Hebrew Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Numbers, Chapter 10במדבר 10

Each verse opens with the running Hebrew, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case/state or parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Two silver trumpets are made to summon the assembly and sound the march; on the twentieth of the second month the cloud lifts and Israel sets out from Sinai in marching order, Moses pressing Hobab to be their guide. The ark goes before them, and Moses speaks the ancient words: 'Arise, O YHWH, and let your enemies be scattered… Return, O YHWH, to the myriads of Israel.'

Translation & textual notes

Numbers 10 is textually stable in the MT, but it houses one of the Hebrew Bible's rarest scribal phenomena: the two inverted nuns (nunin menuzarot / nunin hafukhot) that bracket vv. 35-36, one before 'And it came to pass, when the ark set out' and one after 'to the myriads of the thousands of Israel.' Rabbinic tradition (b. Shabbat 115b-116a) already debated their meaning, proposing that the marks flag the couplet as a self-contained 'book' within the Torah (yielding a count of seven books, per some readings of Prov 9:1), or that they signal the unit's displacement from its 'original' position -- some sages held it belongs with the list of Israel's later complaints rather than here. Modern text-critics generally treat the marks as among the oldest recoverable Masoretic annotations, predating vocalization, and read them as marking the antiquity and liturgical distinctness of the couplet rather than any doubt about the consonantal text itself; the same 'Arise, O YHWH' formula reappears independently at Ps 68:2. Elsewhere the chapter is notable chiefly for a lexical crux at v. 32: לָךְ, addressed to Hobab, carries the 2fs ending (ordinarily 'to you,' feminine) rather than the expected masculine לְךָ -- most grammarians take it as an archaic or dialectal 2ms form rather than a genuine gender shift. The chapter closes the priestly legislative block begun in Exodus and opens the wilderness narrative proper; Numbers 11 immediately follows with Israel's complaining, a jarring contrast to this chapter's ordered, obedient departure. Versification follows the MT.

1

וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר

And YHWH spoke to Moses, saying:

Oracle-opening formulaasyndeton
The recurring formula 'YHWH spoke to Moses, saying' opens a new divine speech-unit, introducing the law of the two trumpets that closes the legislative material given at Sinai before the narrative of departure resumes in v. 11.
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
וַיְדַבֵּ֥רspokePiel wayyiqtol 3ms · דִּבֶּר (H1696)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main clause)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceדִּבֶּר (H1696) Piel 'to speak'; the recurring formula introducing divine speech to Moses throughout the priestly narrative.
יְהוָ֖הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subjectיְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name of Israel's God, from הָיָה 'to be'; traditionally read אֲדֹנָי in place of pronunciation.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase marking the addresseeאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; marks the recipient of divine speech.
מֹשֶׁ֥הMosesproper noun · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Object of the preposition אֶלמֹשֶׁה (H4872), the leader and mediator of the exodus generation; traditionally connected to מָשָׁה 'to draw out' (Exod 2:10).
לֵּאמֹֽרsayingprep לְ + Qal inf constr · אָמַר (H559)Infinitive construct introducing direct discourse→ Infinitive: marks the onset of reported speechאָמַר (H559) Qal infinitive construct with לְ; the standard formula opening a divine oracle.
2

עֲשֵׂ֣ה לְךָ֗ שְׁתֵּי֙ חֲצֽוֹצְרֹ֣ת כֶּ֔סֶף מִקְשָׁ֖ה תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה אֹתָ֑ם וְהָי֤וּ לְךָ֙ לְמִקְרָ֣א הָֽעֵדָ֔ה וּלְמַסַּ֖ע אֶת הַֽמַּחֲנֽוֹת

Make yourself two trumpets of silver; of hammered work you shall make them, and they shall be yours for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp.

Command opening the speech contentasyndeton
The imperative 'make' launches the divine instruction; the trumpets' two functions -- assembly and departure -- are named at the outset and unpacked in the casuistic rules of vv. 3-8.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
עֲשֵׂ֣הmakeQal impv 2ms · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb (imperative, main clause)→ Volitional: direct commandעָשָׂה (H6213) 'to make, do'; the standard verb of manufacture, here opening the trumpet law.
לְךָ֗for yourselfprep לְ + 2ms suffix · לְDative of advantage (reflexive benefit)לְ preposition + 2ms suffix; benefactive dative -- the trumpets are made 'for yourself,' for Moses' own use in directing Israel.
שְׁתֵּי֙two ofcardinal num f dual constr · שְׁתַּיִם (H8147)Numeral modifying חֲצוֹצְרֹת (construct chain)שְׁתַּיִם (H8147) 'two', feminine dual form; here in construct governing חֲצוֹצְרֹת.
חֲצֽוֹצְרֹ֣תtrumpets ofN f pl constr · חֲצוֹצְרָה (H2689)Direct object (head of construct chain)חֲצוֹצְרָה (H2689) 'trumpet', a straight metal instrument (distinct from the ram's-horn שׁוֹפָר); only priests may blow it (v. 8).
כֶּ֔סֶףsilverN m sg abs · כֶּסֶף (H3701)Genitive of materialכֶּסֶף (H3701) 'silver'; the material of the trumpets, matching silver used elsewhere for sanctuary furnishings.
מִקְשָׁ֖הhammered workN f sg abs · מִקְשָׁה (H4749)Adverbial accusative of manner (fronted for emphasis)מִקְשָׁה (H4749) 'hammered/beaten work', from קָשָׁה; the same term describes the tabernacle's lampstand (Exod 25:31), marking the trumpets as sacral craftsmanship.
תַּעֲשֶׂ֣הyou shall makeQal impf 2ms · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb (main clause, resumptive)→ Yiqtol: imperfective/modal -- instructional futureעָשָׂה (H6213) 'to make'; the imperfect here carries instructional/jussive force typical of legal prescription.
אֹתָ֑ם[obj] themobj marker + 3mp suffix · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (resumptive object)אֵת (H853) with 3mp suffix, resuming חֲצוֹצְרֹת as the object of תַּעֲשֶׂה.
וְהָי֤וּand they shall beconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3cp · הָיָה (H1961)Weqatal continuing the instruction sequence→ Weqatal: consequential continuation of the commandהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, become'; the weqatal here states the trumpets' intended function.
לְךָ֙for youprep לְ + 2ms suffix · לְDative of possession/purposeלְ + 2ms suffix; marks the trumpets as serving Moses' authority to direct the community.
לְמִקְרָ֣אfor summoningprep לְ + N m sg constr · מִקְרָא (H4744)Purpose prepositional phrase (first of two purposes)מִקְרָא (H4744) 'calling, convocation', from קָרָא 'to call'; the trumpets convene the assembly, paralleling its use for sacred 'convocations' (Lev 23).
הָֽעֵדָ֔הthe congregationart + N f sg abs · עֵדָה (H5712)Genitive of the construct chain (object of the summons)עֵדָה (H5712) 'congregation, assembly', from יָעַד 'to appoint/meet'; the technical term for Israel as covenant community, especially its representative leadership.
וּלְמַסַּ֖עand for breaking campconj וְ + prep לְ + N m sg abs · מַסָּע (H4550)Purpose prepositional phrase (second purpose, coordinate)מַסָּע (H4550) 'setting out, journey-stage', from נָסַע 'to pull up tent-pegs, journey'; the second use of the trumpets -- signaling departure rather than assembly.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (marking הַמַּחֲנוֹת as object of the verbal noun מַסַּע)אֵת (H853) marks הַמַּחֲנוֹת as the logical object of the verbal noun מַסַּע -- an unusual construction, a nominal governing a direct object as if it were an infinitive.
הַֽמַּחֲנֽוֹתthe campsart + N c pl abs · מַחֲנֶה (H4264)Direct object of מַסַּע (functioning as verbal noun)מַחֲנֶה (H4264) 'camp'; here plural, the tribal encampments organized around the tabernacle (chs. 1-2).
3

וְתָקְע֖וּ בָּהֵ֑ן וְנֽוֹעֲד֤וּ אֵלֶ֨יךָ֙ כָּל הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה אֶל פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד

And they shall blow them, and the whole congregation shall gather to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting.

Casuistic apodosis: result of blowing both trumpetsasyndeton
A simple asyndetic sequence states the effect of a full blast on both trumpets: total assembly at the tent of meeting, establishing the baseline signal before the alarm-call is distinguished in v. 4.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
וְתָקְע֖וּand they shall blowconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3cp · תָּקַע (H8628)Predicate verb, protasis of the casuistic law ('when they blow')→ Weqatal: instructional continuation — states the triggering condition for the following resultתָּקַע (H8628) 'to blow, blast (a trumpet)'; the weqatal here continues the instruction of v. 2 with a conditional/temporal nuance, 'when they blow'.
בָּהֵ֑ןwith themprep בְּ + 3fp suffix · בְּPrepositional phrase, instrumental complement of תָקְעוּInstrumental בְּ + 3fp suffix, referring back to הַחֲצֹצְרֹת (the two trumpets, v. 2), feminine plural antecedent.
וְנֽוֹעֲד֤וּand shall gatherconj וְ + Niphal weqatal 3cp · יָעַד (H3259)Predicate verb (apodosis: main-clause result)→ Weqatal: consequent result — the assembly that follows once the double blast soundsיָעַד (H3259) Niphal 'to assemble, gather by appointment', reflexive-reciprocal 'gather themselves'; cognate with מוֹעֵד below, the technical term for convening at the tent of meeting.
אֵלֶ֨יךָ֙to youprep אֶל + 2ms suffix · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, indirect complement (goal: 'to you', Moses)אֶל (H413) 'to, toward' + 2ms suffix, addressed to Moses as the one to whom the congregation gathers.
כָּלall of/the wholeN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct governing הָעֵדָה (quantifier)כֹּל (H3605) 'all, whole, every'; construct כָּל governs the following definite noun, yielding 'the whole congregation'.
הָ֣עֵדָ֔הthe congregationart + N f sg abs · עֵדָה (H5712)Genitive of the construct chain, subject of וְנוֹעֲדוּעֵדָה (H5712) 'congregation, assembly', from the same root as יָעַד/מוֹעֵד — Israel as the covenant assembly convened before YHWH.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Locative prepositional phrase (goal of the gathering)אֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; introduces the locative goal, the entrance of the tent of meeting.
פֶּ֖תַחthe entrance ofN m sg constr · פֶּתַח (H6607)Object of the preposition אֶל (head of construct chain)פֶּתַח (H6607) 'opening, entrance, doorway', from פָּתַח 'to open'; the customary assembly point before the sanctuary tent.
אֹ֥הֶלthe tent ofN m sg constr · אֹהֶל (H168)Genitive of construct chain (defining פֶּתַח)אֹהֶל (H168) 'tent'; construct chain אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד 'tent of meeting', the wilderness sanctuary tent.
מוֹעֵֽדmeetingN m sg abs · מוֹעֵד (H4150)Genitive completing the construct chain ('tent of meeting')מוֹעֵד (H4150) 'appointed time/place, meeting', from the root of יָעַד (cf. וְנוֹעֲדוּ above); the sanctuary named for the appointed encounter between YHWH and Israel.
4

וְאִם בְּאַחַ֖ת יִתְקָ֑עוּ וְנוֹעֲד֤וּ אֵלֶ֨יךָ֙ הַנְּשִׂיאִ֔ים רָאשֵׁ֖י אַלְפֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

But if they blow one of them, then the chieftains, the heads of Israel's thousands, shall gather to you.

Casuistic protasis-apodosis, contrastive alternativeוְאִם
'And if' introduces a conditional variant: a single trumpet summons only the tribal leadership, not the whole assembly -- the two-trumpet system encodes rank through the number of instruments sounded.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
וְאִםbut ifconj וְ + conj · אִם (H518)Coordinating conjunction introducing the conditional protasisאִם (H518), conditional particle 'if'; וְאִם marks a contrastive alternative case within the casuistic series (cf. v. 3).
בְּאַחַ֖תwith one (trumpet)prep בְּ + num card f sg · אֶחָד (H259)Prepositional phrase, instrumental (fronted for emphasis: 'with only one')אֶחָד (H259) 'one'; feminine אַחַת agreeing with the implied feminine חֲצוֹצְרָה 'trumpet' — a single trumpet rather than both.
יִתְקָ֑עוּthey blowQal impf 3mp · תָּקַע (H8628)Predicate verb of the conditional protasis→ Yiqtol: modal/conditional — the hypothetical alternative case within the casuistic lawתָּקַע (H8628) 'to blow, blast (a trumpet)'; yiqtol expresses the hypothetical case, contrasting with the weqatal of v. 3.
וְנוֹעֲד֤וּand shall gatherconj וְ + Niphal weqatal 3cp · יָעַד (H3259)Predicate verb (apodosis: main-clause result)→ Weqatal: consequent result — the assembly that follows once one trumpet soundsיָעַד (H3259) Niphal 'to assemble, convene'; the same verb as v. 3 but with a restricted subject — only the leaders, not the whole congregation.
אֵלֶ֨יךָ֙to youprep אֶל + 2ms suffix · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, indirect complement (goal: 'to you', Moses)אֶל (H413) 'to, toward' + 2ms suffix, addressed to Moses.
הַנְּשִׂיאִ֔יםthe chieftainsart + N m pl abs · נָשִׂיא (H5387)Subject of וְנוֹעֲדוּנָשִׂיא (H5387) 'chieftain, leader, prince', from נָשָׂא 'to lift up'; the tribal heads of Num 1-2, summoned alone by a single trumpet.
רָאשֵׁ֖יthe heads ofN m pl constr · רֹאשׁ (H7218)Apposition to הַנְּשִׂיאִים (head of construct chain, epexegetical)רֹאשׁ (H7218) 'head'; in apposition defining the chieftains as tribal 'heads' — the two terms together identify one office.
אַלְפֵ֥יthe thousands ofnum card m/f pl constr · אֶלֶף (H505)Genitive of construct chain (completing רָאשֵׁי)אֶלֶף (H505) 'thousand', also a military/clan unit; רָאשֵׁי אַלְפֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל 'heads of Israel's thousands' = the clan/military commanders.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽלIsraelproper noun · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive completing the construct chainיִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478), Jacob's covenant-name, here the nation whose military divisions are headed by these leaders.
5

וּתְקַעְתֶּ֖ם תְּרוּעָ֑ה וְנָֽסְעוּ֙ הַֽמַּחֲנ֔וֹת הַחֹנִ֖ים קֵֽדְמָה

When you blow an alarm-blast, the camps that are pitched on the east side shall set out.

