d know that it was a call to everyone to gather at the Tabernacle.

Also – this adds yet another skill to the priests ever-growing list of things they need to know how to do:

Slaughter animals, make bread, dermatology, home inspection, food inspection, legal consultation, project management (moving the Tabernacle), and now: play a trumpet.

👳🏽‍♂️🎺🎶👳🏽‍♂️🎺🎶

Here’s the list of occasions for which the trumpets are blown:

  1. Summoning the people 🙋🏽‍♂️
    • 1 trumpet: leaders only
    • 2 trumpets in harmony: everyone
  2. Break camp ⛺️⛺️⛺️⛺️⛺️
    • Short blasts
    • 1st sounding: Eastern tribes set out
    • 2nd: Southern tribes follow
  3. Call to arms, Troop muster ⚔️
  4. Celebration of Festivals 🎉🥳
  5. Mark New Moons 🌑
  6. Burnt Offerings & Peace Offerings 🔥

Sounds like there was a LOT of trumpeting.

MOVING FROM SINAI

It’s been one year, one month, and 5 days since the events of Exodus 12. They have been preparing for this moment for a while. And now the cloud moves and the trumpets sound the short blasts and everyone knows it’s time to break camp.

And who is out front leading the WHOLE congregation? It’s not Moses or Aaron. It’s our friend, “General” Nashon son of Amminadab, the ancestor of Jesus. Perhaps this is a prophetic hint that one day Jesus will lead the WHOLE congregation of His redeemed saints into the Promised Land.

Everything goes like clockwork. The easternmost encampments pack up and move out. By the time the ones nearest the Tabernacle are moving out, the Tabernacle is packed up, loaded on the ox-carts or carried on their poles. Then the 2nd set of trumpet blasts are sounded and the other half of the camp begins to move out forming a rear-guard.

Who should show up on moving day but Hobab, the brother-in-law of Moses. Hobab has lived his whole life in this desert that we call the Arabian Peninsula. So Moses implores him to come along as their “eyes;” basically like a scout on a wagon train, I think. 🤠

Umm. Moses? You have God Himself in a cloud to guide you.

Maybe the guide thing was an excuse to get Hobab to come along. Or maybe Hobab could help them find water?

At any rate, they set out for 3 days. Enjoy those 3 days, Moses. Because it’s gonna kinda go downhill from here.

Lacy M. M.

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