Numbers 10:6 kjv
When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys.
Numbers 10:6 nkjv
When you sound the advance the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall begin their journey; they shall sound the call for them to begin their journeys.
Numbers 10:6 niv
At the sounding of a second blast, the camps on the south are to set out. The blast will be the signal for setting out.
Numbers 10:6 esv
And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out.
Numbers 10:6 nlt
When you sound the signal a second time, the tribes camped on the south will follow. You must sound short blasts as the signal for moving on.
Numbers 10 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Num 9:17-18 | Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites would set out... | Divine command initiating movement |
| Num 2:18-24 | On the west side, the divisions of the camp of Ephraim... | Tribal encampment location (West) |
| Num 2:3-9 | On the east side, the division of the camp of Judah... | First section to move |
| Num 2:10-16 | On the south side, the division of the camp of Reuben... | Second section to move |
| Num 10:2 | Make two trumpets of hammered silver, and use them... | Command for making signal instruments |
| Num 10:5 | When you sound a first blast, the camps on the east will set out. | First blast for movement (East) |
| Num 10:7 | When the assembly is to be gathered, you shall blow, but not with a blast. | Distinction in trumpet signals |
| Deut 23:14 | The Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you... | God's presence demands holy order |
| Psa 37:23 | The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him... | God directing the steps of His people |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord with all your heart... he will make your paths straight. | Dependence on divine guidance |
| Isa 58:1 | Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet... | Trumpet as a means of proclamation |
| Jer 4:19 | ...for I hear the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. | Trumpet as a signal of alarm/warning |
| Eze 33:3-6 | If the watchman sees the sword coming... and blows the trumpet... | Trumpet as a warning for God's people |
| Joel 2:1 | Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill... | Trumpet signaling the day of the Lord |
| Zech 9:14 | Then the Lord will appear over them; his trumpet blast will go forth... | God's powerful manifestation signaled by trumpets |
| Matt 24:31 | And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call... | Trumpet announcing gathering of the elect |
| 1 Cor 14:33 | For God is not a God of disorder but of peace... | Divine characteristic of order and peace |
| 1 Cor 14:40 | But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. | Principle of order in practice |
| 1 Cor 15:52 | ...at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised... | Trumpet heralding resurrection and return |
| 1 Thes 4:16 | For the Lord himself will come down from heaven... with the trumpet call of God. | Trumpet signal for Christ's return |
| Heb 13:17 | Obey your leaders and submit to their authority... | Importance of submission to authority |
| Rev 8:6 | ...and the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them. | Trumpets in final divine judgments |
Numbers 10 verses
Numbers 10 6 Meaning
Numbers 10:6, as provided for analysis ("When you blow a third time, the camps on the west side are to set out"), describes a precise signal in God's ordered system for the movement of the Israelite tribes during their wilderness journey. This specific trumpet blast signifies that the designated encampments located to the west of the Tabernacle should commence their journey. It highlights divine foresight, precise communication, and the meticulous order God commanded for His people's progression, emphasizing their dependence on His specific guidance for every step of their wilderness journey. While the biblical text of Numbers 10:6 actually refers to the "second blast" for the "south side" camps, the principle of sequential movement for specific camps remains central to the chapter's theme of divinely ordained order.
Numbers 10 6 Context
Numbers chapter 10 is foundational to understanding the operational aspects of the Israelite's journey from Sinai, transitioning them from a static encampment to an organized, moving community. The initial verses (Num 10:1-10) outline God's direct command to Moses to create two silver trumpets (chatstsotserot). These trumpets were not mere instruments but sacred tools for divine communication, essential for assembly, summoning leaders, and most critically, signaling movement for the vast Israelite population.
Specifically, Numbers 10:5-6 describes a precise system of trumpet blasts (teru'ah, a sharp, broken sound or alarm): a first blast signaled the camps on the east side (Judah's standard) to set out (Num 10:5), and a second blast signaled the camps on the south side (Reuben's standard) to set out (Num 10:6). While the text for analysis implies a "third time" for the "west side," this system demonstrates a logical, progressive order. The tribes marched in the divinely prescribed order previously laid out in Numbers 2: Judah, Issachar, Zebulun (east); Reuben, Simeon, Gad (south), followed by the Tabernacle itself; then Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin (west); and finally Dan, Asher, Naphtali (north). This sequential signaling ensured that the Tabernacle, the sacred center of Israel's worship and identity, could be properly dismantled and moved with the specific Levite families responsible for its components (Numbers 4) while the main tribal contingents moved ahead or followed, maintaining divine order and preventing chaos among potentially two million people.
