Numbers 10:11-36 Israel Departs Mount Sinai
Day 49 of our so-called “stay in your homes unless you absolutely have to go out” isolation. That’s seven weeks folks. And still no word when all will be well. In fact, in our province, the two grocery stores we go to now (for an ‘absolutely need to reason’) insist on all customers wearing masks. Good thing I have some. In the meantime, I am enjoying my time studying Numbers with you. Looking forward to finally getting those Israelites to leave camp at the base of Mount Sinai and head out. I wish we could do something like that these days. Read on.
The Passage
Verses 11-13: Now it came about in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth of the month, that the cloud was lifted from over the tabernacle of the testimony; and the sons of Israel set out on their journeys from the wilderness of Sinai. Then the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Paran. So, they moved out for the first time according to the commandment of the Lord through Moses.
Verses 14-28 give an account of each of the standards and how they moved out. In the midst of this is the record of the tabernacle being taken down (vs. 17).
Verses 29-36:
29 Then Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out to the place of which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you’; come with us and we will do you good, for the Lord has [a]promised good concerning Israel.” 30 But he said to him, “I will not come, but rather will go to my own land and relatives.” 31 Then he said, “Please do not leave us, inasmuch as you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you will be as eyes for us. 32 So it will be, if you go with us, that [b]whatever good the Lord[c]does for us, we will [d]do for you.”
33 Thus they set out from the mount of the Lord three days’ journey, with the ark of the covenant of the Lord journeying in front of them for the [e]three days, to seek out a resting place for them. 34 The cloud of the Lord was over them by day when they set out from the camp.
35 Then it came about when the ark set out that Moses said,
“Rise up, O Lord!
And let Your enemies be scattered,
And let those who hate You flee [f]before You”
36 When it came to rest, he said,
“Return, O Lord,
To the myriad thousands of Israel.”
Footnotes
“Rise up, O Lord!
And let Your enemies be scattered,
And let those who hate You flee [f]before You”
36 When it came to rest, he said,
“Return, O Lord,
To the myriad thousands of Israel.”
Footnotes
- Numbers 10:29 Lit spoken
- Numbers 10:32 Lit that good which
- Numbers 10:32 Lit does good
- Numbers 10:32 Lit do good
- Numbers 10:33 Lit three days’ journey
- Numbers 10:35 Or from Your presence
Thoughts on the Passage
This was a very precise date on which the camp first moved out after the tabernacle was erected for the first time. They moved from the foot of Sinai to Paran.
David Guzik talks about the sense of excitement that must have filled the entire assembly or congregation of the Israelites. All these preparations were completed. They had learned everything they had to do. He then writes:
One would be tempted to think that after such extensive preparation - a virtual transformation from slave people to Promised Land people - the actual entering into the Promised Land would be easy. This was not the case. The preparation was exactly that - preparation. Ahead of them are the greatest challenges, challenges that can only be met by faith. A soldier might think boot camp finishes something - but it doesn't. It only prepares for a greater challenge: The actual battle itself.
The highlight of the passage is an account of Moses who was married to Zipporah asking his father-in-law’s Hobab (also known as Reuel and Jethro), to continue on the journey with the Israelites rather than returning back to his own people. Hobab had brought Moses’ wife and sons to join them in the wilderness as they were not living with the Israelites in Egypt at the time of the exodus. They had stayed with her father. So Moses now entreated him to stay with the Israelites as they needed a good scout who knew the area and thus where they could camp at night. And Moses promised Hobab that the Israelites would bless him in whatever way God was blessing them.
At the same time, as Matthew Henry informs us – there is a disagreement as to whether Hobab was indeed Jethro or Reuel (also spelled Raguel). [And Robert Jamieson also supports this alternate possibility.] One school of thought has him as Jethro’s son (also a Reuel) and that Jethro had already returned to his land, or never came out with Zipporah and the Moses’ children. This is based on the number of years and the age that one assumes Jethro may have been. Also, it is said that the Hebrew word for father-in-law and son-in-law is very similar if not the same.
We have to understand that Hobab was a Midianite and the land of the Midianites was in the valley between Mount Sinai and Mount Paran. That is why Hobab had brought his daughter (or sister), and grandsons (or nephew), to Moses at that point of the journey. Chuck Smith says this:
He [Hobab] was able to track in the desert; he was able to tell them where the water was and he had that desert savvy, that desert knowledge. And so, Moses was really desiring that guy to stick with them because he really had all that desert savvy. And you can be as eyes for us, and all. And Moses was asking the fella to remain with him.
Now why would Moses need Hobab when God had provided the guidance of the cloud? I asked myself that very question when I read the passage. I thought that was an indication of non-dependence on God. Hey Moses, you know better. But then as I did my research, I came upon what David Guzik says on this very thing:
Moses was a wise enough leader to know his limitations, and to know that he needed help. Instead of just saying, “well, God got us this far and He’ll see us through without Reuel,” he knew God’s help often comes through men like Reuel. Though Israel was guided by God, there was still help needed by man – men like Reuel. God plans it this way, often arranging it so His help comes to us partially through people He has ordained to help us. Please do not leave: Since he knew God could use Reuel in a significant way, Moses was willing to appeal to him – and not take an initial “no” as an answer.
And Moses succeeded. So off they all took and travelled for three days following the cloud. But they were still in the wilderness. Matthew Henry says this about that:
Note, all our removals in this world are but from one wilderness to another. The changes which we think will be for the better do not always prove so; while we carry about with us, wherever we go, the common infirmities of human nature, we must expect, wherever we go, to meet with its common calamities; we shall never be at rest, never at home, till we come to heaven, and all will be well there.
But Moses knew a secret with respect to how then he could manage through this reality. Verses 35 and 36 indicate who Moses would often praise the Lord when the ark was about to move out and when it was coming to rest. He praised God and he pleaded for God’s enemies to be scattered and that God would protect the Israelites as they camped. Guzik also has some wonderful thoughts on these two prayers of Moses:
The idea was simple: "God, go before us and take care of our enemies. It's too dangerous ahead unless You do so!" What a fitting prayer for every believer to pray! God has things before us, places to lead us - shouldn't we pray this same prayer?
ii. Isn't this a fitting prayer also by which to remember the glory and strength of our resurrected Lord? When Jesus rose up, were not all His enemies scattered? Who dared oppose Him? Is not all our victory found in His risen glory?
Return, O LORD, to the many thousands of Israel: This was the prayer of Moses when God's presence stopped, and indicated a place to camp. Moses then prayed, "Here we camp, LORD. Stay with us."
i. God sometimes tells us to move on, sometimes tells us to "camp out" - either is fine when we are guided by His presence.
ii. "Will you and I go home and pray this prayer by ourselves, fervently laying hold upon the horns of God's altar? I charge you, my brethren in Christ, do not neglect this private duty. Go, each of you, to your chambers; shut to your doors; cry to him who hears in secret, and let this be the burden of your cry - 'Rise up, Lord; and let thine enemies be scattered.'" (Spurgeon)
In the words of Chuck Smith, I leave you with this:
We've got some many exciting adventures in the book of Numbers as we move ahead. I really like the book of Numbers. The first part is a little redundant in some of the numberings and all but now we're starting to get into some pretty exciting experiences as God begins to lead them toward the land that he had promised unto their fathers.
Hang in there folks and perhaps you may wish to share these studies with others. And please, feel free to ask me questions. Until we study together again.
It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.
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