New casuistic case: the alarm-signal for breaking campוְ
A staccato alarm-blast, distinct from the plain blast of vv. 3-4, now signals departure rather than assembly; the eastern camp (Judah's division) moves first, matching the marching order of ch. 2.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
וּתְקַעְתֶּ֖םand you shall blowconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2mp · תָּקַע (H8628)Predicate verb, protasis (temporal/conditional: 'when you blow')→ Weqatal: instructional continuation with a conditional/temporal nuance — 'when you sound'תָּקַע (H8628) 'to blow (a trumpet)'; 2mp addressing the priests (cf. v. 8) as agents of the signal.
תְּרוּעָ֑הan alarm-blastN f sg abs · תְּרוּעָה (H8643)Direct object of תְּקַעְתֶּם, specifying the signal-typeתְּרוּעָה (H8643) 'shout, alarm-blast, war-cry', from רוּעַ 'to shout/sound an alarm'; a staccato blast distinct from the plain תְּקִיעָה, used to signal breaking camp (cf. v. 7).
וְנָֽסְעוּ֙shall set outconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3cp · נָסַע (H5265)Predicate verb (apodosis: main-clause result)→ Weqatal: modal/future result — the camps' consequent departureנָסַע (H5265) 'to pull up (tent-pegs), journey, set out'; the standard verb for breaking camp and marching in the wilderness itineraries.
הַֽמַּחֲנ֔וֹתthe campsart + N c pl abs · מַחֲנֶה (H4264)Subject of וְנָסְעוּמַחֲנֶה (H4264) 'camp, encampment'; here the four tribal divisions arranged around the tabernacle per ch. 2.
הַחֹנִ֖יםthat are encampedart + Qal ptc m pl abs · חָנָה (H2583)Attributive participle modifying הַמַּחֲנוֹת ('the camps that are pitched')→ Participle: durative — the ongoing state of being encamped, identifying which camp is meantחָנָה (H2583) 'to encamp, pitch camp'; the participle with article functions attributively, 'the ones encamping/pitched'.
קֵֽדְמָהon the east sideN m sg abs + directional ה · קֶדֶם (H6924)Adverbial accusative of direction/location ('eastward')קֶדֶם (H6924) 'east, front, formerly'; with the directional ה-suffix, 'eastward' — the camp of Judah's division (cf. Num 2:3).
6

וּתְקַעְתֶּ֤ם תְּרוּעָה֙ שֵׁנִ֔ית וְנָֽסְעוּ֙ הַֽמַּחֲנ֔וֹת הַחֹנִ֖ים תֵּימָ֑נָה תְּרוּעָ֥ה יִתְקְע֖וּ לְמַסְעֵיהֶֽם

And when you blow an alarm a second time, the camps that are pitched on the south side shall set out; an alarm-blast they shall blow for their setting-out.

Continuation: second alarm for the second campוְ
Each of the four camp divisions is dispatched by a successive alarm-blast; only two (east, south) are given as explicit case-law here, the pattern implicitly extending to the remaining camps, as the narrative of vv. 14-28 later confirms.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
וּתְקַעְתֶּ֤םand you shall blowconj וְ + Qal weqatal 2mp · תָּקַע (H8628)Predicate verb, protasis (temporal/conditional, second case)→ Weqatal: instructional continuation with a conditional/temporal nuanceתָּקַע (H8628) 'to blow (a trumpet)'; repeats v. 5's pattern for the second (southern) camp-division.
תְּרוּעָה֙an alarm-blastN f sg abs · תְּרוּעָה (H8643)Direct object of תְּקַעְתֶּםתְּרוּעָה (H8643) 'shout, alarm-blast'; see v. 5.
שֵׁנִ֔יתa second timeadj f sg abs · שֵׁנִי (H8145)Adverbial accusative modifying תְּקַעְתֶּם ('a second [time]')שֵׁנִי (H8145) 'second', ordinal from שָׁנָה 'to repeat'; feminine form used adverbially, 'a second time'.
וְנָֽסְעוּ֙shall set outconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3cp · נָסַע (H5265)Predicate verb (apodosis: main-clause result)→ Weqatal: modal/future result — the camps' consequent departureנָסַע (H5265) 'to set out, journey'; see v. 5.
הַֽמַּחֲנ֔וֹתthe campsart + N c pl abs · מַחֲנֶה (H4264)Subject of וְנָסְעוּמַחֲנֶה (H4264) 'camp'; see v. 5.
הַחֹנִ֖יםthat are encampedart + Qal ptc m pl abs · חָנָה (H2583)Attributive participle modifying הַמַּחֲנוֹת→ Participle: durative — the ongoing state of being encampedחָנָה (H2583) 'to encamp'; see v. 5.
תֵּימָ֑נָהon the south sideN f sg abs + directional ה · תֵּימָן (H8486)Adverbial accusative of direction/location ('southward')תֵּימָן (H8486) 'south, right hand (side)'; with directional ה, 'southward' — the camp of Reuben's division (cf. Num 2:10).
תְּרוּעָ֥הan alarm-blastN f sg abs · תְּרוּעָה (H8643)Direct object of יִתְקְעוּ (fronted for emphasis)תְּרוּעָה (H8643) 'alarm-blast'; fronted here to state the general rule: this is the signal-type for all departures, not merely the two illustrated cases.
יִתְקְע֖וּthey shall blowQal impf 3mp · תָּקַע (H8628)Predicate verb (general rule, gnomic/modal yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: gnomic/modal — states the standing rule for all future departuresתָּקַע (H8628) 'to blow (a trumpet)'; yiqtol here generalizes beyond the specific east/south cases just given.
לְמַסְעֵיהֶֽםfor their journeysprep לְ + N m pl constr + 3mp suffix · מַסָּע (H4550)Prepositional phrase, purpose/reference ('for their setting-out')מַסָּע (H4550) 'journey, setting-out, breaking of camp', from נָסַע (cf. וְנָסְעוּ); plural 'their journeys' generalizes the rule to every departure throughout the wilderness march.
7

וּבְהַקְהִ֖יל אֶת הַקָּהָ֑ל תִּתְקְע֖וּ וְלֹ֥א תָרִֽיעוּ

But when the assembly is to be gathered, you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm.

Contrastive clarification distinguishing the two blast-typesוּ
The chapter pauses to state the rule explicitly and negatively: convening uses the plain blast only, never the alarm-blast reserved for departure -- guarding against confusion between the two signals.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
וּבְהַקְהִ֖ילand when assemblingconj וְ + prep בְּ + Hiphil inf constr · קָהַל (H6950)Temporal infinitive clause (protasis: 'when gathering the assembly')→ Infinitive: temporal — marks the circumstance triggering the plain-blast ruleקָהַל (H6950) Hiphil 'to assemble, convene (transitive)', from the root of קָהָל 'assembly'; the Hiphil infinitive construct with בְּ forms a temporal clause, 'when [one is] convening'.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object of הַקְהִיל)אֵת (H853), nota accusativi marking הַקָּהָל as the definite direct object of the infinitive; untranslated.
הַקָּהָ֑לthe assemblyart + N m sg abs · קָהָל (H6951)Direct object of הַקְהִילקָהָל (H6951) 'assembly, congregation', from קהל 'to assemble'; here the whole community, object of the Hiphil infinitive.
תִּתְקְע֖וּyou shall blowQal impf 2mp · תָּקַע (H8628)Predicate verb (apodosis: prescribed action)→ Yiqtol: prescriptive/modal — the required signal for conveningתָּקַע (H8628) 'to blow (a plain blast)'; here contrasted deliberately with תָרִיעוּ, establishing the plain תְּקִיעָה as the assembly-signal.
וְלֹ֥אbut notconj וְ + neg particle · לֹא (H3808)Coordinating conjunction + negation, negating the second verbלֹא (H3808), standard negative particle; here negates תָרִיעוּ, forbidding the alarm-blast for convening.
תָרִֽיעוּyou shall sound an alarmHiphil impf 2mp · רוּעַ (H7321)Predicate verb (negated apodosis: prohibited action)→ Yiqtol: prohibitive/modal — the forbidden alarm-signal for conveningרוּעַ (H7321) Hiphil 'to sound an alarm, shout'; cognate with תְּרוּעָה (vv. 5-6); Hiphil causative 'to give a blast'.
8

וּבְנֵ֤י אַהֲרֹן֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים יִתְקְע֖וּ בַּֽחֲצֹצְר֑וֹת וְהָי֥וּ לָכֶ֛ם לְחֻקַּ֥ת עוֹלָ֖ם לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶֽם

And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and it shall be for you a perpetual statute throughout your generations.

Personnel rule closing the assembly/departure lawוּ
Only priests may sound the trumpets, restricting the instrument -- like the altar and the ark -- to consecrated hands; the 'perpetual statute' formula seals the law as permanently binding, matching similar closing formulas elsewhere in the priestly corpus.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
וּבְנֵ֤יand the sons ofconj וְ + N m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Subject (head of construct chain, coordinated)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; construct בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן 'sons of Aaron' designates the priestly line.
אַהֲרֹן֙Aaronproper noun · אַהֲרֹן (H175)Genitive completing the construct chainאַהֲרֹן (H175), Moses' brother, ancestor of the priestly line; here the eponym of the priesthood authorized to sound the trumpets.
הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔יםthe priestsart + N m pl abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Apposition to בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹןכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; in apposition, specifying that 'Aaron's sons' means specifically the ordained priests, restricting trumpet-blowing to consecrated hands.
יִתְקְע֖וּshall blowQal impf 3mp · תָּקַע (H8628)Predicate verb (main clause, prescriptive)→ Yiqtol: prescriptive/modal — the standing rule restricting who may blowתָּקַע (H8628) 'to blow (a trumpet)'; yiqtol states the perpetual rule of priestly exclusivity.
בַּֽחֲצֹצְר֑וֹתthe trumpetsprep בְּ + N f pl abs · חֲצֹצְרָה (H2689)Prepositional phrase, direct-object-equivalent complement of יִתְקְעוּחֲצֹצְרָה (H2689) 'trumpet' (onomatopoeic), the metal trumpets of v. 2, distinct from the ram's-horn שׁוֹפָר; used with תָּקַע + בְּ, 'to blow on/with' rather than a direct object.
וְהָי֥וּand it shall beconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3cp · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb introducing a new declarative clause (closing formula sealing the trumpet-law)→ Weqatal: modal/future — declarative closure, sealing the rule as a perpetual statuteהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, become'; plural weqatal (agreeing with an implicit plural referent, 'these [rules]') closes the unit with the standard formula introducing a perpetual statute (cf. Lev 7:36's חָק־עוֹלָם).
לָכֶ֛םfor youprep לְ + 2mp suffix · לְPrepositional phrase, dative of possession/reference ('for you')לְ preposition + 2mp suffix, dative of interest — marking Israel as beneficiary/possessor of the statute.
לְחֻקַּ֥תfor a statute ofprep לְ + N c sg constr · חֻקָּה (H2708)Predicate complement (prepositional phrase of essence/result, 'as a statute')חֻקָּה (H2708) 'statute, prescribed rule', from חָקַק 'to inscribe, decree'; the construct חֻקַּת עוֹלָם 'perpetual statute' is the standard closing formula for permanently binding priestly law (cf. Lev 7:36).
עוֹלָ֖םperpetualN m sg abs · עוֹלָם (H5769)Genitive completing the construct chain ('a statute of perpetuity')עוֹלָם (H5769) 'long duration, perpetuity, forever'; here qualifying חֻקָּה as permanently binding, not a temporary ordinance.
לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶֽםthroughout your generationsprep לְ + N m pl constr + 2mp suffix · דּוֹר (H1755)Prepositional phrase, distributive/temporal ('for your generations')דּוֹר (H1755) 'generation, age'; plural with לְ expresses distributive duration, 'generation after generation' — reinforcing עוֹלָם's permanence.
9

וְכִֽי תָבֹ֨אוּ מִלְחָמָ֜ה בְּאַרְצְכֶ֗ם עַל הַצַּר֙ הַצֹּרֵ֣ר אֶתְכֶ֔ם וַהֲרֵעֹתֶ֖ם בַּחֲצֹצְר֑וֹת וֲנִזְכַּרְתֶּ֗ם לִפְנֵי֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם וְנוֹשַׁעְתֶּ֖ם מֵאֹיְבֵיכֶֽם

And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who attacks you, you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you shall be remembered before YHWH your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies.

New case: trumpets in wartimeוְכִי
A third use of the trumpets is added beyond assembly and march: a war-alarm that functions theologically as a plea for remembrance before YHWH, linking cultic sound to divine intervention in battle.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
וְכִֽיand whenconj וְ + conj כִּי · כִּי (H3588)Conditional/temporal conjunction introducing the protasisכִּי (H3588) 'when, if, that'; with prefixed וְ it opens a new casuistic scenario, 'and when you go to war.'
תָבֹ֨אוּyou goQal impf 2mp · בּוֹא (H935)Verb of the protasis (conditional clause)→ Yiqtol: imperfective/modal — hypothetical future scenarioבּוֹא (H935) 'to come, go, enter'; idiomatic 'come to war' = go out to battle.
מִלְחָמָ֜הto warN f sg abs · מִלְחָמָה (H4421)Adverbial accusative (goal of motion)מִלְחָמָה (H4421) 'war, battle', from לחם 'to fight'; accusative of goal after תָבֹאוּ.
בְּאַרְצְכֶ֗םin your landprep בְּ + N c sg constr + 2mp suffix · אֶרֶץ (H776)Locative prepositional phraseאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land, earth'; Israel's own territory — specifying defensive war fought within the land.
עַלagainstprep עַל · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase marking the adversaryעַל (H5921) 'upon, against'; marks hostile orientation toward the enemy.
הַצַּר֙the adversaryart + N m sg abs · צַר (H6862)Object of preposition עַל (head of appositional epithet)צַר (H6862) 'adversary, foe', from צרר 'to bind, distress'; paired here with the cognate participle הַצֹּרֵר for emphasis (figura etymologica).
הַצֹּרֵ֣רwho attacks youart + Qal ptc m sg · צָרַר (H6887)Attributive participle in apposition to הַצַּר (substantival)→ Participle: durative/characterizing action — the one currently oppressing youצָרַר (H6887) 'to bind, be hostile to, attack'; echoes the noun צַר in a cognate pairing, intensifying the threat.
אֶתְכֶ֔ם[obj] youobj marker + 2mp suffix · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (object of הַצֹּרֵר)אֵת (H853), nota accusativi + 2mp suffix, marking 'you' as the object of the participle's action.
וַהֲרֵעֹתֶ֖םyou shall sound an alarmconj וְ + Hiphil perf (weqatal) 2mp · רוּעַ (H7321)Predicate verb, apodosis (main clause, sequential command)→ Weqatal: continuing the modal/future sequence into the apodosisרוּעַ (H7321) Hiphil 'to shout, sound an alarm'; the sharp signal-blast for war, distinct from the long תָּקַע blast of festal use (v. 10).
בַּחֲצֹצְר֑וֹתwith the trumpetsprep בְּ + N f pl abs · חֲצֹצְרָה (H2689)Instrumental prepositional phraseחֲצֹצְרָה (H2689) 'trumpet', the long straight silver trumpet of vv. 1-2, contrasted with the שׁוֹפָר ram's-horn.
וֲנִזְכַּרְתֶּ֗םyou shall be rememberedconj וְ + Niphal perf (weqatal) 2mp · זָכַר (H2142)Predicate verb, result clause (passive)→ Weqatal: continuing sequential result — consequence of the trumpet-blastזָכַר (H2142) Niphal 'to be remembered'; YHWH as implicit agent, echoing covenant-remembrance language (cf. Gen 8:1; Exod 2:24).
לִפְנֵי֙beforeprep לְ + N c pl constr · פָּנִים (H6440)Locative prepositional phraseפָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; לִפְנֵי idiomatic 'before, in the presence of' — the locus of divine remembrance.
יְהוָ֣הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive, object of לִפְנֵייְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name of Israel's God; here the one who remembers and delivers.
אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔םyour GodN m pl constr + 2mp suffix · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) + 2mp suffix, 'your God'; in apposition to the divine name, stressing the covenant relationship.
וְנוֹשַׁעְתֶּ֖םyou shall be savedconj וְ + Niphal perf (weqatal) 2mp · יָשַׁע (H3467)Predicate verb, result clause (passive, final consequence)→ Weqatal: continuing sequential result — culminating deliveranceיָשַׁע (H3467) Niphal 'to be saved, delivered'; root of יְשׁוּעָה 'salvation' — military deliverance granted in answer to the trumpet's cry.
מֵאֹיְבֵיכֶֽםfrom your enemiesprep מִן + Qal ptc m pl constr + 2mp suffix · אֹיֵב (H341)Prepositional phrase, source/separation (object of וְנוֹשַׁעְתֶּם)→ Participle: durative/characterizing action — substantival 'those who hate/oppose you'אֹיֵב (H341) Qal participle of איב 'to be hostile', substantivized 'enemy'; the recurring designation of Israel's foes in the wilderness narratives.
10

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

Also on the day of your gladness, and at your appointed feasts, and at your new moons, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over your peace-offering sacrifices, and they shall be a remembrance for you before your God: I am YHWH your God.

