Immerse: Beginnings Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 234
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IMMERSE
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BEGINNINGS
10:11-31
In the second year after Israel’s departure from Egypt—on the twentieth
day of the second month—the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle of the
Covenant. So the Israelites set out from the wilderness of Sinai and traveled on from place to place until the cloud stopped in the wilderness of
Paran.
When the people set out for the first time, following the instructions the
Lord had given through Moses, Judah’s troops led the way. They marched
behind their banner, and their leader was Nahshon son of Amminadab.
They were joined by the troops of the tribe of Issachar, led by Nethanel
son of Zuar, and the troops of the tribe of Zebulun, led by Eliab son of
Helon.
Then the Tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonite and Merarite
divisions of the Levites were next in the line of march, carrying the Tabernacle with them. Reuben’s troops went next, marching behind their
banner. Their leader was Elizur son of Shedeur. They were joined by the
troops of the tribe of Simeon, led by Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, and
the troops of the tribe of Gad, led by Eliasaph son of Deuel.
Next came the Kohathite division of the Levites, carrying the sacred
objects from the Tabernacle. Before they arrived at the next camp, the
Tabernacle would already be set up at its new location. Ephraim’s troops
went next, marching behind their banner. Their leader was Elishama son
of Ammihud. They were joined by the troops of the tribe of Manasseh, led
by Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, and the troops of the tribe of Benjamin, led
by Abidan son of Gideoni.
Dan’s troops went last, marching behind their banner and serving as the
rear guard for all the tribal camps. Their leader was Ahiezer son of Ammi
shaddai. They were joined by the troops of the tribe of Asher, led by Pagiel
son of Ocran, and the troops of the tribe of Naphtali, led by Ahira son of
Enan.
This was the order in which the Israelites marched, division by division.
One day Moses said to his b rother-in-law, Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, “We are on our way to the place the Lord promised us, for he said, ‘I
will give it to you.’ Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord
has promised wonderful blessings for Israel!”
But Hobab replied, “No, I will not go. I must return to my own land
and family.”
“Please don’t leave us,” Moses pleaded. “You know the places in the
