Numbers 10:5 kjv
When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward.
Numbers 10:5 nkjv
When you sound the advance, the camps that lie on the east side shall then begin their journey.
Numbers 10:5 niv
When a trumpet blast is sounded, the tribes camping on the east are to set out.
Numbers 10:5 esv
When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out.
Numbers 10:5 nlt
"When you sound the signal to move on, the tribes camped on the east side of the Tabernacle must break camp and move forward.
Numbers 10 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 2:3 | On the east side toward the sunrise shall be the standard of the camp of Judah... | Identifies the tribes on the east side. |
| Num 10:2 | Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work... for calling... and for setting out. | Divine command for trumpets' purpose. |
| Num 10:6 | When you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are encamped on the south side shall set out. | Different signal for subsequent divisions. |
| Num 10:7 | But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow no alarm. | Distinct sound for general assembly (not an alarm). |
| Num 9:17 | Whenever the cloud lifted... then the people of Israel would set out. | Cloud guided overall movement, trumpets the specific signal. |
| Ex 13:21 | The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud... | God's direct leading throughout their journey. |
| Deut 1:19 | So we journeyed through all that great and terrifying wilderness, as the Lord our God commanded us. | Emphasizes journeying by divine command. |
| Josh 6:5 | When they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound... then all the people shall shout... | Trumpets as signals for collective action (war). |
| Judg 7:20 | Both companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars... | Trumpets used in battle for God-given victory. |
| Joel 2:1 | Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! | Trumpet for urgent assembly, warning, or call to action. |
| Eze 33:3 | If he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people... | Trumpet as a signal of impending danger. |
| Isa 58:1 | Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet. | Figurative trumpet for clear, urgent proclamation. |
| 1 Cor 14:8 | If a trumpet gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? | Highlights need for clear, precise signals. |
| Psa 77:20 | You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. | God's compassionate and organized leadership. |
| Psa 89:15 | Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, O Lord, who walk in the light of your face. | Connects discerning divine signals (teruah) with blessedness. |
| Ex 19:16 | There were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast. | Trumpet associated with God's manifest presence at Sinai. |
| Lev 25:9 | You shall sound the trumpet of the Jubilee on the tenth day... | Trumpet for marking specific, divinely ordained times. |
| 1 Thess 4:16 | For the Lord himself will descend... with the trumpet call of God. | The trumpet as a final divine signal for ultimate departure (resurrection). |
| Rom 13:11 | Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. | A call to spiritual readiness and action (conceptual alarm). |
| Heb 3:7-8 | Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. | Emphasizes immediate obedience to divine call. |
| Jam 1:22 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only... | Principle of actively responding to God's instructions. |
Numbers 10 verses
Numbers 10 5 Meaning
Numbers 10:5 outlines a specific divine instruction for the structured movement of the Israelite camp in the wilderness. When the priests blew a distinct "alarm" or "teruah" sound on the silver trumpets, it signaled the immediate departure of the first division of tribes, specifically those encamped on the east side of the Tabernacle. This verse highlights God's meticulous order, His direct guidance through priestly signals, and the requirement for swift and specific obedience from His people to advance in their journey.
Numbers 10 5 Context
Numbers chapter 10 marks a significant transition in the wilderness journey of the Israelites. Having received detailed laws and organizational structures at Mount Sinai, they are now commanded to depart for the Promised Land. The chapter details the divine instructions given to Moses regarding the making and specific uses of two silver trumpets. These trumpets were vital for maintaining order within the massive congregation, serving as direct channels of communication from God (through the priests) for assembling the people, summoning leaders, and most importantly, directing the complex movements of the tribes as they embarked on their journey. Verse 5 is part of a detailed sequence of trumpet blasts that orchestrated the initial departure, specifically for the camp positioned on the east, which was the lead division under the standard of Judah.