Final case: liturgical use, closing with the self-identification formulaוּ
The trumpets' third and final function is festal/sacrificial, again framed as a 'remembrance' before God; the closing 'I am YHWH your God' formula seals the whole trumpet-law (vv. 1-10) with divine self-identification, the same rhetorical device that closes many priestly statutes in Leviticus.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
וּבְי֨וֹםand on the day ofconj וְ + prep בְּ + N m sg constr · יוֹם (H3117)Temporal prepositional phrase (fronted)יוֹם (H3117) 'day'; construct chain 'day of your gladness' opens the festal use of the trumpets.
שִׂמְחַתְכֶ֥םyour gladnessN f sg constr + 2mp suffix · שִׂמְחָה (H8057)Genitive of construct chain (defining יוֹם)שִׂמְחָה (H8057) 'joy, gladness', from שׂמח; festal celebration marking a day of rejoicing (cf. Deut 16).
וּֽבְמוֹעֲדֵיכֶם֮and at your appointed feastsconj וְ + prep בְּ + N m pl constr + 2mp suffix · מוֹעֵד (H4150)Temporal prepositional phrase (coordinate)מוֹעֵד (H4150) 'appointed time, festival', from יעד 'to appoint'; the fixed cultic calendar of Lev 23.
וּבְרָאשֵׁ֣יand at the beginnings ofconj וְ + prep בְּ + N m pl constr · רֹאשׁ (H7218)Temporal prepositional phrase (coordinate); head of construct chainרֹאשׁ (H7218) 'head, top, beginning'; רָאשֵׁי חֳדָשִׁים idiomatic 'new moons', the monthly festival at each month's start.
חָדְשֵׁיכֶם֒your monthsN m pl constr + 2mp suffix · חֹדֶשׁ (H2320)Genitive completing the construct chain רָאשֵׁיחֹדֶשׁ (H2320) 'month, new moon', from חדשׁ 'to be new'; the recurring monthly cultic occasion.
וּתְקַעְתֶּ֣םyou shall blowconj וְ + Qal perf (weqatal) 2mp · תָּקַע (H8628)Predicate verb, main clause (apodosis)→ Weqatal: continuing sequential command — apodosis instructionתָּקַע (H8628) 'to blow (a trumpet), thrust, drive in'; the standard blowing verb, contrasted with הֵרִיעַ, the sharper wartime alarm-blast of v. 9.
בַּחֲצֹֽצְרֹ֗תwith the trumpetsprep בְּ + N f pl abs · חֲצֹצְרָה (H2689)Instrumental prepositional phraseחֲצֹצְרָה (H2689) 'trumpet'; see v. 9 — the same silver trumpets now used liturgically rather than for war.
עַ֚לoverprep עַל · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase marking the offeringsעַל (H5921) 'upon, over'; the trumpets sound 'over' the sacrifices as they are offered, accompanying rather than replacing the rite.
עֹלֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔םyour burnt offeringsN f pl constr + 2mp suffix · עֹלָה (H5930)Object of preposition עַלעֹלָה (H5930) 'burnt offering', from עלה 'to go up' (in smoke); the offering wholly consumed on the altar.
וְעַ֖לand overconj וְ + prep עַל · עַל (H5921)Coordinating prepositional phraseעַל (H5921) repeated with וְ, coordinating the second sacrificial category.
זִבְחֵ֣יsacrifices ofN m pl constr · זֶבַח (H2077)Head of construct chain, object of וְעַלזֶבַח (H2077) 'sacrifice, slaughtered offering', from זבח 'to slaughter'; head of the construct with שַׁלְמֵיכֶם.
שַׁלְמֵיכֶ֑םyour peace-offeringsN m pl constr + 2mp suffix · שֶׁלֶם (H8002)Genitive of construct chain (defining זִבְחֵי)שֶׁלֶם (H8002) 'peace/fellowship offering', from שׁלם 'to be whole, at peace'; a communal sacrifice shared between altar, priest, and offerer (cf. Lev 7).
וְהָי֨וּand they shall be/becomeconj וְ + Qal perf (weqatal) 3cp · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb, result clause (stated purpose)→ Weqatal: continuing sequential clause — stated purpose/resultהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, become'; introduces the purpose of the trumpet-blasts, 'they shall become/serve as a remembrance.'
לָכֶ֤םfor youprep לְ + 2mp suffix · לְDative of advantageלְ + 2mp suffix, 'for/to you'; marks the beneficiaries of the remembrance.
לְזִכָּרוֹן֙as a remembranceprep לְ + N m sg abs · זִכָּרוֹן (H2146)Predicate complement (object complement of וְהָיוּ)זִכָּרוֹן (H2146) 'memorial, remembrance', from זכר 'to remember'; the trumpets function as a perpetual reminder before God, echoing v. 9's נִזְכַּרְתֶּם.
לִפְנֵ֣יbeforeprep לְ + N c pl constr · פָּנִים (H6440)Locative prepositional phraseפָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; לִפְנֵי 'before, in the presence of' your God — the locus of the remembrance.
אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔םyour GodN m pl constr + 2mp suffix · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Genitive, object of לִפְנֵיאֱלֹהִים (H430) + 2mp suffix, 'your God'.
אֲנִ֖יIindependent pron 1cs · אֲנִי (H589)Subject of the verbless self-identification clauseאֲנִי (H589), independent 1cs pronoun 'I'; opens the self-identification formula sealing the trumpet law.
יְהוָ֥הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Predicate nominative (proper name)יְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name; part of the self-identification formula (cf. Lev 18-26 holiness code).
אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽםyour GodN m pl constr + 2mp suffix · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Predicate nominative (apposition to יְהוָה)אֱלֹהִים (H430) + 2mp suffix, 'your God'; closes the formula 'I am YHWH your God', grounding the trumpet law in covenant identity.
11

וַיְהִ֞י בַּשָּׁנָ֧ה הַשֵּׁנִ֛ית בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִ֖י בְּעֶשְׂרִ֣ים בַּחֹ֑דֶשׁ נַעֲלָה֙ הֶֽעָנָ֔ן מֵעַ֖ל מִשְׁכַּ֥ן הָעֵדֻֽת

And it came to pass in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth of the month, that the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle of the testimony.

Narrative resumption: date formula opening the departure accountוַיְהִי
'And it came to pass' plus a precise date (2/20 of year 2) marks a decisive narrative transition from law (vv. 1-10) to story: the cloud's lifting is the divine signal that triggers the march described through v. 28, forty days after the tabernacle's erection (Exod 40:17).
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
וַיְהִ֞יand it came to passconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Narrative-initial predicate verb (temporal formula)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, happen'; וַיְהִי is the standard narrative formula opening a new episode with a temporal note.
בַּשָּׁנָ֧הin the yearprep בְּ + art + N f sg abs · שָׁנָה (H8141)Temporal prepositional phraseשָׁנָה (H8141) 'year'; dating formula reckoned from the Exodus (cf. Exod 40:17).
הַשֵּׁנִ֛יתthe secondart + adj f sg abs · שֵׁנִית (H8145)Attributive adjective modifying שָׁנָהשֵׁנִית (H8145) 'second', ordinal from שָׁנָה 'to repeat'; fixes the date as year 2 of the Exodus era, about a year after Sinai (Exod 19:1).
בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁin the monthprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · חֹדֶשׁ (H2320)Temporal prepositional phraseחֹדֶשׁ (H2320) 'month, new moon'.
הַשֵּׁנִ֖יthe secondart + adj m sg abs · שֵׁנִי (H8145)Attributive adjective modifying חֹדֶשׁשֵׁנִי (H8145) 'second'; the second month, roughly Iyyar.
בְּעֶשְׂרִ֣יםon the twentiethprep בְּ + cardinal number · עֶשְׂרִים (H6242)Temporal prepositional phrase (day of the month)עֶשְׂרִים (H6242) 'twenty'; dates the cloud's lifting to the twentieth day, twenty days after the census that opens the chapter's era (1:1).
בַּחֹ֑דֶשׁof the monthprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · חֹדֶשׁ (H2320)Temporal prepositional phrase (completing the date)חֹדֶשׁ (H2320) 'month'; repeated for precision, completing 'the twentieth day of the second month.'
נַעֲלָה֙liftedNiphal perf 3ms · עָלָה (H5927)Predicate verb of the cloud-clause (content of וַיְהִי)→ Perfective: completed act narrated within the temporal frameעָלָה (H5927) Niphal 'to be lifted up, go up'; the cloud's ascent is the signal ending the encampment at Sinai and authorizing departure.
הֶֽעָנָ֔ןthe cloudart + N m sg abs · עָנָן (H6051)Subject of נַעֲלָהעָנָן (H6051) 'cloud'; the theophanic cloud resting on the tabernacle since Exod 40:34-38, marking the divine presence and guiding Israel's marches.
מֵעַ֖לfrom overprep מִן + prep עַל · מֵעַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase, source/separationמֵעַל, compound of מִן + עַל, 'from upon/over'; marks the cloud's departure from its resting place above the tabernacle.
מִשְׁכַּ֥ןthe tabernacle ofN m sg constr · מִשְׁכָּן (H4908)Object of preposition מֵעַל (head of construct chain)מִשְׁכָּן (H4908) 'dwelling place, tabernacle', from שׁכן 'to dwell'; the portable sanctuary structure.
הָעֵדֻֽתthe testimonyart + N f sg abs · עֵדוּת (H5715)Genitive of construct chain (defining מִשְׁכַּן)עֵדוּת (H5715) 'testimony, witness', from עוד 'to testify'; the tablets of the covenant housed in the ark, giving the tabernacle its full title 'tabernacle of the testimony' (cf. Exod 38:21).
12

וַיִּסְע֧וּ בְנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל לְמַסְעֵיהֶ֖ם מִמִּדְבַּ֣ר סִינָ֑י וַיִּשְׁכֹּ֥ן הֶעָנָ֖ן בְּמִדְבַּ֥ר פָּארָֽן

And the sons of Israel set out on their journeys from the wilderness of Sinai, and the cloud settled in the wilderness of Paran.

Wayyiqtol narrative main line: departure and the cloud's new resting placeוַ
The two wayyiqtol verbs report both Israel's own action and the cloud's guiding response in the same breath, framing the entire journey (vv. 12-28) as bracketed by departure from Sinai and arrival toward Paran.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
וַיִּסְע֧וּand they set outconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · נָסַע (H5265)Predicate verb, main narrative clause→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceנָסַע (H5265) 'to pull up (tent-pegs), set out, journey'; the technical verb for breaking camp, governing the whole itinerary of Num 33.
בְנֵֽיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Subject (head of construct chain)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; construct with יִשְׂרָאֵל, 'the sons/children of Israel', the standard designation of the covenant people.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֛לIsraelproper noun · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive of construct chain (defining בְּנֵי)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478), the patriarch Jacob's covenant name and, by extension, the nation descended from him.
לְמַסְעֵיהֶ֖םon their journeysprep לְ + N m pl constr + 3mp suffix · מַסָּע (H4550)Adverbial prepositional phrase (manner/distribution)מַסָּע (H4550) 'journey, stage of travel', from נסע; plural 'their journeys/stages' anticipates the stage-by-stage itinerary later detailed in Num 33.
מִמִּדְבַּ֣רfrom the wilderness ofprep מִן + N m sg constr · מִדְבָּר (H4057)Locative prepositional phrase (source), head of construct chainמִדְבָּר (H4057) 'wilderness, uninhabited land'; construct with סִינַי, marking the point of departure.
סִינָ֑יSinaiproper noun · סִינַי (H5514)Genitive of construct chain (defining מִמִּדְבַּר)סִינַי (H5514), the mountain/region of the theophany and lawgiving (Exod 19ff); Israel has camped here since Exod 19:1, roughly a year.
וַיִּשְׁכֹּ֥ןand it settledconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · שָׁכַן (H7931)Predicate verb, second main narrative clause→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance (parallel action of the cloud)שָׁכַן (H7931) 'to dwell, settle, rest'; cognate with מִשְׁכָּן; the cloud's resting marks the terminus of this stage of the march.
הֶעָנָ֖ןthe cloudart + N m sg abs · עָנָן (H6051)Subject of וַיִּשְׁכֹּןעָנָן (H6051) 'cloud'; see v. 11 — the guiding theophanic cloud.
בְּמִדְבַּ֥רin the wilderness ofprep בְּ + N m sg constr · מִדְבָּר (H4057)Locative prepositional phrase, head of construct chainמִדְבָּר (H4057) 'wilderness'; construct with פָּארָן, the cloud's new resting place.
פָּארָֽןParanproper noun · פָּארָן (H6290)Genitive of construct chain (defining בְּמִדְבַּר)פָּארָן (H6290), a wilderness region south of Canaan, later the base for the spy mission (Num 13:3); marks a major stage from Sinai toward the promised land.
13

וַיִּסְע֖וּ בָּרִאשֹׁנָ֑ה עַל פִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה בְּיַד מֹשֶֽׁה

And they set out for the first time according to the mouth of YHWH by the hand of Moses.

Summary notice authenticating the march as divinely commandedוַ
'According to the mouth of YHWH by the hand of Moses' is a formulaic warrant clause: the march that follows -- the detailed marching order of vv. 14-28 -- is not mere logistics but obedience to a divine word mediated through Moses.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
וַיִּסְע֖וּand they set outconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · נָסַע (H5265)Predicate verb, resumptive summary clause→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance (resumptive)נָסַע (H5265) 'to set out, journey'; repeated from v. 12, here resuming the narrative to attach the formal warrant clause.
בָּרִאשֹׁנָ֑הfor the first timeprep בְּ + art + adj f sg abs · רִאשׁוֹנָה (H7223)Adverbial prepositional phrase (temporal, marking sequence)רִאשׁוֹן/רִאשֹׁנָה (H7223) 'first', from רֹאשׁ 'head'; adverbial 'at the first, for the first time' — this is the very first march since the tabernacle's dedication (cf. Exod 40:17).
עַלaccording toprep עַל · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase of standard/normעַל (H5921) 'upon, according to'; idiomatic עַל־פִּי, 'according to the mouth/command of'.
פִּ֥יthe mouth ofN m sg constr · פֶּה (H6310)Object of preposition עַל, head of construct chain (idiom 'command of')פֶּה (H6310) 'mouth'; עַל־פִּי idiomatic 'according to the command/word of', authenticating the march as divinely mandated.
יְהוָ֖הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive of construct chain (defining פִּי)יְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name; the ultimate source of the command to march.
בְּיַדby the hand ofprep בְּ + N c sg constr · יָד (H3027)Prepositional phrase of agency/mediationיָד (H3027) 'hand'; בְּיַד idiomatic 'by the hand/agency of', marking Moses as the human mediator of YHWH's command.
מֹשֶֽׁהMosesproper noun · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Genitive of construct chain (defining בְּיַד)מֹשֶׁה (H4872), Israel's leader and lawgiver; the human intermediary through whom YHWH's command reached the people.
14

וַיִּסַּ֞ע דֶּ֣גֶל מַחֲנֵ֧ה בְנֵֽי יְהוּדָ֛ה בָּרִאשֹׁנָ֖ה לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְעַל צְבָא֔וֹ נַחְשׁ֖וֹן בֶּן עַמִּינָדָֽב

And the standard of the camp of the sons of Judah set out first, according to their companies; and over his host was Nahshon son of Amminadab.

