The Israelites Depart from Sinai

11 And it happened, in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth of the month the cloud was lifted from upon the tabernacle of the testimony.[fn] 12 And the Israelites[fn] set out for their journey[fn] from the desert of Sinai, and the cloud dwelled in the desert of Paran. 13 They set out for the first time[fn] on the command of Yahweh in the hand of Moses.[fn] 14 The standard of the camp of the descendants[fn] of Judah set out for the first time according to their divisions, with Nahshon son of Amminadab over its division. 15 And Nathanel son of Zuar was over the division of the descendants[fn] of Issachar; 16 Eliab son of Helon was over the division of the tribe of the descendants[fn] of Zebulun.

17 The tabernacle was taken down, and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, the bearers of the tabernacle, set out. 18 And the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their divisions; Elizur son of Shedeur was over their division. 19 Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the division of the sons of the tribe of Simeon. 20 Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of the descendants[fn] of Gad.

21 The Kohathites, the bearers of the sanctuary, set out, and they set up the tabernacle before they arrived. 22 And the stand of the camp of the descendants[fn] of Ephraim set out according to their divisions; Elishama son of Ammihud was over its division. 23 Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of the descendants[fn] of Manasseh. 24 Abidan son of Gideoni was over the division of the tribe of the descendants[fn] of Benjamin.

25 Then the standard of the camp of the descendants[fn] of Dan, who formed a rear guard for all the camps, set out according to their divisions; Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai was over its division. 26 Pagiel son of Ocran was over the division of the tribe of the descendants[fn] of Asher. 27 Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of the descendants[fn] of Naphtali. 28 These were the departures of the Israelites[fn] according to their divisions; and so they set out.

29 Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, the father-in-law of Moses, “We are setting out to the place that Yahweh said, ‘I will give it to you’; go with us, and we will treat you well[fn] because Yahweh promised[fn] good concerning Israel.” 30 But he said to him, “I will not go. I will only go to my land and to my family.” 31 He[fn] said, “Please, do not abandon us because you know our encampment in the desert, and you should be our guide.[fn] 32 Moreover, if you go with us, the good that Yahweh will do to us we will do to you.”

33 And so they set out from the mountain of Yahweh a journey of three days, with the ark of the covenant of Yahweh setting out ahead of them[fn] three days’ journey to search out a resting place for them; 34 and the cloud of Yahweh was over them by day when they set out from the camp.

• 35 And whenever the ark was setting out Moses would say,“Rise up, Yahweh!
• May your enemies be scattered;
• may the ones that hate you flee from your presence.”
• 36  “Return, Yahweh,
• to the countless thousands of Israel.”