Numbers 10:1-36 The Making of the Silver Trumpets for Communicating with the People of Israel

[Study Aired July 3, 2023]

Num 10:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
Num 10:2  Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.
Num 10:3  And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 
Num 10:4  And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee. 
Num 10:5  When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward.
Num 10:6  When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys. 
Num 10:7  But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm. 
Num 10:8  And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance forever throughout your generations. 
Num 10:9  And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies. 
Num 10:10  Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God. 
Num 10:11  And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony. 
Num 10:12  And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran. 
Num 10:13  And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses. 
Num 10:14  In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 
Num 10:15  And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar. 
Num 10:16  And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon. 
Num 10:17  And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle. 
Num 10:18  And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur. 
Num 10:19  And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 
Num 10:20  And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 
Num 10:21  And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came. 
Num 10:22  And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud. 
Num 10:23  And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 
Num 10:24  And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni. 
Num 10:25  And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rereward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 
Num 10:26  And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran. 
Num 10:27  And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan. 
Num 10:28  Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward. 
Num 10:29  And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses’ father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel. 
Num 10:30  And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred. 
Num 10:31  And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes. 
Num 10:32  And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee. 
Num 10:33  And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days’ journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them. 
Num 10:34  And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp. 
Num 10:35  And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee. 
Num 10:36  And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel.

Introduction

Chapter 10 focuses on the making of two trumpets for the assembling and journeying of the people of Israel. In addition, the chapter shows the order set out by the Lord when the people of Israel were journeying from one place to another, and finally, Moses desires his father-in-law to accompany them on the journey since he knows the wilderness very well. As we can see, the trumpets were for communication among the people of Israel and with the Lord. It is through communication that we can get ourselves prepared such that we are not caught unaware when our Lord comes. The Lord has warned us that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief is coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 

Luk 12:35  “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 
Luk 12:36  and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 
Luk 12:37  Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 
Luk 12:38  If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 
Luk 12:39  But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 
Luk 12:40  You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” 
Luk 12:41  Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” 
Luk 12:42  And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 
Luk 12:43  Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 
Luk 12:44  Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 
Luk 12:45  But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 
Luk 12:46  the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 
Luk 12:47  And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 
Luk 12:48  But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. (ESV)

We can only communicate with one another when we gather together. This is what the Lord told us about the importance of gathering together:

Heb 10:24  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 
Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

The second part of the chapter deals with the order by which the tribes of Israel were to make their journey in the wilderness. Spiritually, this is to let us know the order for the salvation of the world. The elect (the firstfruit) comes first before the rest of humanity.

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 
1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 
1Co 15:24  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

The third part of the chapter talks about Moses’ request for his father-in-law to go with them to Canaan as he was well-versed in the wilderness terrain. This is to show us the tendency to rely on something tangible as we wade through the wilderness of life. As we know, this journey of life is by faith and not by what we see.

2Co 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight 

Num 10:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 10:2  Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.
Num 10:3  And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

The making of the two trumpets of silver is to show us the process the Lord takes us through to use us as vessels to communicate His will and purpose to His people. Positively, silver refers to the redeemed (the elect) since it is highly valued and much desired. 

Gen 45:22 To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred [pieces] of silver, and five changes of raiment.

The two trumpets therefore signify the elect as witnesses of Christ who speak on Christ’s behalf to His people to bring to their attention the need to assemble together and to guide us in our walk here on earth. It is in the assembly of the Lord’s people that we exhort one another as we see the day of the Lord approaching. As we speak to one another, the Lord hears us and comes to our aid.

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Mal 3:16  Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

In Joel chapter 2:15-17, we are given more insight as to the categories of the Lord’s elect that are to meet regularly and what our gatherings achieve.

Joe 2:15  Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 
Joe 2:16  Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. 
Joe 2:17  Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? 

As shown in verse 16, our gathering includes the elders, children and those that suck the breasts. The elders here signify those who are mature or maturing while the children refer to those who have just left the basics or the milk doctrines of Christ but need to be matured. Those still sucking the breast are those who are still learning the basics or the milk doctrines. 

Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

We are all to come together for the purpose of being sanctified, as shown in Joel 2:16. Being sanctified is being made holy and being made holy is the result of the Lord’s judgment on our old man. It is as we are judged that we begin to live the life of Christ. That is what it means for the bridegroom to come out of his chamber. The bride coming out of her closet is another way of saying that our righteousness shall be seen.

The sounding or the blowing of the trumpet spiritually signifies the speaking of the words of the Lord which happens when we gather before the Lord.

Isa 58:1  Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. 

Rev 1:10  I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 

Num 10:4  And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee. 

If one trumpet is blown, then the princes, who are leaders of the Israelites are required to gather together. The princes or leaders here are those who have matured. Verse 4 is therefore suggesting that if we all, as the Lord’s elect begin to say the same thing (the blowing of one trumpet) as we all have the same mind of Christ, then it means that we have matured spiritually, and our gathering is that of those who have matured and have our senses exercised to distinguish good from evil. 

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Num 10:5  When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward.

The trumpet being used to blow an alarm means that as the Lord’s elect, we must be warned through the words of the Lord about our impending judgment of our old man.