First item in the marching-order list: Judah's divisionוַ
The list follows the camp order of ch. 2 exactly, moving division by division; each notice names the standard, tribe, and commanding chieftain, reusing the census data of chs. 1-2 to narrate the march itself.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
וַיִּסַּ֞עset outconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · נָסַע (H5265)Predicate verb (main clause, opening the list)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the march beginsנָסַע (H5265) 'to pull up (tent-pegs), set out, journey'; the chapter's programmatic verb, repeated as the refrain heading each division's departure.
דֶּ֣גֶלthe standard ofN m sg constr · דֶּגֶל (H1714)Subject (head of construct chain)דֶּגֶל (H1714) 'standard, banner'; the military-cultic ensign under which each three-tribe division of Num 2 marched.
מַחֲנֵ֧הthe camp ofN c sg constr · מַחֲנֶה (H4264)Construct chain (genitival, modifying דֶּגֶל)מַחֲנֶה (H4264) 'camp, encampment', from חָנָה 'to encamp'; here the eastern camp grouping of Judah, Issachar, Zebulun (Num 2:3-9).
בְנֵֽיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (genitival, modifying מַחֲנֵה)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; plural construct בְּנֵי in the standard tribal designation 'sons of X' = the tribe of X.
יְהוּדָ֛הJudahN proper · יְהוּדָה (H3063)Genitive of the construct chain (tribal name)יְהוּדָה (H3063) 'Judah', from יָדָה 'to praise' (Gen 29:35); the leading tribe, first to march per Num 2:3, 9.
בָּרִאשֹׁנָ֖הfirstprep בְּ + art + Adj f sg abs · רִאשׁוֹן (H7223)Adverbial prepositional phrase (temporal/sequential, 'first')רִאשׁוֹן (H7223) 'first, former', from רֹאשׁ 'head'; here adverbial, 'in the first place' — Judah's priority in the march order.
לְצִבְאֹתָ֑םaccording to their companiesprep לְ + N c pl constr + 3mp suffix · צָבָא (H6635)Adverbial prepositional phrase (manner/distribution)צָבָא (H6635) 'host, army, company'; plural 'their hosts/companies' denotes the organized military units within Judah's division.
וְעַלand overconj וְ + prep · עַל (H5921)Coordinating conjunction + prepositional phrase (introducing the chieftain notice)עַל (H5921) 'upon, over'; here marking authority/command — 'in command of'.
צְבָא֔וֹhis hostN c sg constr + 3ms suffix · צָבָא (H6635)Object of the preposition עַלצָבָא (H6635) 'host, army'; with 3ms suffix, Judah's assembled military company, matching the census total of Num 1:27.
נַחְשׁ֖וֹןNahshonN proper · נַחְשׁוֹן (H5177)Subject (predicate nominative of the verbless clause)personal name, tribal chieftain of Judah in the census of Num 1-2, here leading the tribe's march; later named in the royal line (Ruth 4:20, Matt 1:4).
בֶּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (patronymic)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; construct introducing the patronymic that identifies each chieftain, as fixed already in Num 1:7.
עַמִּינָדָֽבAmminadabN proper · עַמִּינָדָב (H5992)Genitive of the construct chain (patronymic)personal name 'my (divine) kinsman is noble/willing', father of Nahshon and Elisheba (Exod 6:23); attested here only as patronymic identifying the chieftain.
15

וְעַ֨ל צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י יִשָׂשכָ֑ר נְתַנְאֵ֖ל בֶּן צוּעָֽר

And over the host of the tribe of the sons of Issachar was Nethanel son of Zuar.

Second tribe of Judah's divisionוְ
A bare formulaic notice, part of the twelve-unit list; the chieftain names match the census list of Num 1:5-15 / 2:3-31 verbatim.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
וְעַ֨לand overconj וְ + prep · עַל (H5921)Coordinating conjunction + prepositional phrase (introducing the chieftain notice)עַל (H5921) 'upon, over'; marks command/authority over the host, as in v. 14.
צְבָ֔אthe host ofN c sg constr · צָבָא (H6635)Object of the preposition עַל (construct head)צָבָא (H6635) 'host, army, company'; here the assembled fighting men of Issachar counted in Num 1:29.
מַטֵּ֖הthe tribe ofN m sg constr · מַטֶּה (H4294)Construct chain (genitival, modifying צְבָא)מַטֶּה (H4294) 'staff, tribe'; a tribe as a rod-unit under its own chieftain, distinct from the standard-level דֶּגֶל grouping.
בְּנֵ֣יthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (genitival, modifying מַטֵּה)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; plural construct in the standard tribal designation.
יִשָׂשכָ֑רIssacharN proper · יִשָּׂשכָר (H3485)Genitive of the construct chain (tribal name)יִשָּׂשכָר (H3485) 'Issachar', traditionally connected to שָׂכָר 'hire, reward' (Gen 30:18); second tribe of the eastern camp.
נְתַנְאֵ֖לNethanelN proper · נְתַנְאֵל (H5417)Subject (predicate nominative of the verbless clause)נְתַנְאֵל (H5417) 'God has given'; personal name, tribal chieftain of Issachar in the census of Num 1-2, here leading the tribe's march.
בֶּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (patronymic)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; introduces the patronymic, fixed already at Num 1:8.
צוּעָֽרZuarN proper · צוּעָר (H6686)Genitive of the construct chain (patronymic)personal name, meaning uncertain (perhaps 'little, insignificant'); father of Nethanel, attested only as patronymic in the tribal lists.
16

וְעַ֨ל צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י זְבוּלֻ֑ן אֱלִיאָ֖ב בֶּן חֵלֽוֹן

And over the host of the tribe of the sons of Zebulun was Eliab son of Helon.

Third tribe of Judah's division, closing the first (eastern) campוְ
With Zebulun the eastern camp's three tribes (Judah, Issachar, Zebulun) are complete, matching Num 2:3-9.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
וְעַ֨לand overconj וְ + prep · עַל (H5921)Coordinating conjunction + prepositional phrase (introducing the chieftain notice, closing the eastern camp)עַל (H5921) 'upon, over'; marks command/authority over the host, as in vv. 14-15.
צְבָ֔אthe host ofN c sg constr · צָבָא (H6635)Object of the preposition עַל (construct head)צָבָא (H6635) 'host, army, company'; here the assembled fighting men of Zebulun counted in Num 1:31.
מַטֵּ֖הthe tribe ofN m sg constr · מַטֶּה (H4294)Construct chain (genitival, modifying צְבָא)מַטֶּה (H4294) 'staff, tribe'; as in v. 15, the tribal unit under its chieftain.
בְּנֵ֣יthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (genitival, modifying מַטֵּה)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; plural construct in the standard tribal designation.
זְבוּלֻ֑ןZebulunN proper · זְבוּלֻן (H2074)Genitive of the construct chain (tribal name)זְבוּלֻן (H2074) 'Zebulun', connected to זָבַל 'to exalt, honor' (Gen 30:20); third and last tribe of the eastern camp.
אֱלִיאָ֖בEliabN proper · אֱלִיאָב (H446)Subject (predicate nominative of the verbless clause)אֱלִיאָב (H446) 'my God is father'; personal name, tribal chieftain of Zebulun in the census of Num 1-2, here leading the tribe's march.
בֶּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (patronymic)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; introduces the patronymic, fixed already at Num 1:9.
חֵלֽוֹןHelonN proper · חֵלוֹן (H2497)Genitive of the construct chain (patronymic)personal name, perhaps 'strong, valiant'; father of Eliab, attested only as patronymic in the tribal lists.
17

וְהוּרַ֖ד הַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ן וְנָסְע֤וּ בְנֵֽי גֵרְשׁוֹן֙ וּבְנֵ֣י מְרָרִ֔י נֹשְׂאֵ֖י הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן

And the tabernacle was taken down, and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, the bearers of the tabernacle, set out.

Transition: dismantling and the first Levitical division's marchוְ
Between the first (Judah) and second (Reuben) camp divisions, the tabernacle itself is struck and carried by the Gershonites and Merarites, who carry the structural components, positioned to arrive early enough to begin reassembly before the Kohathites bring the sacred furniture (v. 21).
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
וְהוּרַ֖דwas taken downconj וְ + Hophal perf 3ms · יָרַד (H3381)Predicate verb (main clause, passive; marks the dismantling before the second Levitical group's march)→ Perfective (passive): a completed prior act — the tabernacle struck before the Levites' departureיָרַד (H3381) 'to go down'; Hophal here 'to be taken down, dismantled' — the tabernacle's frame lowered for transport (cf. Num 4).
הַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ןthe tabernacleart + N m sg abs · מִשְׁכָּן (H4908)Subject of וְהוּרַדמִשְׁכָּן (H4908) 'dwelling place, tabernacle', from שָׁכַן 'to dwell'; the portable sanctuary structure, here its wooden frame and coverings.
וְנָסְע֤וּset outconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3cp · נָסַע (H5265)Predicate verb (main clause, sequential to the dismantling)→ Weqatal: consequential continuation — the Levitical carriers depart once the frame is downנָסַע (H5265) 'to set out, journey'; the chapter's refrain verb, now applied to the Gershonite and Merarite bearers.
בְנֵֽיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Subject (construct chain, first conjunct)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; plural construct, 'sons/descendants of Gershon' — one of the two Levitical clans carrying the tabernacle's fabric and framework (Num 4:24-28).
גֵרְשׁוֹן֙GershonN proper · גֵּרְשׁוֹן (H1648)Genitive of the construct chain (Levitical clan name)גֵּרְשׁוֹן (H1648) 'Gershon', elder son of Levi (Gen 46:11); his clan carried the tabernacle's curtains, coverings, and hangings.
וּבְנֵ֣יand the sons ofconj וְ + N m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Subject (construct chain, second conjunct, coordinated)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; coordinated with the first clan, 'and the sons of Merari' — the second bearer-clan.
מְרָרִ֔יMerariN proper · מְרָרִי (H4847)Genitive of the construct chain (Levitical clan name)מְרָרִי (H4847) 'Merari', perhaps 'bitter', youngest son of Levi (Gen 46:11); his clan carried the tabernacle's frames, bars, pillars, and sockets — the heaviest structural parts (Num 4:31-32).
נֹשְׂאֵ֖יthe bearers ofQal ptc m pl constr · נָשָׂא (H5375)Participle in apposition to the compound subject (substantival, 'carriers of')→ Participle: durative/characterizing — their standing task, not a single actנָשָׂא (H5375) 'to lift, carry, bear'; the substantival participle names the Gershonites and Merarites by their functional role as tabernacle-carriers.
הַמִּשְׁכָּֽןthe tabernacleart + N m sg abs · מִשְׁכָּן (H4908)Direct object of the participle נֹשְׂאֵימִשְׁכָּן (H4908) 'dwelling place, tabernacle'; the structural components (as opposed to the sacred furniture of v. 21) carried by these two clans.
18

וְנָסַ֗ע דֶּ֛גֶל מַחֲנֵ֥ה רְאוּבֵ֖ן לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְעַל צְבָא֔וֹ אֱלִיצ֖וּר בֶּן שְׁדֵיאֽוּר

And the standard of the camp of Reuben set out, according to their companies; and over his host was Elizur son of Shedeur.

Second camp division: Reubenוְ
The list resumes the four-camp structure with the southern division (Reuben, Simeon, Gad), continuing the pattern of v. 14.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
וְנָסַ֗עset outconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3ms · נָסַע (H5265)Predicate verb (main clause, opening the second camp division)→ Weqatal: consequential/sequential continuation — the second division departs in its turnנָסַע (H5265) 'to set out, journey'; the refrain verb reused to open Reuben's division, matching v. 14.
דֶּ֛גֶלthe standard ofN m sg constr · דֶּגֶל (H1714)Subject (head of construct chain)דֶּגֶל (H1714) 'standard, banner'; here the southern camp's ensign over Reuben, Simeon, and Gad.
מַחֲנֵ֥הthe camp ofN c sg constr · מַחֲנֶה (H4264)Construct chain (genitival, modifying דֶּגֶל)מַחֲנֶה (H4264) 'camp'; the southern camp grouping of Num 2:10-16, second to march.
רְאוּבֵ֖ןReubenN proper · רְאוּבֵן (H7205)Genitive of the construct chain (tribal name)רְאוּבֵן (H7205) 'Reuben', Jacob's firstborn, 'see, a son' (Gen 29:32); here the camp is named for the tribe directly (no 'sons of'), unlike v. 14.
לְצִבְאֹתָ֑םaccording to their companiesprep לְ + N c pl constr + 3mp suffix · צָבָא (H6635)Adverbial prepositional phrase (manner/distribution)צָבָא (H6635) 'host, company'; plural with suffix, as in v. 14, marking the organized units of Reuben's division.
וְעַלand overconj וְ + prep · עַל (H5921)Coordinating conjunction + prepositional phrase (introducing the chieftain notice)עַל (H5921) 'upon, over'; marks command/authority, as in v. 14.
צְבָא֔וֹhis hostN c sg constr + 3ms suffix · צָבָא (H6635)Object of the preposition עַלצָבָא (H6635) 'host, army'; with 3ms suffix, Reuben's assembled military company, matching the census total of Num 1:21.
אֱלִיצ֖וּרElizurN proper · אֱלִיצוּר (H468)Subject (predicate nominative of the verbless clause)אֱלִיצוּר (H468) 'my God is a rock'; personal name, tribal chieftain of Reuben in the census of Num 1-2, here leading the tribe's march.
בֶּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (patronymic)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; introduces the patronymic, fixed already at Num 1:5.
שְׁדֵיאֽוּרShedeurN proper · שְׁדֵיאוּר (H7707)Genitive of the construct chain (patronymic)personal name, perhaps 'Shaddai is light/fire'; father of Elizur, attested only as patronymic in the tribal lists.
19

וְעַ֨ל צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י שִׁמְע֑וֹן שְׁלֻֽמִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן צוּרִֽי שַׁדָּֽי

And over the host of the tribe of the sons of Simeon was Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

Second tribe of Reuben's divisionוְ
Formulaic continuation; Zurishaddai's theophoric name ('my Rock is Shaddai') is typical of the wilderness-generation names in this census.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
וְעַ֨לand overconj וְ + prep · עַל (H5921)Coordinating conjunction + prepositional phrase (introducing the chieftain notice)עַל (H5921) 'upon, over'; marks command/authority, as in the preceding notices.
צְבָ֔אthe host ofN c sg constr · צָבָא (H6635)Object of the preposition עַל (construct head)צָבָא (H6635) 'host, army, company'; here the assembled fighting men of Simeon counted in Num 1:23.
מַטֵּ֖הthe tribe ofN m sg constr · מַטֶּה (H4294)Construct chain (genitival, modifying צְבָא)מַטֶּה (H4294) 'staff, tribe'; as in the parallel notices, the tribal unit under its chieftain.
בְּנֵ֣יthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (genitival, modifying מַטֵּה)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; plural construct in the standard tribal designation.
שִׁמְע֑וֹןSimeonN proper · שִׁמְעוֹן (H8095)Genitive of the construct chain (tribal name)שִׁמְעוֹן (H8095) 'Simeon', from שָׁמַע 'to hear' (Gen 29:33); second tribe of the southern camp.
שְׁלֻֽמִיאֵ֖לShelumielN proper · שְׁלֻמִיאֵל (H8017)Subject (predicate nominative of the verbless clause)שְׁלֻמִיאֵל (H8017) 'God is (my) peace/recompense'; personal name, tribal chieftain of Simeon in the census of Num 1-2, here leading the tribe's march.
בֶּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (patronymic)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; introduces the patronymic, fixed already at Num 1:6.
צוּרִֽיZuri-N proper (first element) · צוּרִישַׁדַּי (H6701)Genitive of the construct chain (first element of the compound patronymic)צוּרִי (from צוּר 'rock') plus שַׁדַּי together form the compound theophoric name צוּרִישַׁדַּי 'Zurishaddai' ('my Rock is Shaddai'), H6701; the OSHB scaffold tags both halves under the same Strong's entry since the name is one lexical unit split across two graphic words.
שַׁדָּֽי-shaddaiN proper (second element) · צוּרִישַׁדַּי (H6701)Genitive of the construct chain (second element of the compound patronymic)שַׁדַּי 'Almighty', the ancient divine epithet (cf. Exod 6:3), here the second component of the compound patronymic צוּרִישַׁדַּי, father of Shelumiel.
20

וְעַל צְבָ֖א מַטֵּ֣ה בְנֵי גָ֑ד אֶלְיָסָ֖ף בֶּן דְּעוּאֵֽל

And over the host of the tribe of the sons of Gad was Eliasaph son of Deuel.