Historically and culturally, these commands provided a concrete manifestation of God's presence and governance. In the ancient Near East, leaders used various signals to command large groups, but Israel's system was uniquely divine, removing human discretion from crucial decisions of timing and direction. This contrasted with surrounding cultures relying on human interpretation or omens, underscoring Israel's exclusive reliance on YHWH for guidance, much like the cloud by day and fire by night.
Numbers 10 6 Word Analysis
- When you blow: The Hebrew verb for "blow" is taka (תָּקַע), meaning "to strike," "to clap," "to sound," or "to blow." In the context of trumpets, it refers to making a distinct, intentional sound. This is not a casual act but a precise, divinely ordained action initiating a command. The specific sound indicated here is a teru'ah (תְּרוּעָה), a broken or sharp blast, often an alarm or signal for marching, distinct from the long tekiah for assembly.
- a third time: This phrase highlights a specific point in a sequential command structure. In the literal biblical text, Numbers 10:5 specifies the "first blast" for the eastern camps, and Numbers 10:6 explicitly states the "second blast" (teru'ah shenit) for the southern camps. While "a third time" for the "west side" is a logical next step in the complete marching order, the phrase itself in Numbers 10:6 (KJV, ESV, NIV, etc.) refers to the second blast. The implication is a system of successive, distinct signals, ensuring clarity and order for each major division of the Israelite encampment as they prepare to move.
- the camps: The Hebrew word is machanot (מַחֲנוֹת), the plural of machaneh (מַחֲנֶה), meaning "camp," "encampment," or "army." It refers to the tribal divisions, which were grouped into larger, ordered units (east, south, west, north) around the central Tabernacle (Numbers 2). The specificity implies a distinct group designated by divine order.
- on the west side: The Hebrew for "west side" is yamah (יָמָּה), literally "to the sea" or "westward," as the Mediterranean Sea was the primary western geographical marker for Israel. According to the camp arrangement in Numbers 2:18-24, the camps of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin were positioned on the west. This highlights the precise geographical and tribal allocation of responsibilities and movements within the meticulously structured wilderness journey, aligning this implied signal with the distinct movement of the western division, subsequent to the eastern and southern divisions.
- are to set out: The Hebrew verb is yissa'u (יִסְּעוּ), meaning "they shall pull up," "they shall journey," or "they shall depart." This signifies the action of initiating movement, dismantling camp, and beginning travel. It implies immediate obedience to the divine signal, underscoring the readiness and responsiveness required of the people as God's guidance led them through the wilderness.
Numbers 10 6 Bonus Section
The elaborate system of trumpet blasts in Numbers 10 goes beyond mere logistical management; it powerfully foreshadows the voice and direction of God throughout history and into the future. The trumpet's association with God's manifest presence, from Sinai (Ex 19) to the final eschatological events (1 Cor 15, 1 Thes 4, Rev 8-9), underscores its sacred significance. The clarity and precision of these trumpet signals were essential not only for military movement but also for spiritual readiness, teaching Israel that obedience to God's distinct commands would lead them successfully through their challenging wilderness sojourn. This constant, audible direction minimized human error and emphasized the absolute authority of the divine Caller, echoing the principle that God's people should always be poised to move or stand according to His leading.
Numbers 10 6 Commentary
Numbers 10:6 (as provided for analysis, referencing the "third time" for the "west side") epitomizes the theme of divine order and reliance within the Israelite wilderness journey. The use of silver trumpets for such precise signals highlights God's meticulous care for His people's progression. It reveals a highly organized and disciplined camp structure, where vast numbers moved in harmony according to the audible commands of their divine Leader, mediated through Moses and Aaron. This intricate system prevented chaos and ensured the smooth, divinely-guided execution of their collective mission. The progressive nature of the signals – East, then South, then conceptually West – speaks to God's phased direction, moving His people step by obedient step towards the promised land. It wasn't about human planning or intuition, but instant obedience to a clear, external, God-given signal. This dependency fostered humility and unwavering trust in their God, teaching them that every journey, every battle, and every resting place was under His direct command.