« | Numbers 10 | » |
1 The Lord said to Moses,
2 "Make two trumpets. Use silver and hammer it to make the trumpets. These trumpets will be for calling the people together and for telling them when it is time to move the camp.
3 If you blow long blasts on both trumpets, all the people must meet together at the entrance of the Meeting Tent.
4 But if you blow long blasts on only one trumpet, only the leaders will come to meet with you. (These are the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel.)
5 "Short blasts on the trumpets will be the way to tell the people to move the camp. The first time you blow a short blast on the trumpets, the tribes camping on the east side of the Meeting Tent must begin to move.
6 The second time you blow a short blast on the trumpets, the tribes camping on the south side of the Meeting Tent will begin to move.
7 But if you want to gather the people together for a special meeting, blow the trumpets in a different way—blow a long steady blast on the trumpets.
8 Only Aaron's sons, the priests, should blow the trumpets. This is a law for you that will continue forever, for generations to come.
9 "If you are fighting an enemy in your own land, blow loudly on the trumpets before you go to fight them. The Lord your God will hear you, and he will save you from your enemies.
10 Also blow these trumpets for your special meetings, New Moon celebrations, and all your happy times together. Blow the trumpets when you give your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. This will be a special way for the Lord your God to remember you. I command you to do this; I am the Lord your God."
11 On the 20 day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites left Egypt, the cloud rose from above the Tent of the Agreement.
12 So the Israelites began their journey. They left the Sinai desert and traveled until the cloud stopped in the desert of Paran.
13 This was the first time the people moved their camp. They moved it the way the Lord commanded Moses.
14 The three divisions from Judah's camp went first. They traveled under their flag. The first group was the tribe of Judah. Nahshon son of Amminadab was the commander of that group.
15 Next came the tribe of Issachar. Nethanel son of Zuar was the commander of that group.
16 And then came the tribe of Zebulun. Eliab son of Helon was the commander of that group.
17 Then the Holy Tent was taken down. And the men from the Gershon and the Merari families carried the Holy Tent. So the people from these families were next in line.
18 Then came the three divisions from Reuben's camp. They traveled under their flag. The first group was the tribe of Reuben. Elizur son of Shedeur was the commander of that group.
19 Next came the tribe of Simeon. Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was the commander of that group.
20 And then came the tribe of Gad. Eliasaph son of Deuel was the commander of that group.
21 Then came the Kohath family. They carried the holy things from inside the Holy Tent. These people came at this time so that the other people could set up the Holy Tent and make it ready at the new camp before these people arrived.
22 Next came the three groups from Ephraim's camp. They traveled under their flag. The first group was the tribe of Ephraim. Elishama son of Ammihud was the commander of that group.
23 Next came the tribe of Manasseh. Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was the commander of that group.
24 Then came the tribe of Benjamin. Abidan son of Gideoni was the commander of that group.
25 The last three tribes in the line were the rear guard for all the other tribes. These were the groups from Dan's camp. They traveled under their flag. The first group was the tribe of Dan. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai was their commander.
26 Next came the tribe of Asher. Pagiel son of Ocran was the commander of that group.
27 Then came the tribe of Naphtali. Ahira son of Enan was the commander of that group.
28 That was the way the Israelites marched when they moved from place to place.
29 Hobab was the son of Reuel, the Midianite. (Reuel was Moses' father-in-law.) Moses said to Hobab, "We are traveling to the land that God promised to give to us. Come with us and we will be good to you. The Lord has promised good things to the Israelites."
30 But Hobab answered, "No, I will not go with you. I will go back to my homeland and to my own people."
31 Then Moses said, "Please don't leave us. You know more about the desert than we do. You can be our guide.
32 If you come with us, we will share with you all the good things that the Lord gives us."
33 So they began traveling from the mountain of the Lord. The priests took the Box of the Lord's Agreement and walked in front of the people. They carried the Holy Box for three days, looking for a place to camp.
34 The Lord's cloud was over them every day. And when they left their camp every morning, the cloud was there to lead them.
35 When the people lifted the Holy Box to move the camp, Moses always said, "Get up, Lord! May your enemies be scattered. May your enemies run away from you."
36 And when the Holy Box was put in its place, Moses always said, "Come back, Lord, to the millions of Israelites."
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV) is a Bible translation specifically designed to be accessible and comprehensible for people with limited reading skills or those for whom English is a second language. Originally published in 1987 by the World Bible Translation Center, the ERV was initially developed to serve the deaf community, using a simplified vocabulary and straightforward sentence structures. The goal of the ERV is to make the scriptures understandable to a wide range of readers, ensuring that everyone can grasp the essential messages of the Bible without being hindered by complex language or archaic terms.
One of the defining characteristics of the ERV is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators employed a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, focusing on conveying the meaning of the original texts in plain, everyday English. This approach ensures that readers can easily comprehend the Bible’s teachings and narratives, making it a valuable resource for children, new Christians, and those with limited literacy skills. The ERV avoids technical theological terms and instead uses language that is commonly spoken, making it accessible for personal study and public reading alike.
The ERV also pays careful attention to the cultural and contextual nuances of the original manuscripts. The translators sought to present the Bible’s messages in a way that is relevant and meaningful to contemporary readers while maintaining faithfulness to the original texts. This cultural sensitivity helps bridge the gap between ancient scriptures and modern readers, allowing them to connect more deeply with the biblical stories and teachings. Additionally, the ERV includes helpful footnotes and cross-references that provide further explanation and context, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the ERV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more traditional or literal translations. Critics argue that the simplified language and thought-for-thought approach can sometimes result in a loss of depth and richness found in the original texts. Some theologians believe that the ERV’s emphasis on accessibility may lead to oversimplification of complex theological concepts. Nonetheless, the Easy-To-Read Version remains a highly valuable translation for its target audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps people of all backgrounds engage with and understand the scriptures.