Third tribe of Reuben's division, closing the southern campוְ
Completes the southern camp (Reuben, Simeon, Gad) of Num 2:10-16.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
וְעַלand overconj וְ + prep · עַל (H5921)Coordinating conjunction + prepositional phrase (introducing the chieftain notice, closing the southern camp)עַל (H5921) 'upon, over'; marks command/authority, as in the preceding notices.
צְבָ֖אthe host ofN c sg constr · צָבָא (H6635)Object of the preposition עַל (construct head)צָבָא (H6635) 'host, army, company'; here the assembled fighting men of Gad counted in Num 1:25.
מַטֵּ֣הthe tribe ofN m sg constr · מַטֶּה (H4294)Construct chain (genitival, modifying צְבָא)מַטֶּה (H4294) 'staff, tribe'; as in the parallel notices, the tribal unit under its chieftain.
בְנֵיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (genitival, modifying מַטֵּה)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; plural construct in the standard tribal designation.
גָ֑דGadN proper · גָּד (H1410)Genitive of the construct chain (tribal name)גָּד (H1410) 'Gad', 'good fortune' (Gen 30:11); third and last tribe of the southern camp.
אֶלְיָסָ֖ףEliasaphN proper · אֶלְיָסָף (H460)Subject (predicate nominative of the verbless clause)אֶלְיָסָף (H460) 'my God has added'; personal name, tribal chieftain of Gad in the census of Num 1-2, here leading the tribe's march.
בֶּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (patronymic)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; introduces the patronymic, fixed already at Num 1:14.
דְּעוּאֵֽלDeuelN proper · דְּעוּאֵל (H1845)Genitive of the construct chain (patronymic)דְּעוּאֵל (H1845) 'knowledge of God' (elsewhere spelled רְעוּאֵל, Num 2:14); father of Eliasaph, attested only as patronymic in the tribal lists.
21

וְנָסְעוּ֙ הַקְּהָתִ֔ים נֹשְׂאֵ֖י הַמִּקְדָּ֑שׁ וְהֵקִ֥ימוּ אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן עַד בֹּאָֽם

And the Kohathites set out, the bearers of the sanctuary, and they would set up the tabernacle before their arrival.

Third Levitical group: the Kohathites and the sacred furnitureוְ
The Kohathites carry the most holy objects (ark, table, altar -- wrapped by the priests per ch. 4) and are timed to arrive after the Gershonites and Merarites have already re-erected the structure, so that by 'their coming' the frame stands ready to receive the furnishings.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
וְנָסְעוּ֙set outconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3cp · נָסַע (H5265)Predicate verb (main clause, opening the third Levitical group)→ Weqatal: consequential/sequential continuation — the Kohathites depart in their assigned turnנָסַע (H5265) 'to set out, journey'; the refrain verb applied now to the Kohathites, third and last of the Levitical carrying-clans to march.
הַקְּהָתִ֔יםthe Kohathitesart + gentilic N m pl abs · קְהָתִי (H6956)Subject of וְנָסְעוּקְהָתִי (H6956), gentilic of קְהָת 'Kohath', Levi's second son (Gen 46:11); his descendants carried the sanctuary's most holy furniture (Num 4:4-15).
נֹשְׂאֵ֖יthe bearers ofQal ptc m pl constr · נָשָׂא (H5375)Participle in apposition to the subject (substantival, 'carriers of')→ Participle: durative/characterizing — their standing taskנָשָׂא (H5375) 'to lift, carry, bear'; the same substantival participle as v. 17, here naming the Kohathites by their role as bearers of the sacred furniture.
הַמִּקְדָּ֑שׁthe sanctuaryart + N m sg abs · מִקְדָּשׁ (H4720)Direct object of the participle נֹשְׂאֵימִקְדָּשׁ (H4720) 'sanctuary, holy place', from קָדַשׁ 'to be holy'; here metonymically the sacred furniture (ark, table, lampstand, altars) rather than the structure itself, distinguishing the Kohathites' load from the Gershonites' and Merarites' (v. 17).
וְהֵקִ֥ימוּand they would set upconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3cp · קוּם (H6965)Predicate verb (main clause, anticipatory result)→ Weqatal: consequential — the frame-carriers' prior arrival results in the tabernacle standing readyקוּם (H6965) 'to arise, stand'; Hiphil 'to cause to stand, erect'; subject is the Gershonites/Merarites of v. 17, who re-erect the frame before the Kohathites (with the furniture) arrive.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (definite object)אֵת (H853), nota accusativi marking הַמִּשְׁכָּן as the definite direct object; untranslated in English.
הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ןthe tabernacleart + N m sg abs · מִשְׁכָּן (H4908)Direct object of וְהֵקִימוּמִשְׁכָּן (H4908) 'dwelling place, tabernacle'; the structural frame already carried and re-erected by the Gershonites and Merarites.
עַדuntilprep · עַד (H5704)Temporal prepositional phrase (introducing the infinitival clause)עַד (H5704) 'until, as far as'; here temporal, 'by the time of' — the frame stands ready before the Kohathites' arrival.
בֹּאָֽםtheir comingQal inf constr + 3mp suffix · בּוֹא (H935)Infinitival object of the preposition עַד (temporal clause, 'until their coming')→ Infinitive construct: nominalized action — the terminus of the temporal clauseבּוֹא (H935) 'to come, enter'; infinitive construct with 3mp suffix, 'their coming' — the Kohathites' arrival, by which time the tabernacle frame must already stand.
22

וְנָסַ֗ע דֶּ֛גֶל מַחֲנֵ֥ה בְנֵֽי אֶפְרַ֖יִם לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְעַל צְבָא֔וֹ אֱלִישָׁמָ֖ע בֶּן עַמִּיהֽוּד

And the standard of the camp of the sons of Ephraim set out, according to their companies; and over his host was Elishama son of Ammihud.

Third camp division: Ephraimוְ
The western camp (Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin) begins, per Num 2:18-24.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
וְנָסַ֗עset outconj וְ + Qal perf 3ms · נָסַע (H5265)Predicate verb (main clause, weqatal continuing the narrative list)→ Weqatal: sequential continuation of the narrative catalog, parallel to the initial wayyiqtol of v. 14נָסַע (H5265) 'to pull up, set out, journey'; the standard verb for breaking camp throughout Num 10:12-28; here weqatal continuing the sequence begun by the wayyiqtol of v. 14.
דֶּ֛גֶלthe standard ofN m sg constr · דֶּגֶל (H1714)Subject (construct head)דֶּגֶל (H1714) 'standard, banner'; the military/tribal ensign under which each of the four camp-divisions of Num 2 marched.
מַחֲנֵ֥הthe camp ofN c sg constr · מַחֲנֶה (H4264)Genitive of construct chain (defining דֶּגֶל)מַחֲנֶה (H4264) 'camp, encampment'; here the western camp-division comprising Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin (Num 2:18-24).
בְנֵֽיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Genitive of construct chain (defining מַחֲנֵה)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; plural construct 'sons of' introducing the tribal name, as throughout the chapter's marching-order formula.
אֶפְרַ֖יִםEphraimN proper · אֶפְרַיִם (H669)Genitive completing the construct chain (tribal name)אֶפְרַיִם (H669), Joseph's younger son (Gen 41:52, 'fruitful'); here the tribe leading the western camp, per Num 2:18-24.
לְצִבְאֹתָ֑םaccording to their companiesprep לְ + N c pl constr + 3mp suffix · צָבָא (H6635)Adverbial prepositional phrase of manner (distributive)צָבָא (H6635) 'host, army, company'; the formula לְצִבְאֹתָם ('according to their companies') recurs after each tribal standard, marking organized military march order.
וְעַלand overconj וְ + prep · עַל (H5921)Coordinating conjunction + prepositional head (introducing the chieftain clause)עַל (H5921) 'upon, over'; here marking authority/oversight — 'over his host (was) PN'.
צְבָא֔וֹhis hostN c sg constr + 3ms suffix · צָבָא (H6635)Object of preposition עַלצָבָא (H6635) with 3ms suffix, 'his host/company'; refers back to the tribe just named, i.e. Ephraim's own military company.
אֱלִישָׁמָ֖עElishamaN proper · אֱלִישָׁמָע (H476)Predicate (subject of the verbless clause, 'over his host [was] Elishama')אֱלִישָׁמָע (H476) 'my God has heard', personal name, tribal chieftain of Ephraim in the census of Num 1:10, 2:18, here leading the tribe's march; per 1 Chr 7:26 an ancestor of Joshua.
בֶּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Apposition to Elishama (patronymic construct)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; construct introducing the patronymic, as with each chieftain named in this list.
עַמִּיהֽוּדAmmihudN proper · עַמִּיהוּד (H5989)Genitive completing the patronymic constructעַמִּיהוּד (H5989) 'my kinsman is majesty/glory', personal name, father of Elishama the chieftain of Ephraim (Num 1:10; cf. 2 Sam 13:37 for a different bearer of the name).
23

וְעַ֨ל צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה גַּמְלִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן פְּדָה צֽוּר

And over the host of the tribe of the sons of Manasseh was Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

Second tribe of Ephraim's divisionוְ
Formulaic continuation of the western camp list.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
וְעַ֨לand overconj וְ + prep · עַל (H5921)Coordinating conjunction + prepositional head introducing the chieftain clauseעַל (H5921) 'upon, over'; formulaic opener for each subsequent tribe in a division after the standard's own verb of setting out.
צְבָ֔אthe host ofN c sg constr · צָבָא (H6635)Object of preposition עַל (construct head)צָבָא (H6635) 'host, army, company'; here in construct with מַטֵּה, 'the host of the tribe of...'.
מַטֵּ֖הthe tribe ofN m sg constr · מַטֶּה (H4294)Genitive of construct chain (defining צְבָא)מַטֶּה (H4294) 'staff, rod; tribe' — a tribe as a body under one 'staff' of leadership; from the same conceptual root as שֵׁבֶט, the two used interchangeably for the twelve tribes.
בְּנֵ֣יthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Genitive of construct chain (defining מַטֵּה)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; plural construct introducing the tribal name.
מְנַשֶּׁ֑הManassehN proper · מְנַשֶּׁה (H4519)Genitive completing the construct chain (tribal name)מְנַשֶּׁה (H4519) 'causing to forget' (Gen 41:51), Joseph's firstborn; the tribe marching second in the western camp behind Ephraim (Num 2:20).
גַּמְלִיאֵ֖לGamalielN proper · גַּמְלִיאֵל (H1583)Predicate (subject of the verbless clause)גַּמְלִיאֵל (H1583) 'God is my recompense/reward', personal name, tribal chieftain of Manasseh in the census of Num 1-2, here leading the tribe's march.
בֶּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Apposition to Gamaliel (patronymic construct)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; construct introducing the patronymic.
פְּדָהPedah-N proper (first element) · פְּדָהצוּר (H6301)First element of the compound proper name (in apposition to בֶּן)פְּדָהצוּר (H6301) 'the Rock has redeemed', personal name, father of Gamaliel; tokenized here as two elements פְּדָה + צוּר by the OSHB, though it is a single name.
צֽוּר-zurN proper (second element) · פְּדָהצוּר (H6301)Second element of the compound proper name, completing the patronymicSecond element of פְּדָהצוּר (H6301) 'the Rock has redeemed' — צוּר 'rock', a divine epithet, completing the name of Gamaliel's father.
24

וְעַ֨ל צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ן אֲבִידָ֖ן בֶּן גִּדְעוֹנִֽי

And over the host of the tribe of the sons of Benjamin was Abidan son of Gideoni.

