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Numbers 10 (Bamidbar) in Hebrew and English

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Tenakh Study · Read Numbers in Hebrew and English, one chapter per page. Our Tenakh study meets every Wednesday at 7 pm (Central Time) on Zoom. Text us for the Zoom link.

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Tenakh Study · Numbers 10:1–36

Numbers, Chapter 10

במדבר י

Hashem commands two trumpets of silver for gathering the assembly and moving the camps; the cloud is taken up and Yisrael sets out from the wilderness of Sinai camp by camp; Moshe asks Ḥovav to come with them, and the ark goes before them as Moshe calls on Hashem to rise up.

The silver trumpets

10:1And Hashem spoke unto Moshe (Moses), saying,

אוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

10:2“Make for yourself two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece you shall make them; that you may use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.

בעֲשֵׂ֣ה לְךָ֗ שְׁתֵּי֙ חֲצֽוֹצְרֹ֣ת כֶּ֔סֶף מִקְשָׁ֖ה תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה אֹתָ֑ם וְהָי֤וּ לְךָ֙ לְמִקְרָ֣א הָֽעֵדָ֔ה וּלְמַסַּ֖ע אֶת־הַֽמַּחֲנֽוֹת׃

10:3And when they blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to you at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

גוְתָקְע֖וּ בָּהֵ֑ן וְנֽוֹעֲד֤וּ אֵלֶ֨יךָ֙ כָּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה אֶל־פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃

10:4And if they blow with but one trumpet, then the princes, who are heads of the thousands of Yisrael (Israel), shall gather themselves unto you.

דוְאִם־בְּאַחַ֖ת יִתְקָ֑עוּ וְנוֹעֲד֤וּ אֵלֶ֨יךָ֙ הַנְּשִׂיאִ֔ים רָאשֵׁ֖י אַלְפֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

10:5When you blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east side shall go forward.

הוּתְקַעְתֶּ֖ם תְּרוּעָ֑ה וְנָֽסְעוּ֙ הַֽמַּחֲנ֔וֹת הַחֹנִ֖ים קֵֽדְמָה׃

10:6When you 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.

ווּתְקַעְתֶּ֤ם תְּרוּעָה֙ שֵׁנִ֔ית וְנָֽסְעוּ֙ הַֽמַּחֲנ֔וֹת הַחֹנִ֖ים תֵּימָ֑נָה תְּרוּעָ֥ה יִתְקְע֖וּ לְמַסְעֵיהֶֽם׃

10:7But when the congregation is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm.

זוּבְהַקְהִ֖יל אֶת־הַקָּהָ֑ל תִּתְקְע֖וּ וְלֹ֥א תָרִֽיעוּ׃

10:8And the sons of Aharon (Aaron), the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations.

חוּבְנֵ֤י אַהֲרֹן֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים יִתְקְע֖וּ בַּֽחֲצֹצְר֑וֹת וְהָי֥וּ לָכֶ֛ם לְחֻקַּ֥ת עוֹלָ֖ם לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶֽם׃

10:9And if you go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresses you, then you shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and you shall be remembered before Hashem your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies.

טוְכִֽי־תָבֹ֨אוּ מִלְחָמָ֜ה בְּאַרְצְכֶ֗ם עַל־הַצַּר֙ הַצֹּרֵ֣ר אֶתְכֶ֔ם וַהֲרֵעֹתֶ֖ם בַּחֲצֹצְר֑וֹת וֲנִזְכַּרְתֶּ֗ם לִפְנֵי֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם וְנוֹשַׁעְתֶּ֖ם מֵאֹיְבֵיכֶֽם׃

10:10Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, you shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God. I am Hashem your God.”

יוּבְי֨וֹם שִׂמְחַתְכֶ֥ם וּֽבְמוֹעֲדֵיכֶם֮ וּבְרָאשֵׁ֣י חָדְשֵׁיכֶם֒ וּתְקַעְתֶּ֣ם בַּחֲצֹֽצְרֹ֗ת עַ֚ל עֹלֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם וְעַ֖ל זִבְחֵ֣י שַׁלְמֵיכֶ֑ם וְהָי֨וּ לָכֶ֤ם לְזִכָּרוֹן֙ לִפְנֵ֣י אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃

Departure from Sinai

10:11And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle of the testimony.

יאוַיְהִ֞י בַּשָּׁנָ֧ה הַשֵּׁנִ֛ית בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִ֖י בְּעֶשְׂרִ֣ים בַּחֹ֑דֶשׁ נַעֲלָה֙ הֶֽעָנָ֔ן מֵעַ֖ל מִשְׁכַּ֥ן הָעֵדֻֽת׃

10:12And the children of Yisrael took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.