Historically, military camps relied on clear horn or trumpet signals for movement and assembly. God, in His meticulous guidance of Israel, adopts and perfects this concept, providing specific sounds for distinct actions, demonstrating His sovereign organization of His chosen people, a level of divine order unseen in contemporary tribal movements. This meticulous direction reinforced His immediate presence and control over every step of their lives, contrasting sharply with the chaotic or self-directed migrations of other ancient peoples.
Numbers 10 5 Word analysis
- When you blow (תִּקְעוּ - tiq'ū): From the Hebrew root taqa', meaning "to thrust," "strike," "clap," but specifically here "to blow" a trumpet loudly and distinctly. It signifies an intentional, powerful action designed to produce a clear, authoritative sound, not a mere breath. This highlights the deliberate and imperative nature of the command given.
- an alarm (תְּרוּעָה - t'rū'āh): This Hebrew term refers to a shout, a blast, a noise of alarm or joy, specifically here an alarm signal from a trumpet. It is distinct from a prolonged blast (teqiah) for assembly. The teruah here is a broken, staccato sound designed to convey urgency and initiate immediate, specific action: setting out. Its clarity was paramount to prevent confusion among such a large populace.
- the camps (הַמַּחֲנוֹת - hammaḥanōt): Refers to the various, organized divisions of the Israelite people, structured in encampments around the Tabernacle according to their tribal affiliations. The plural emphasizes the multiple groupings that constituted the whole nation.
- on the east side (הַקְּדוֹנִי - haq·qədōwnî): Literally "the ones toward the front" or "the eastern ones." In the Israelite camp's orientation, the east was the front, the direction of the sunrise, and the standard-bearer camp of Judah (comprising Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun) was always positioned there. This precision demonstrates the highly structured and orderly nature of their movement, where specific signals triggered specific divisions to act.
- shall set out (יִסְעוּ - yis'ū): From the Hebrew root nasa', meaning "to pull up," "journey," "depart," "set out." This is the command for physical movement, to literally break camp and begin the march. It conveys an immediate and decisive action in response to the divine signal.
Numbers 10 5 Bonus section
- The prominent position and immediate action of the Judah division (east side) upon hearing this specific alarm is significant. Judah's standard-bearer camp was ordained to be the vanguard of the marching Israelites (Num 2:9). This points to their designated role as leaders in the wilderness journey, a foreshadowing of the tribe from which kingship (and eventually Christ) would come. Their prompt obedience in setting out symbolized their readiness to lead according to divine instruction.
- The distinction between the "alarm blast" (teruah) for setting out and a simpler "blast" (teqiah) for assembling the congregation (Num 10:7) reveals God's precision in communication. This taught the Israelites the importance of discerning God's different "calls" and responding appropriately – whether to gather for instruction, to move, or to prepare for battle.
- The overall context of Numbers 10 underscores that Israel's entire existence was consecrated and ordered by God, down to their physical movements. Their journey was not random wandering but a disciplined expedition guided by the audible voice of God, mediated through His appointed servants and clear, physical signals. This served as a constant reminder that their well-being and progress depended solely on their obedience to God's direction.
Numbers 10 5 Commentary
Numbers 10:5 offers a concise yet profound illustration of divine order and the necessity of immediate, specific obedience to God's word. The provision of silver trumpets and distinct blasts for specific actions underscores God's meticulous care in leading His people. The "alarm blast" (teruah) given to the east side camps (Judah's division) was not a casual sound but a precise military-style command, indicating that their desert journey was a divinely orchestrated march under God's generalship. It highlights several key principles: God's commands are specific, demanding particular responses; His chosen people must be ever ready to discern and obey His leading, even in the smallest details of their journey; and His ordering of life ensures both safety and progression towards His purposes. This verse portrays God as the divine orchestrator, providing clarity amidst the vastness of the wilderness, and His people as responders, called to move in unity and faith upon His precise signals. The precision served as a vital tool for preventing chaos, fostering unity, and enabling the timely progression of the entire multitude toward their promised inheritance.