Third tribe of Ephraim's division, closing the western campוְ
Completes the western camp (Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin).
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
וְעַ֨לand overconj וְ + prep · עַל (H5921)Coordinating conjunction + prepositional head introducing the chieftain clauseעַל (H5921) 'upon, over'; formulaic opener for the third tribe of this division, marking oversight.
צְבָ֔אthe host ofN c sg constr · צָבָא (H6635)Object of preposition עַל (construct head)צָבָא (H6635) 'host, army, company'; in construct with מַטֵּה, 'the host of the tribe of...'.
מַטֵּ֖הthe tribe ofN m sg constr · מַטֶּה (H4294)Genitive of construct chain (defining צְבָא)מַטֶּה (H4294) 'staff, rod; tribe'; a tribe as a body under one 'staff' of leadership.
בְּנֵ֣יthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Genitive of construct chain (defining מַטֵּה)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; plural construct introducing the tribal name.
בִנְיָמִ֑ןBenjaminN proper · בִּנְיָמִן (H1144)Genitive completing the construct chain (tribal name)בִּנְיָמִן (H1144) 'son of the right hand/south', Jacob's youngest son (Gen 35:18); the third tribe of the western camp, completing Ephraim's division (Num 2:22).
אֲבִידָ֖ןAbidanN proper · אֲבִידָן (H27)Predicate (subject of the verbless clause)אֲבִידָן (H27) 'my (divine) father is judge', personal name, tribal chieftain of Benjamin in the census of Num 1-2, here leading the tribe's march.
בֶּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Apposition to Abidan (patronymic construct)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; construct introducing the patronymic.
גִּדְעוֹנִֽיGideoniN proper · גִּדְעוֹנִי (H1441)Genitive completing the patronymic constructגִּדְעוֹנִי (H1441) 'hewer, feller' (from גדע 'to cut down'), personal name, father of Abidan the chieftain of Benjamin.
25

וְנָסַ֗ע דֶּ֚גֶל מַחֲנֵ֣ה בְנֵי דָ֔ן מְאַסֵּ֥ף לְכָל הַֽמַּחֲנֹ֖ת לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְעַל צְבָא֔וֹ אֲחִיעֶ֖זֶר בֶּן עַמִּישַׁדָּֽי

And the standard of the camp of the sons of Dan set out, gathering the rear for all the camps, according to their companies; and over his host was Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

Fourth and final camp division: Dan, as rearguardוְ
'Gathering the rear of all the camps' gives Dan's division its distinctive tactical role as rearguard, protecting stragglers -- a detail unique to Dan among the four standards.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
וְנָסַ֗עset outconj וְ + Qal perf 3ms · נָסַע (H5265)Predicate verb (main clause, weqatal continuing the narrative list)→ Weqatal: sequential continuation of the narrative catalog, marking the fourth and final standardנָסַע (H5265) 'to pull up, set out, journey'; here introducing the northern camp's departure, weqatal continuing the sequence begun by the wayyiqtol of v. 14.
דֶּ֚גֶלthe standard ofN m sg constr · דֶּגֶל (H1714)Subject (construct head)דֶּגֶל (H1714) 'standard, banner'; here Dan's ensign, leading the fourth and final camp-division (Num 2:25-31).
מַחֲנֵ֣הthe camp ofN c sg constr · מַחֲנֶה (H4264)Genitive of construct chain (defining דֶּגֶל)מַחֲנֶה (H4264) 'camp, encampment'; here the northern camp-division comprising Dan, Asher, and Naphtali (Num 2:25-31).
בְנֵיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Genitive of construct chain (defining מַחֲנֵה)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; plural construct 'sons of' introducing the tribal name.
דָ֔ןDanN proper · דָּן (H1835)Genitive completing the construct chain (tribal name)דָּן (H1835) 'judge' (Gen 30:6), son of Jacob by Bilhah; here the lead tribe of the northern camp, whose standard uniquely also functions as rearguard for the whole nation (see מְאַסֵּף, next).
מְאַסֵּ֥ףgathering the rearPiel ptc m sg abs · אָסַף (H622)Attributive/appositional participle describing דֶּגֶל מַחֲנֵה בְנֵי דָן ('the standard... being rearguard')→ Participle: durative/characterizing — a standing tactical function, not a one-time actאָסַף (H622) Piel 'to gather in, bring up the rear'; the Piel participle מְאַסֵּף is a technical military term for the rearguard division that gathers stragglers and protects the column's back — Dan's unique role among the four standards (cf. Josh 6:9, 13 for the same participle of a military rearguard).
לְכָלfor allprep לְ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Prepositional phrase, object of מְאַסֵּף (dative of advantage)כֹּל (H3605) 'all, every'; here construct 'all of' governing הַמַּחֲנֹת, the totality of camp-divisions Dan's company brings up the rear for.
הַֽמַּחֲנֹ֖תthe campsart + N c pl abs · מַחֲנֶה (H4264)Genitive completing the construct כָּל (object of לְ)מַחֲנֶה (H4264) 'camp'; plural 'the camps' referring to all four standards/divisions of Israel's march order.
לְצִבְאֹתָ֑םaccording to their companiesprep לְ + N c pl constr + 3mp suffix · צָבָא (H6635)Adverbial prepositional phrase of manner (distributive)צָבָא (H6635) 'host, army, company'; the recurring formula closing each standard's departure clause.
וְעַלand overconj וְ + prep · עַל (H5921)Coordinating conjunction + prepositional head (introducing the chieftain clause)עַל (H5921) 'upon, over'; introducing Dan's chieftain, following the standard's own extended departure clause.
צְבָא֔וֹhis hostN c sg constr + 3ms suffix · צָבָא (H6635)Object of preposition עַלצָבָא (H6635) with 3ms suffix, 'his host/company'; Dan's own military company, distinct from its wider rearguard function over 'all the camps'.
אֲחִיעֶ֖זֶרAhiezerN proper · אֲחִיעֶזֶר (H295)Predicate (subject of the verbless clause)אֲחִיעֶזֶר (H295) 'my brother is help', personal name, tribal chieftain of Dan in the census of Num 1-2, here leading the tribe's march.
בֶּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Apposition to Ahiezer (patronymic construct)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; construct introducing the patronymic.
עַמִּישַׁדָּֽיAmmishaddaiN proper · עַמִּישַׁדַּי (H5996)Genitive completing the patronymic constructעַמִּישַׁדַּי (H5996) 'my kinsman is Shaddai', personal name, father of Ahiezer the chieftain of Dan; one of the few personal names compounded with the divine epithet שַׁדַּי.
26

וְעַל צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י אָשֵׁ֑ר פַּגְעִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן עָכְרָֽן

And over the host of the tribe of the sons of Asher was Pagiel son of Ochran.

Second tribe of Dan's divisionוְ
Formulaic continuation of the northern rearguard camp list.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
וְעַלand overconj וְ + prep · עַל (H5921)Coordinating conjunction + prepositional head introducing the chieftain clauseעַל (H5921) 'upon, over'; formulaic opener for the second tribe of Dan's division.
צְבָ֔אthe host ofN c sg constr · צָבָא (H6635)Object of preposition עַל (construct head)צָבָא (H6635) 'host, army, company'; in construct with מַטֵּה, 'the host of the tribe of...'.
מַטֵּ֖הthe tribe ofN m sg constr · מַטֶּה (H4294)Genitive of construct chain (defining צְבָא)מַטֶּה (H4294) 'staff, rod; tribe'; a tribe as a body under one 'staff' of leadership.
בְּנֵ֣יthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Genitive of construct chain (defining מַטֵּה)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; plural construct introducing the tribal name.
אָשֵׁ֑רAsherN proper · אָשֵׁר (H836)Genitive completing the construct chain (tribal name)אָשֵׁר (H836) 'happy, blessed' (Gen 30:13), son of Jacob by Zilpah; the second tribe of the northern camp, marching behind Dan (Num 2:27).
פַּגְעִיאֵ֖לPagielN proper · פַּגְעִיאֵל (H6295)Predicate (subject of the verbless clause)פַּגְעִיאֵל (H6295) 'the encounter/entreaty of God' (from פגע 'to meet, encounter'), personal name, tribal chieftain of Asher in the census of Num 1-2, here leading the tribe's march.
בֶּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Apposition to Pagiel (patronymic construct)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; construct introducing the patronymic.
עָכְרָֽןOchranN proper · עָכְרָן (H5918)Genitive completing the patronymic constructעָכְרָן (H5918) 'troubler' (perhaps related to עכר 'to trouble, disturb'), personal name, father of Pagiel the chieftain of Asher.
27

וְעַ֨ל צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י נַפְתָּלִ֑י אֲחִירַ֖ע בֶּן עֵינָֽן

And over the host of the tribe of the sons of Naphtali was Ahira son of Enan.

Third tribe of Dan's division, closing the full twelve-tribe listוְ
With Naphtali the marching order of all twelve tribes (plus the three Levitical carrying-clans) is complete, matching the census and camp arrangement of chs. 1-2 exactly.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
וְעַ֨לand overconj וְ + prep · עַל (H5921)Coordinating conjunction + prepositional head introducing the chieftain clauseעַל (H5921) 'upon, over'; formulaic opener for the third and final tribe of Dan's division.
צְבָ֔אthe host ofN c sg constr · צָבָא (H6635)Object of preposition עַל (construct head)צָבָא (H6635) 'host, army, company'; in construct with מַטֵּה, 'the host of the tribe of...'.
מַטֵּ֖הthe tribe ofN m sg constr · מַטֶּה (H4294)Genitive of construct chain (defining צְבָא)מַטֶּה (H4294) 'staff, rod; tribe'; a tribe as a body under one 'staff' of leadership.
בְּנֵ֣יthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Genitive of construct chain (defining מַטֵּה)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; plural construct introducing the tribal name.
נַפְתָּלִ֑יNaphtaliN proper · נַפְתָּלִי (H5321)Genitive completing the construct chain (tribal name)נַפְתָּלִי (H5321) 'my wrestling' (Gen 30:8), son of Jacob by Bilhah; the third tribe of the northern camp, completing Dan's division and the full twelve-tribe marching order.
אֲחִירַ֖עAhiraN proper · אֲחִירַע (H299)Predicate (subject of the verbless clause)אֲחִירַע (H299) 'my brother is evil/friend' (or 'brother of a shout'), personal name, tribal chieftain of Naphtali in the census of Num 1-2, here leading the tribe's march.
בֶּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Apposition to Ahira (patronymic construct)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; construct introducing the patronymic, the last such formula in the twelve-tribe list.
עֵינָֽןEnanN proper · עֵינָן (H5881)Genitive completing the patronymic constructעֵינָן (H5881) 'having eyes, springs' (from עַיִן 'eye/spring'), personal name, father of Ahira the chieftain of Naphtali.
28

אֵ֛לֶּה מַסְעֵ֥י בְנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וַיִּסָּֽעוּ

These were the journeyings of the sons of Israel, according to their companies; and they set out.

Summary colophon closing the marching-order listasyndeton
'These were the journeyings... and they set out' frames the whole list of vv. 14-27 as a single unit and reports its execution with a final wayyiqtol, before the narrative pivots to Moses and Hobab (v. 29).
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
אֵ֛לֶּהthesedemonstrative pron comm pl · אֵלֶּה (H428)Subject of the verbless summary clauseאֵלֶּה (H428) 'these', plural demonstrative; opens the summary colophon referring back to the whole list of vv. 14-27.
מַסְעֵ֥יthe journeyings ofN m pl constr · מַסָּע (H4550)Predicate nominative (construct head)מַסָּע (H4550) 'journey, stage of travel', from נָסַע 'to pull up, set out'; plural construct summarizing the whole marching sequence just narrated (cf. the itinerary list of Num 33, which bears the same title).
בְנֵֽיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Genitive of construct chain (defining מַסְעֵי)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; here 'the sons of Israel' = the Israelites collectively, as elsewhere in the chapter's formula.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לIsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive completing the construct chainיִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478), the covenant name given to Jacob (Gen 32:29); here designating the nation as a whole, whose collective march has just been detailed tribe by tribe.
לְצִבְאֹתָ֑םaccording to their companiesprep לְ + N c pl constr + 3mp suffix · צָבָא (H6635)Adverbial prepositional phrase of manner, closing summary of the march orderצָבָא (H6635) 'host, army, company'; the formula's final occurrence, sealing the summary before the closing verb.
וַיִּסָּֽעוּand they set outconj וַ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · נָסַע (H5265)Predicate verb (main clause, wayyiqtol closing the unit)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the colophon's closing verb reporting the march's executionנָסַע (H5265) Qal wayyiqtol 3mp, 'and they set out'; the same root as every 'set out' formula in the chapter, here as the concluding narrative verb that seals the colophon before the narrative resumes with Moses and Hobab (v. 29).
29

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר 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

And Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, 'We are setting out to the place of which YHWH said, I will give it to you; come with us, and we will treat you well, for YHWH has promised good concerning Israel.'

New scene: Moses' direct speech to Hobabוַ
A shift from list to dialogue; Moses invites his Midianite kinsman with both a theological appeal (YHWH's promise) and a practical inducement ('we will treat you well'), setting up Hobab's refusal in v. 30.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand saidQal wayyiqtol 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main verb, introduces speech)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; the standard verb introducing direct speech; here launches Moses' invitation to Hobab.
מֹשֶׁ֗הMosesN proper m sg · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Subject of וַיֹּאמֶרמֹשֶׁה (H4872), proper name; traditional etymology links it to מָשָׁה 'to draw out' (Exod 2:10), though an Egyptian derivation (msy, 'is born of/child of') is widely favored by scholars.
לְ֠חֹבָבto Hobabprep לְ + N proper m sg · חֹבָב (H2246)Indirect object / addressee of וַיֹּאמֶרחֹבָב (H2246), proper name of Moses' Midianite kinsman, identified here as son of Reuel. Judg 4:11 likewise calls him חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה, but Exod 2:18 names Reuel as Moses' father-in-law and Exod 18:1 calls him Jethro — a longstanding crux in harmonizing Moses' in-law traditions; חֹבָב may be Reuel/Jethro's personal name, or Reuel an ancestral/clan name.
בֶּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (genealogical identifier of חֹבָב)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; construct opening the patronymic בֶּן־רְעוּאֵל.
רְעוּאֵ֣לReuelN proper m sg · רְעוּאֵל (H7467)Genitive of the construct chain (father's name)רְעוּאֵל (H7467) 'friend of God'; given here as Hobab's father, though Exod 2:18 makes Reuel Moses' father-in-law directly — the apparent generational tension is among the classic cruxes of the Moses in-law traditions.
הַמִּדְיָנִי֮the Midianiteart + N gentilic m sg abs · מִדְיָנִי (H4084)Apposition (gentilic identifying Hobab's people)מִדְיָנִי (H4084) 'Midianite', gentilic of מִדְיָן; Midianites are Abraham's descendants through Keturah (Gen 25:2) and here appear as kin and potential allies to Israel, not the hostile Midian of later chapters (cf. Num 25, 31).
חֹתֵ֣ןfather-in-law ofQal ptc m sg constr · חָתַן (H2859)Substantival participle in apposition (kinship title)→ Participle: durative/characterizing — a standing relational role, not an actionחָתַן (H2859) Qal 'to be a relation by marriage'; the participle חֹתֵן lexicalized as 'father-in-law/relative by marriage' — used loosely enough in the Moses traditions to cover father-in-law and brother-in-law alike.
מֹשֶׁה֒MosesN proper m sg · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Genitive of the construct chain (whose relative Hobab is)מֹשֶׁה (H4872); second occurrence closes the identifying title, 'Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' חֹתֵן'.
נֹסְעִ֣יםsetting out / journeyingQal ptc m pl abs · נָסַע (H5265)Predicate participle (main clause, imminent sense)→ Participle: durative/characterizing — an action underway or about to beginנָסַע (H5265) 'to pull up (tent pegs), set out, journey'; the participle expresses imminent departure — Israel is on the verge of breaking camp for the wilderness march (cf. v. 33).
אֲנַ֗חְנוּweindependent pron 1cp · אֲנַחְנוּ (H587)Subject of the participial clauseאֲנַחְנוּ (H587), independent 1cp pronoun; emphasizes the subject alongside the participle נֹסְעִים.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Directional prepositional phrase (goal of the journey)אֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; marks הַמָּקוֹם as the goal of the march.
הַמָּקוֹם֙the placeart + N m sg abs · מָקוֹם (H4725)Object of the preposition אֶלמָקוֹם (H4725) 'place', from קוּם 'to stand'; here the promised land, left unnamed and defined only by YHWH's word — a formula echoing the patriarchal land-promise (cf. Gen 12:1, 7).
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhich/thatrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the relative clause defining הַמָּקוֹםאֲשֶׁר (H834), indeclinable relative particle; introduces YHWH's own promissory speech quoted within Moses' speech.
אָמַ֣רsaidQal perf 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: a completed act of speech, now standing as an abiding promiseאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; introduces YHWH's direct promise, quoted verbatim within Moses' report.
יְהוָ֔הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of אָמַריְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name of Israel's God; his own promise of the land grounds Moses' appeal to Hobab.
אֹת֖וֹit [obj]obj marker + suffix 3ms · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker, fronted for emphasis (resumes הַמָּקוֹם as object of אֶתֵּן)אֵת (H853) + 3ms suffix, resuming 'the place' as the object of the following verb אֶתֵּן; the fronting throws weight on the promised object itself.
אֶתֵּ֣ןI will giveQal impf 1cs · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb, direct quotation of YHWH's promise→ Yiqtol: imperfective/modal — a future, certain divine commitmentנָתַן (H5414) 'to give'; the verb of the land-grant formula, echoing the patriarchal promises (Gen 12:7; 15:18).
לָכֶ֑םto you (pl.)prep לְ + suffix 2mp · לְIndirect object of אֶתֵּןPreposition לְ with 2mp suffix; the plural addressee ('you all') is Israel as a whole, even though the promise is voiced within Moses' address to Hobab alone.
לְכָ֤הcome!Qal impv 2ms + directive/emphatic הּ · הָלַךְ (H3212)Volitional main verb (invitation)→ Volitional: direct invitation/commandהָלַךְ (H3212) 'to go, walk'; the imperative with paragogic ה (לְכָה) is emphatic and inviting, 'come along' — the practical heart of Moses' appeal.
אִתָּ֨נוּ֙with usprep אֵת + suffix 1cp · אֵת (H854)Comitative prepositional phraseאֵת/אִתּ (H854) 'with', comitative preposition + 1cp suffix; specifies companionship on the march, not mere proximity.
וְהֵטַ֣בְנוּand we will treat wellconj וְ + Hiphil perf (weqatal) 1cp · יָטַב (H3190)Weqatal continuing the volitional sequence (consequence/promise)→ Weqatal: volitional sequence — a promised consequence following the invitationיָטַב (H3190) Hiphil 'to do good to, treat well'; the reciprocal promise of good treatment, restated in v. 32 as the closing offer to Hobab.
לָ֔ךְto youprep לְ + suffix 2ms (pointed as 2fs) · לְIndirect object of וְהֵטַבְנוּ (addressee: Hobab)Preposition לְ + pronominal suffix addressed to Hobab (masculine); pointed לָךְ, formally the 2fs suffix rather than expected 2ms לְךָ. Grammarians (e.g. GKC §32h) generally read this as an archaic or dialectal 2ms form rather than a real gender shift; the same anomaly recurs in v. 32.
כִּֽיforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction introducing the ground for the invitationכִּי (H3588) 'for, because'; introduces the theological warrant — YHWH's promise of good — underlying Moses' appeal.
יְהוָ֥הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of דִּבֶּריְהוָה (H3068); the ultimate guarantor of the good promised to Israel, the ground of Moses' invitation to Hobab.
דִּבֶּרhas spoken / promisedPiel perf 3ms · דָּבַר (H1696)Predicate verb of the causal clause→ Perfective: a completed, standing declarationדָּבַר (H1696) Piel 'to speak'; with טוֹב as object, an idiom for 'to promise good' — YHWH's word as the basis of Israel's (and Hobab's) expectation.
ט֖וֹבgoodadj m sg abs (substantival) · טוֹב (H2896)Direct object of דִּבֶּרטוֹב (H2896) 'good'; used substantivally as the content of YHWH's promise — prosperity, blessing, the land itself.
עַלconcerningprep · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase specifying the object of the promised goodעַל (H5921) 'upon, concerning'; here marking the beneficiary of YHWH's promised good — Israel.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽלIsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Object of the preposition עַליִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478); the promise's ultimate object — Moses invites Hobab to share in the good YHWH has spoken over Israel.
30