יבוַיִּסְע֧וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל לְמַסְעֵיהֶ֖ם מִמִּדְבַּ֣ר סִינָ֑י וַיִּשְׁכֹּ֥ן הֶעָנָ֖ן בְּמִדְבַּ֥ר פָּארָֽן׃

10:13And they first took their journey according to the commandment of Hashem by the hand of Moshe.

יגוַיִּסְע֖וּ בָּרִאשֹׁנָ֑ה עַל־פִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה בְּיַד־מֹשֶֽׁה׃

The order of the march

10:14In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Yehudah (Judah) according to their hosts; and over its host was Naḥshon (Nahshon) the son of Amminadav (Amminadab).

ידוַיִּסַּ֞ע דֶּ֣גֶל מַחֲנֵ֧ה בְנֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֛ה בָּרִאשֹׁנָ֖ה לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְעַל־צְבָא֔וֹ נַחְשׁ֖וֹן בֶּן־עַמִּינָדָֽב׃

10:15And over the host of the tribe of the children of Yissachar (Issachar) was Netanel (Nethaneel) the son of Tzuar (Zuar).

טווְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י יִשָׂשכָ֑ר נְתַנְאֵ֖ל בֶּן־צוּעָֽר׃

10:16And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zevulun (Zebulun) was Eliav (Eliab) the son of Ḥelon (Helon).

טזוְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י זְבוּלֻ֑ן אֱלִיאָ֖ב בֶּן־חֵלֽוֹן׃

10:17And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari (Merarites) set forward, bearing the tabernacle.

יזוְהוּרַ֖ד הַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ן וְנָסְע֤וּ בְנֵֽי־גֵרְשׁוֹן֙ וּבְנֵ֣י מְרָרִ֔י נֹשְׂאֵ֖י הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן׃

10:18And the standard of the camp of Reuven (Reuben) set forward according to their hosts; and over its host was Elitzur (Elizur) the son of Shede’ur (Shedeur).

יחוְנָסַ֗ע דֶּ֛גֶל מַחֲנֵ֥ה רְאוּבֵ֖ן לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְעַל־צְבָא֔וֹ אֱלִיצ֖וּר בֶּן־שְׁדֵיאֽוּר׃

10:19And over the host of the tribe of the children of Shimon (Simeon) was Shelumiel the son of Tzurishaddai (Zurishaddai).

יטוְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י שִׁמְע֑וֹן שְׁלֻֽמִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־צוּרִֽי שַׁדָּֽי׃

10:20And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Elyasaf (Eliasaph) the son of De’uel (Deuel).

כוְעַל־צְבָ֖א מַטֵּ֣ה בְנֵי־גָ֑ד אֶלְיָסָ֖ף בֶּן־דְּעוּאֵֽל׃

10:21And the Kehati (Kohathites) set forward, bearing the sanctuary; and the others set up the tabernacle before they came.

כאוְנָסְעוּ֙ הַקְּהָתִ֔ים נֹשְׂאֵ֖י הַמִּקְדָּ֑שׁ וְהֵקִ֥ימוּ אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן עַד־בֹּאָֽם׃

10:22And the standard of the camp of the children of Efrayim (Ephraim) set forward according to their hosts; and over its host was Elishama the son of Ammihud.

כבוְנָסַ֗ע דֶּ֛גֶל מַחֲנֵ֥ה בְנֵֽי־אֶפְרַ֖יִם לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְעַל־צְבָא֔וֹ אֱלִישָׁמָ֖ע בֶּן־עַמִּיהֽוּד׃

10:23And over the host of the tribe of the children of Menasheh (Manasseh) was Gamliel (Gamaliel) the son of Pedahtzur (Pedahzur).

כגוְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה גַּמְלִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־פְּדָה־צֽוּר׃

10:24And over the host of the tribe of the children of Binyamin (Benjamin) was Avidan (Abidan) the son of Gidoni (Gideoni).

כדוְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ן אֲבִידָ֖ן בֶּן־גִּדְעוֹנִֽי׃

10:25And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rearguard of all the camps throughout their hosts; and over its host was Aḥiezer (Ahiezer) the son of Ammishaddai.

כהוְנָסַ֗ע דֶּ֚גֶל מַחֲנֵ֣ה בְנֵי־דָ֔ן מְאַסֵּ֥ף לְכָל־הַֽמַּחֲנֹ֖ת לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְעַל־צְבָא֔וֹ אֲחִיעֶ֖זֶר בֶּן־עַמִּישַׁדָּֽי׃

10:26And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ochran (Ocran).

כווְעַל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י אָשֵׁ֑ר פַּגְעִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־עָכְרָֽן׃

10:27And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naftali (Naphtali) was Aḥira (Ahira) the son of Enan.

כזוְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י נַפְתָּלִ֑י אֲחִירַ֖ע בֶּן־עֵינָֽן׃

10:28Thus were the journeyings of the children of Yisrael according to their hosts, when they set forward.