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו לֹ֣א אֵלֵ֑ךְ כִּ֧י אִם אֶל אַרְצִ֛י וְאֶל מוֹלַדְתִּ֖י אֵלֵֽךְ

But he said to him, 'I will not go; rather, I will go to my own land and to my kindred.'

Hobab's initial refusalוַ
'Rather' (kî 'im) sharpens the negation into a strong adversative: Hobab declines in favor of his own homeland, prompting Moses' renewed appeal in v. 31.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
וַיֹּ֥אמֶרbut he saidQal wayyiqtol 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (Hobab's response)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; introduces Hobab's reply — a rare recorded response from a named non-Israelite in the wilderness narratives.
אֵלָ֖יוto himprep אֶל + suffix 3ms · אֶל (H413)Indirect object of וַיֹּאמֶר (addressee: Moses)אֶל (H413) + 3ms suffix, 'to him' — referring back to Moses.
לֹ֣אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates אֵלֵךְלֹא (H3808), the standard negative particle; here negates the following yiqtol as a firm declarative refusal.
אֵלֵ֑ךְI will goQal impf 1cs · הָלַךְ (H3212)Predicate verb, negated (main clause refusal)→ Yiqtol: imperfective/modal — a resolved intention, negatedהָלַךְ (H3212) 'to go'; Hobab's blunt refusal, immediately qualified by the following כִּי אִם clause.
כִּ֧יbutconj (with אִם) · כִּי (H3588)First element of the adversative pair כִּי אִםכִּי (H3588); paired with אִם as an adversative idiom, 'but rather, on the contrary'.
אִםratherconj (with כִּי) · אִם (H518)Second element of the adversative pair כִּי אִם, sharpening the negationאִם (H518); כִּי אִם together form a strong adversative, 'but rather/except' — Hobab does not merely decline, he states his alternative destination.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Directional prepositional phrase (destination)אֶל (H413) 'to'; introduces the destination Hobab affirms instead — his own land.
אַרְצִ֛יmy landN f sg constr + suffix 1cs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Object of the preposition אֶלאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land, country' + 1cs suffix; Hobab's Midianite homeland, drawing him back from Israel's promised land.
וְאֶלand toconj וְ + prep אֶל · אֶל (H413)Coordinating conjunction + directional preposition (second destination)וְ + אֶל; coordinates a second, closely related destination — kindred alongside homeland.
מוֹלַדְתִּ֖יmy kindred / birthplaceN f sg constr + suffix 1cs · מוֹלֶדֶת (H4138)Object of the preposition אֶל (second coordinate)מוֹלֶדֶת (H4138) 'kindred, birth, native land', from יָלַד 'to bear'; pairs with אֶרֶץ to express the full pull of native ties — land and family alike.
אֵלֵֽךְI will goQal impf 1cs · הָלַךְ (H3212)Predicate verb, resumed and affirmed (echoes the negated verb of the refusal clause)→ Yiqtol: imperfective/modal — restated resolve, now affirmativeהָלַךְ (H3212); the same verb negated in the refusal is now repeated affirmatively — a chiastic frame (לֹא אֵלֵךְ ... אֵלֵךְ) underscoring Hobab's decision.
31

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אַל נָ֖א תַּעֲזֹ֣ב אֹתָ֑נוּ כִּ֣י עַל כֵּ֣ן יָדַ֗עְתָּ חֲנֹתֵ֨נוּ֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר וְהָיִ֥יתָ לָּ֖נוּ לְעֵינָֽיִם

And he said, 'Please do not leave us, for since you know our camping in the wilderness, you shall be as eyes for us.'

Moses' second, more urgent appealוַ
'Please' (na) softens the imperative into an entreaty; the appeal shifts from theological promise to practical necessity -- Hobab's desert knowledge makes him indispensable as a guide, 'for eyes.'
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
וַיֹּ֕אמֶרand he saidQal wayyiqtol 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (Moses' second appeal)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceאָמַר (H559); introduces Moses' renewed, more urgent appeal after Hobab's refusal.
אַלdo notnegative particle (volitional) · אַל (H408)Negates the jussive תַּעֲזֹבאַל (H408), the volitional negative used with jussive/imperfect forms for prohibitions and entreaties (as opposed to לֹא with indicative statements).
נָ֖אpleaseentreaty particle · נָא (H4994)Particle of entreaty softening the prohibition into a requestנָא (H4994), enclitic particle of entreaty/urgency; softens Moses' negative command into a plea, marking the heightened emotional register of the second appeal.
תַּעֲזֹ֣בleave / forsakeQal jussive 2ms · עָזַב (H5800)Volitional main verb, negated (entreaty)→ Volitional: negated jussive — an urgent request rather than a flat commandעָזַב (H5800) 'to leave, abandon, forsake'; Moses pleads that Hobab not desert the company, reframing the earlier invitation as a matter of need.
אֹתָ֑נוּus [obj]obj marker + suffix 1cp · אֵת (H853)Direct object of תַּעֲזֹבאֵת (H853) + 1cp suffix, marking Israel (Moses and the people) as the object of the plea not to be abandoned.
כִּ֣יforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction (with עַל כֵּן) introducing the ground for the appealכִּי (H3588); paired with עַל כֵּן, 'for inasmuch as' — introduces the practical reason Hobab is needed.
עַלonprep (idiom עַל כֵּן) · עַל (H5921)First element of the idiom כִּי עַל כֵּן 'since, inasmuch as'עַל (H5921); with כֵּן forms the idiom עַל־כֵּן, here intensified by preceding כִּי to mean 'precisely because'.
כֵּ֣ןso / thusadverb (idiom עַל כֵּן) · כֵּן (H3651)Second element of the idiom כִּי עַל כֵּןכֵּן (H3651) 'so, thus'; the idiom כִּי עַל כֵּן ('for since, precisely because') grounds the appeal in Hobab's unique desert knowledge.
יָדַ֗עְתָּyou knowQal perf 2ms · יָדַע (H3045)Predicate verb of the causal clause→ Perfective (stative sense): a settled, present state of knowledgeיָדַע (H3045) 'to know'; here a stative perfect expressing Hobab's expert, firsthand familiarity with the wilderness terrain — the practical basis of his indispensability.
חֲנֹתֵ֨נוּ֙our camping / encampmentQal inf constr + suffix 1cp · חָנָה (H2583)Object of יָדַעְתָּ (infinitive construct as verbal noun)→ Infinitive: nominalized verbal action, object of knowledgeחָנָה (H2583) 'to camp, encamp'; the infinitive construct with 1cp suffix functions as a verbal noun, 'our encamping' — Israel's whole pattern of pitching and breaking camp in unfamiliar terrain.
בַּמִּדְבָּ֔רin the wildernessprep בְּ + art + N m sg abs · מִדְבָּר (H4057)Locative prepositional phrase modifying חֲנֹתֵנוּמִדְבָּר (H4057) 'wilderness, wasteland'; the harsh, trackless environment in which Hobab's local knowledge becomes indispensable.
וְהָיִ֥יתָand you shall beconj וְ + Qal perf (weqatal) 2ms · הָיָה (H1961)Weqatal continuing the volitional sequence (result/consequence)→ Weqatal: volitional sequence — the desired outcome following the entreatyהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, become'; the weqatal expresses the role Moses wants Hobab to take on — guide for the people.
לָּ֖נוּfor usprep לְ + suffix 1cp · לְIndirect object of וְהָיִיתָPreposition לְ + 1cp suffix, marking Israel as beneficiary of Hobab's guidance.
לְעֵינָֽיִםas eyesprep לְ + N f dual abs · עַיִן (H5869)Predicate complement (function/role, 'as eyes')עַיִן (H5869) 'eye', dual עֵינַיִם; לְ of function/identity — 'you shall serve us as eyes,' a vivid metaphor for a guide who scouts terrain, water, and hazards the main body cannot see for itself.
32

וְהָיָ֖ה כִּי תֵלֵ֣ךְ עִמָּ֑נוּ וְהָיָ֣ה הַטּ֣וֹב הַה֗וּא אֲשֶׁ֨ר יֵיטִ֧יב יְהוָ֛ה עִמָּ֖נוּ וְהֵטַ֥בְנוּ לָֽךְ

And it shall be, if you go with us, that whatever good YHWH does for us, the same we will do for you.

Conditional promise closing the Hobab episodeוְ
The pericope ends without recording Hobab's answer -- a famous narrative gap (cf. Judg 1:16; 4:11, where Kenite descendants of Hobab appear in Israel's territory, suggesting he ultimately accepted).
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
וְהָיָ֖הand it shall beconj וְ + Qal perf (weqatal) 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Weqatal opening a conditional sentence (protasis marker)→ Weqatal: introduces a conditional/future sequenceהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, happen'; the formulaic וְהָיָה כִּי opens a conditional clause, 'and it shall be, if...' — a common construction introducing case-law or promissory conditions.
כִּיifconj (conditional) · כִּי (H3588)Conditional conjunction introducing the protasisכִּי (H3588) here conditional, 'if'; with וְהָיָה forms the standard opening of a conditional promise.
תֵלֵ֣ךְyou goQal impf 2ms · הָלַךְ (H3212)Predicate verb of the conditional protasis→ Yiqtol: imperfective/modal — the hypothetical conditionהָלַךְ (H3212) 'to go'; the condition on which the reciprocal promise turns — Moses leaves the door open despite Hobab's earlier refusal.
עִמָּ֑נוּwith usprep עִם + suffix 1cp · עִם (H5973)Comitative prepositional phrase completing the protasisעִם (H5973) 'with' + 1cp suffix; specifies accompanying Israel as the condition of the promise.
וְהָיָ֣הthen it shall beconj וְ + Qal perf (weqatal) 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Weqatal opening the apodosis (main clause of the conditional)→ Weqatal: apodosis — the promised resultהָיָה (H1961); second weqatal marks the apodosis, 'then it shall be [that]...' — the reciprocal promise following the condition.
הַטּ֣וֹבthe goodart + adj m sg abs (substantival) · טוֹב (H2896)Subject of the relative clause (fronted, resumed by the following clause)טוֹב (H2896) 'good'; articular and substantival, 'the good' — the (as yet unspecified) benefit YHWH will grant.
הַה֗וּאthatart + demonstrative pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Demonstrative modifier of הַטּוֹב ('that good')הוּא (H1931) with article functions as a demonstrative, 'that'; הַטּוֹב הַהוּא, 'that very good,' points forward to the good YHWH will in fact do.
אֲשֶׁ֨רwhichrelative particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the clause defining הַטּוֹב הַהוּאאֲשֶׁר (H834); introduces the relative clause specifying the nature of the promised good — whatever YHWH actually does.
יֵיטִ֧יבdoes good / deals wellHiphil impf 3ms · יָטַב (H3190)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Yiqtol: imperfective/modal — a future/ongoing divine action, open-ended in contentיָטַב (H3190) Hiphil 'to do good to, treat well'; the same verb as v. 29's וְהֵטַבְנוּ, here of YHWH's own future benefaction toward Israel, which Moses pledges to pass on to Hobab.
יְהוָ֛הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of יֵיטִיביְהוָה (H3068); the ultimate source and guarantor of the good that Moses promises to share with Hobab.
עִמָּ֖נוּwith us / for usprep עִם + suffix 1cp · עִם (H5973)Prepositional phrase, beneficiary of יֵיטִיבעִם (H5973) 'with' + 1cp suffix; here virtually 'for us', marking Israel as recipient of YHWH's future good.
וְהֵטַ֥בְנוּwe will do goodconj וְ + Hiphil perf (weqatal) 1cp · יָטַב (H3190)Weqatal, apodosis restated (Moses' reciprocal pledge)→ Weqatal: promised reciprocal action — Israel's pledge to Hobabיָטַב (H3190) Hiphil, repeated from v. 29 and from יֵיטִיב just above; the verbal echo makes explicit that Israel's treatment of Hobab will mirror YHWH's treatment of Israel — reciprocity grounded in divine generosity.
לָֽךְto youprep לְ + suffix 2ms (pointed as 2fs) · לְIndirect object of וְהֵטַבְנוּ (addressee: Hobab), closing the episodePreposition לְ + pronominal suffix addressed to Hobab; pointed לָךְ, the form ordinarily marking 2fs, though the addressee is male. As in v. 29's identical form, grammarians (GKC §32h; cf. Judg 5:7) read this as an archaic or dialectal variant of the 2ms suffix rather than a genuine gender shift — a fossilized older ending later restricted to the feminine. The episode closes without recording Hobab's answer, one of the Torah's most debated narrative silences (cf. Kenite/Hobab traces in Judg 1:16; 4:11).
33

וַיִּסְעוּ֙ מֵהַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה דֶּ֖רֶךְ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֑ים וַאֲר֨וֹן בְּרִית יְהוָ֜ה נֹסֵ֣עַ לִפְנֵיהֶ֗ם דֶּ֚רֶךְ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֔ים לָת֥וּר לָהֶ֖ם מְנוּחָֽה

And they set out from the mountain of YHWH a distance of three days, and the ark of the covenant of YHWH journeyed before them a distance of three days, to seek out a resting place for them.

Narrative resumption: the three-day journey with the ark in the leadוַ
The chapter's final scene begins; the ark's role 'to seek out a resting place for them' is unique to this verse, casting it almost as a scout, and prepares for the poetic couplets of vv. 35-36.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
וַיִּסְעוּ֙and they set outQal wayyiqtol 3mp · נָסַע (H5265)Predicate verb (wayyiqtol, narrative main line)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceנָסַע (H5265) 'to pull up (tent pegs), journey, set out'; the chapter's refrain-verb, marking each stage of Israel's march away from Sinai.
מֵהַ֣רfrom the mountain ofprep מִן + N m sg constr · הַר (H2022)Source/locative prepositional phraseהַר (H2022) 'mountain, hill-country'; here Sinai/Horeb, the mountain of revelation now left behind as the nation begins its march toward the land.
יְהוָ֔הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive of the construct chain (defining הַר)יְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name; 'the mountain of YHWH' names Sinai by its theophanic association, not as a permanent title.
דֶּ֖רֶךְa distance ofN c sg constr (adverbial) · דֶּרֶךְ (H1870)Adverbial accusative of distance/extentדֶּרֶךְ (H1870) 'way, road, journey'; used adverbially in construct with a time-numeral to express distance measured in days' travel — 'a three-days' way'.
שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁתthree ofnumeral m sg constr · שְׁלֹשָׁה (H7969)Cardinal numeral in construct with יָמִיםשְׁלֹשָׁה (H7969) 'three'; construct שְׁלֹשֶׁת binds to יָמִים, 'a three-day (journey)'.
יָמִ֑יםdaysN m pl abs · יוֹם (H3117)Genitive completing the numeral constructיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; here in the stock idiom דֶּרֶךְ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים, 'a three-day journey', a standard travel-distance formula (cf. Gen 30:36; Exod 3:18).
וַאֲר֨וֹןand the ark ofconj וְ + N c sg constr · אָרוֹן (H727)Subject of נֹסֵעַ (head of construct chain)אָרוֹן (H727) 'ark, chest'; the sacred chest housing the covenant tablets, here unveiled from its usual guarded marching position (cf. v. 21) to lead the column in the open.
בְּרִיתthe covenant ofN f sg constr · בְּרִית (H1285)Genitive of the construct chainבְּרִית (H1285) 'covenant'; אֲרוֹן בְּרִית יְהוָה, 'the ark of the covenant of YHWH', names the chest by its contents — the covenant tablets — and so by the relationship it embodies.
יְהוָ֜הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive completing the construct chainיְהוָה (H3068); the full title 'ark of the covenant of YHWH' underscores the solemnity of this exceptional, unveiled march.
נֹסֵ֣עַwas journeyingQal ptc m sg abs · נָסַע (H5265)Predicate participle (durative, main clause)→ Participle: durative/characterizingנָסַע (H5265); the participle rather than a finite verb casts the ark's advance as an ongoing, vivid action — it 'went journeying' before the people.
לִפְנֵיהֶ֗םbefore themprep לְ + N c pl constr + 3mp sfx · פָּנִים (H6440)Locative prepositional phrase (spatial precedence)פָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; לִפְנֵי 'before, in front of' — the ark leads the column rather than travels mid-camp as elsewhere prescribed (2:17), an exceptional vanguard role for this march.
דֶּ֚רֶךְa distance ofN c sg constr (adverbial) · דֶּרֶךְ (H1870)Adverbial accusative of distance/extentדֶּרֶךְ (H1870); the phrase is repeated verbatim from earlier in the verse, framing both the people's and the ark's three-day march.
שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁתthree ofnumeral m sg constr · שְׁלֹשָׁה (H7969)Cardinal numeral in construct with יָמִיםשְׁלֹשָׁה (H7969) 'three'; repeated to align the ark's journey precisely with the people's.
יָמִ֔יםdaysN m pl abs · יוֹם (H3117)Genitive completing the numeral constructיוֹם (H3117); the second occurrence of the formula stresses that ark and people cover the same three-day distance together.
לָת֥וּרto seek outprep לְ + Qal inf constr · תּוּר (H8446)Infinitive of purpose (governed by נֹסֵעַ)→ Infinitive: temporal/circumstantialתּוּר (H8446) 'to seek out, spy out, explore'; elsewhere used of scouts reconnoitering land (13:2, 13:16-17) — remarkably applied here to the ark itself, which scouts ahead for a stopping-place as if a living agent of divine initiative.
לָהֶ֖םfor themprep לְ + 3mp sfx · לְDative of advantage (beneficiary of the search)לְ 'for, on behalf of'; the ark seeks out rest on Israel's behalf, an image of divine providence going ahead of the community.
מְנוּחָֽהa resting placeN c sg abs · מְנוּחָה (H4496)Direct object of לָתוּרמְנוּחָה (H4496) 'resting place, rest', from נוּחַ 'to rest'; here a literal night's encampment, but the word also carries theological freight elsewhere (Deut 12:9) as the land's promised rest — a foretaste already sounding in the wilderness march.
34

וַעֲנַ֧ן יְהוָ֛ה עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם יוֹמָ֑ם בְּנָסְעָ֖ם מִן הַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה

And the cloud of YHWH was over them by day, when they set out from the camp.

Parenthetical note on the cloud's ongoing guidanceוַ
A brief aside reconfirms the cloud's presence (cf. v. 11) alongside the ark's leading role, the two signs of guidance operating together rather than in tension.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
וַעֲנַ֧ןand the cloud ofconj וְ + N m sg constr · עָנָן (H6051)Subject of the verbless clauseעָנָן (H6051) 'cloud'; the visible sign of YHWH's guiding presence (cf. 9:15-23; Exod 13:21-22), here reaffirmed alongside the ark as a second mode of divine leading.
יְהוָ֛הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive of the construct chainיְהוָה (H3068); 'the cloud of YHWH' identifies the phenomenon as his own, not a mere natural cloud.
עֲלֵיהֶ֖םover themprep עַל + 3mp sfx · עַל (H5921)Predicate of the verbless clause (locative prepositional phrase)עַל (H5921) 'upon, over'; describes the cloud's position spread above the marching camp, sheltering and guiding it.
יוֹמָ֑םby dayadverb · יוֹמָם (H3119)Adverbial modifier of timeיוֹמָם (H3119) 'by day, in the daytime'; complements the fire by night (9:16), completing the day/night pairing of the guiding signs even though only 'day' is named here.
בְּנָסְעָ֖םwhen they set outprep בְּ + Qal inf constr + 3mp sfx · נָסַע (H5265)Temporal infinitival clause (subordinate to the main clause)→ Infinitive: temporal/circumstantialנָסַע (H5265); the infinitive construct with בְּ marks simultaneity — 'in their setting out' — echoing the chapter's refrain-verb one final time before the poetic couplets of vv. 35-36.
מִןfromprep · מִן (H4480)Preposition governing הַמַּחֲנֶה (source)מִן (H4480) 'from, out of'; marks the point of departure, the camp itself.
הַֽמַּחֲנֶֽהthe campart + N c sg abs · מַחֲנֶה (H4264)Object of the preposition מִןמַחֲנֶה (H4264) 'camp, encampment'; the whole tribal-and-tabernacle bivouac described in chs. 1-2, now struck and set in motion.
35

וַיְהִ֛י בִּנְסֹ֥עַ הָאָרֹ֖ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֑ה קוּמָ֣ה יְהוָ֗ה וְיָפֻ֨צוּ֙ אֹֽיְבֶ֔יךָ וְיָנֻ֥סוּ מְשַׂנְאֶ֖יךָ מִפָּנֶֽיךָ

And it came to pass, when the ark set out, that Moses said: 'Arise, O YHWH, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.'

Ancient poetic couplet spoken at the ark's setting-outוַיְהִי
Set off in the MT by inverted-nun marks (nunin menuzarot) before v. 35 and after v. 36 -- one of the Bible's rarest scribal devices, marking this two-verse unit as a discrete, perhaps displaced, textual fragment; the couplet itself is martial and imperative, invoking YHWH as a warrior marching with the ark (cf. Ps 68:2).
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
וַיְהִ֛יand it came to passconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (wayyiqtol, narrative frame formula)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, happen'; the formulaic וַיְהִי introduces a temporal clause, framing the recurring liturgical moment of the ark's setting-out.
בִּנְסֹ֥עַwhen set outprep בְּ + Qal inf constr · נָסַע (H5265)Temporal infinitival clause (subordinate to וַיְהִי)→ Infinitive: temporal/circumstantialנָסַע (H5265); the infinitival clause fixes the moment — every time the ark set out — as the recurring occasion for Moses's invocation.
הָאָרֹ֖ןthe arkart + N c sg abs · אָרוֹן (H727)Subject of the infinitive בִּנְסֹעַאָרוֹן (H727); the definite article points back to the ark just introduced in v. 33 as leading the march.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he saidconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (wayyiqtol, main clause)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; introduces direct speech — the fixed invocation Moses pronounced at each departure of the ark.
מֹשֶׁ֑הMosesproper noun · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Subject of וַיֹּאמֶרמֹשֶׁה (H4872); as covenant mediator, Moses alone speaks the invocation over the moving ark — a liturgical role otherwise unparalleled in the Pentateuch.
קוּמָ֣הArise!Qal impv 2ms + paragogic ה · קוּם (H6965)Volitional predicate (direct invocation, main clause of the citation)→ Volitional: direct invocationקוּם (H6965) 'to arise, stand up'; the imperative with directive he in קוּמָה יְהוָה is an ancient martial theophany formula, virtually identical to Ps 68:2 ('Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered') — YHWH is summoned as a warrior-king to march at the head of his people's ark, as if enthroned upon it (cf. 1 Sam 4:4-7).
יְהוָ֗הO YHWHproper noun (vocative) · יְהוָה (H3068)Vocativeיְהוָה (H3068); direct address to the covenant God, invoked as present and active in the ark that leads the march.
וְיָפֻ֨צוּ֙and let be scatteredconj וְ + Qal jussive 3mp · פּוּץ (H6327)Volitional predicate (jussive, coordinate wish)→ Yiqtol/jussive: volitional wishפּוּץ (H6327) 'to scatter, disperse'; the jussive expresses the desired consequence of YHWH's rising — the rout of hostile forces, first in a triad of scatter/flee that pictures holy war.
אֹֽיְבֶ֔יךָyour enemiesQal ptc m pl constr + 2ms sfx (substantival) · אֹיֵב (H341)Subject of וְיָפֻצוּ→ Participle: durative/characterizingאֹיֵב (H341), substantized Qal participle of אָיַב 'to be hostile' — 'the (one) opposing', i.e. 'enemy'; here YHWH's own enemies, identified with Israel's foes on the march.
וְיָנֻ֥סוּand let fleeconj וְ + Qal jussive 3mp · נוּס (H5127)Volitional predicate (jussive, coordinate wish)→ Yiqtol/jussive: volitional wishנוּס (H5127) 'to flee'; completes the scatter/flee pairing — the enemies' rout is total and instantaneous before the advancing ark.
מְשַׂנְאֶ֖יךָthose who hate youPiel ptc m pl constr + 2ms sfx (substantival) · שָׂנֵא (H8130)Subject of וְיָנֻסוּ→ Participle: durative/characterizingשָׂנֵא (H8130) 'to hate'; the substantized participle 'haters, those who hate' parallels אֹיְבֶיךָ in synonymous poetic parallelism, both terms for YHWH's — and so Israel's — adversaries.
מִפָּנֶֽיךָfrom before youprep מִן + N c pl constr + 2ms sfx · פָּנִים (H6440)Locative prepositional phrase (source, modifying וְיָנֻסוּ)פָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; מִפָּנֶיךָ 'from before you, out of your presence' — flight from the very presence that has just arisen, completing the arise/scatter/flee triad.
36

וּבְנֻחֹ֖ה יֹאמַ֑ר שׁוּבָ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה רִֽבְב֖וֹת אַלְפֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

And when it rested, he would say: 'Return, O YHWH, to the myriads of the thousands of Israel.'

Companion couplet spoken at the ark's resting, closing the bracketed unitוּ
The second half of the inverted-nun unit; 'return' pairs with 'arise' (v. 35) as a liturgical antiphon for the ark's motion and rest, later incorporated into synagogue Torah-service liturgy -- the couplet of v. 35 still opens the removal of the Torah scroll today.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
וּבְנֻחֹ֖הand when it restedconj וְ + prep בְּ + Qal inf constr + 3ms sfx · נוּחַ (H5117)Temporal infinitival clause (subordinate to יֹאמַר)→ Infinitive: temporal/circumstantialנוּחַ (H5117) 'to rest, settle down'; forms a deliberate antonym-pair with נָסַע ('set out') across vv. 35-36 — the ark's motion and repose each occasion a matching invocation, arise/return.
יֹאמַ֑רhe would sayQal impf 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (main clause, iterative)→ Yiqtol: customary/habitual — Moses's recurring practice each time the ark came to restאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; the plain yiqtol (without waw-consecutive) marks habitual action — Moses said this every time, not once — in deliberate contrast to the one-time narrative wayyiqtol וַיֹּאמֶר of v. 35.
שׁוּבָ֣הReturn!Qal impv 2ms + paragogic ה · שׁוּב (H7725)Volitional predicate (direct invocation, main clause of the citation)→ Volitional: direct invocationשׁוּב (H7725) 'to return, turn back'; the imperative with paragogic he answers קוּמָה of v. 35 — the same directive-he form used for solemn address to YHWH — asking him to 'return' and take up rest among Israel's encamped multitudes.
יְהוָ֔הO YHWHproper noun (vocative) · יְהוָה (H3068)Vocativeיְהוָה (H3068); the same divine name addressed in v. 35, completing the arise/return antiphon.
רִֽבְב֖וֹתthe myriads ofN f pl constr · רְבָבָה (H7233)Object of שׁוּבָה (head of construct chain)רְבָבָה (H7233) 'ten thousand, myriad'; paired with אַלְפֵי in a hyperbolic numerical construct chain expressing Israel's vast, countless host — cf. Balaam's oracle at 23:10.
אַלְפֵ֥יthe thousands ofnumeral m pl constr · אֶלֶף (H505)Genitive of the construct chain (in apposition to רִבְבוֹת)אֶלֶף (H505) 'thousand'; also denotes a clan/military unit; here in tandem with רִבְבוֹת it magnifies Israel's numbers as an army encamped by tribal thousands (cf. chs. 1-2).
יִשְׂרָאֵֽלIsraelproper noun · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive completing the construct chainיִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478); the couplet closes by naming the beneficiary of YHWH's return — not a single sanctuary but the whole encamped nation, numbered in myriads and thousands.