כחאֵ֛לֶּה מַסְעֵ֥י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וַיִּסָּֽעוּ׃

Moshe and Ḥovav

10:29And Moshe said unto Ḥovav (Hobab), the son of Re’uel (Raguel) the Midyani (Midianite), Moshe’s father-in-law, “We are journeying unto the place of which Hashem said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will do you good; for Hashem has spoken good concerning Yisrael.”

כטוַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֗ה לְ֠חֹבָב בֶּן־רְעוּאֵ֣ל הַמִּדְיָנִי֮ חֹתֵ֣ן מֹשֶׁה֒ נֹסְעִ֣ים ׀ אֲנַ֗חְנוּ אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה אֹת֖וֹ אֶתֵּ֣ן לָכֶ֑ם לְכָ֤ה אִתָּ֨נוּ֙ וְהֵטַ֣בְנוּ לָ֔ךְ כִּֽי־יְהוָ֥ה דִּבֶּר־ט֖וֹב עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

10:30And he said unto him, “I will not go; but I will depart to my own land, and to my kindred.”

לוַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו לֹ֣א אֵלֵ֑ךְ כִּ֧י אִם־אֶל־אַרְצִ֛י וְאֶל־מוֹלַדְתִּ֖י אֵלֵֽךְ׃

10:31And he said, “Do not leave us, I pray you; inasmuch as you know how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and you may be to us instead of eyes.

לאוַיֹּ֕אמֶר אַל־נָ֖א תַּעֲזֹ֣ב אֹתָ֑נוּ כִּ֣י ׀ עַל־כֵּ֣ן יָדַ֗עְתָּ חֲנֹתֵ֨נוּ֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר וְהָיִ֥יתָ לָּ֖נוּ לְעֵינָֽיִם׃

10:32And it shall be, if you go with us, yes, it shall be, that whatever goodness Hashem shall do unto us, the same will we do unto you.”

לבוְהָיָ֖ה כִּי־תֵלֵ֣ךְ עִמָּ֑נוּ וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ הַטּ֣וֹב הַה֗וּא אֲשֶׁ֨ר יֵיטִ֧יב יְהוָ֛ה עִמָּ֖נוּ וְהֵטַ֥בְנוּ לָֽךְ׃

The ark goes before them

10:33And they departed from the mountain of Hashem three days’ journey; and the ark of the covenant of Hashem went before them in the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them.

לגוַיִּסְעוּ֙ מֵהַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה דֶּ֖רֶךְ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֑ים וַאֲר֨וֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָ֜ה נֹסֵ֣עַ לִפְנֵיהֶ֗ם דֶּ֚רֶךְ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֔ים לָת֥וּר לָהֶ֖ם מְנוּחָֽה׃

10:34And the cloud of Hashem was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp.

לדוַעֲנַ֧ן יְהוָ֛ה עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם יוֹמָ֑ם בְּנָסְעָ֖ם מִן־הַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ ׆ ס

10:35And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moshe said, “Rise up, Hashem, and let Your enemies be scattered; and let those that hate You flee before You.”

להוַיְהִ֛י בִּנְסֹ֥עַ הָאָרֹ֖ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֑ה קוּמָ֣ה ׀ יְהוָ֗ה וְיָפֻ֨צוּ֙ אֹֽיְבֶ֔יךָ וְיָנֻ֥סוּ מְשַׂנְאֶ֖יךָ מִפָּנֶֽיךָ׃

10:36And when it rested, he said, “Return, Hashem, unto the many thousands of Yisrael.”

לווּבְנֻחֹ֖ה יֹאמַ֑ר שׁוּבָ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה רִֽבְב֖וֹת אַלְפֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ׆ ס

Sources & method

Hebrew text
The Masoretic text with vowels (nikkud) and cantillation marks (ta’amim), from the Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain) as published by the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (CC BY 4.0). Where the written text (ketiv) differs from the reading (qere), the reading is shown and the written form follows in small type. A paragraph mark (ס or פ) inside a verse is shown in small type.
English translation
The King James Version (public domain), lightly modernized by Benei Avraham: “thee/thou/ye” become “you,” older verb forms are updated (“hath” to “has”), and archaic words are replaced only where the meaning would otherwise be unclear. People and places carry their Hebrew names, with the King James spelling in parentheses the first time on each page (e.g., Yehudah (Judah)). The Divine Name (יהוה, “the LORD” in the KJV) is written “Hashem”; “God” (Elohim) is unchanged, and “law” is “Torah” where the Hebrew is תּוֹרָה.
Verse numbers
Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible. In Numbers they differ from most English Bibles, or a verse is divided differently, in chapters 16, 17, 25, 26, 29 and 30; a note under the summary on those pages explains how.
Hebrew font
SBL Hebrew, by the Society of Biblical Literature.