Joe 2:1  Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; 
Joe 2:2  A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

Here in Joel 2:1, we are shown that it is only in Zion that the alarm is blown. Zion here is the gathering of the Lord’s elect. As shown in verse 5, the blowing of the alarm causes those who are camped in the east to move forward. Those who are camped in the east represent the elect who are those in whom the sun of righteousness rises first in their hearts in this age. As we hear of the Lord’s judgment through the alarm blown, it prepares us to move forward. In other words, it prepares us to be judged, and through the judgment we face, we learn righteousness and therefore become more mature (move forward).

Mal 4:2  But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

In another perspective, the sounding of the trumpet as an alarm is also referring to the first resurrection of the elect as shown in the following verse:

1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 
1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Num 10:6  When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys. 

The camps from the south side represent those who are close to the sea and are dominated by the flesh in this life and therefore will not be part of the first resurrection. The blowing of the trumpet, as an alarm for the second time, signifies the second resurrection of all the human race which will usher in the Lake of Fire age. The alarm here refers to judgment, leading to the second death. 

Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 
Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 
Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 
Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 

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

When all humanity is shown the Lord’s mercy through the lake of fire, then we shall all blow the trumpet and not sound an alarm. This means we shall all have the mind of Christ and speak the same words of the Lord. We shall not sound the alarm as we have all been judged. 

1Co 15:28  And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 

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

This verse is to let us know that it is only the elect, represented by Aaron and his sons, who are qualified to blow the trumpets, that is, speak the words of the Lord. As we can see in the Book of Revelation, it is the seven angels who were blowing the trumpets of the Lord’s impending judgment. In the Old Testament, seven priests blew the trumpets which caused the walls of Jericho to fall. The number seven means the complete elect from every generation. We are all speaking the same words of the Lord.

Rev 8:6  And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

Jos 6:13  And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. 
Jos 6:14  And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days. 
Jos 6:15  And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times. 
Jos 6:16  And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.

Num 10:9  And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies. 
Num 10:10  Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.

The enemy that oppresses us is our flesh or the old man. The sounding of the alarm with the trumpet is the words of the Lord warning us that the judgment of our old man is at hand. Being remembered before the Lord means being saved from our enemies, which is our flesh. Our deliverance is through the Lord’s judgment of our old man so we can walk in His righteousness.  Blowing the trumpet in our days of gladness and in our solemn days is another way of saying that this book of the law shall not depart from our mouth and that we should meditate on it day and night so that our ways become prosperous.

Jos 1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Num 10:11  And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony. 
Num 10:12  And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran. 
Num 10:13  And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

The Israelites spent a long time at Mountain Sinai as they received the commandments of the Lord and instructions about building the tabernacle of the Lord according to the pattern shown Moses, which is Christ. Finally, the cloud lifted from the tabernacle and the Israelites followed the cloud as they journeyed through the wilderness until they came to the wilderness of Paran where the cloud rested. In Deuteronomy, we are given more information as to what precipitated their decision to leave Sinai. The cloud lifting from the tabernacle served as a witness that they had to move from Sinai as the Lord had already told Moses that they must leave. We must always seek a witness as we seek to please the Lord. 

Deu 1:6  The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: 
Deu 1:7  Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.

Num 10:14  In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 
Num 10:15  And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar. 
Num 10:16  And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon. 

The rising of the cloud from the tabernacle was a signal to the Israelites that they must move from where they were dwelling. However, the Israelites must move according to the Lord’s order. The rising of the cloud symbolizes Christ rising within us. Those who were camped on the east side of the Tabernacle of congregation were to move first. The tribes camping in the East were Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. The East side is towards the rising of the sun. In other words, the sun rises from their end. Having been given eyes to see, we know that Jesus Christ is the Sun of righteousness. What we are being told here, therefore, is the fact that this group represents the elect who are first to see Christ rise in their lives. The names of the tribe affirm this assertion that this group represents the elect. Judah means to praise the Lord. Issachar means ‘he will bring a reward’ and that of Zebulun means ‘habitation’. So, this group represents the elect who will praise the Lord as they dwell here on earth (habitation) and will definitely receive a reward.

Mal 4:2  But unto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings; and ye shall go forth, and gambol as calves of the stall. 

The leading tribe of this group is Judah. As we are aware, Jesus is the lion of the tribe of Judah. As we can see from the prophecy of Jacob regarding Judah, Judah is described as a lion or an old lion. Jesus is therefore the leader of the elect or this group. Incidentally, the leader of the tribe of Judah in verse 14 is called Nahshon which means ‘an enchanter’. Jesus, who is our leader, is the one who has enchanted us with His love to follow Him.

Jer 31:3  The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Rev 5:5  and one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold, the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath overcome to open the book and the seven seals thereof.

Gen 49:8  Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee.
Gen 49:9  Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? 
Gen 49:10  The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. 

The names of the leaders of the other two tribes, Issachar and Zebulun, were Eliab and Nathaneel. Eliab means ‘God is father’ and that of Nathaneel means ‘given to God’. Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our leader, is also God our father, and His life is given totally to God.

Isa 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 

In verse 14, we are told that those in the camp of Judah shall set forth first. We, the elect, are the ones to set forth in this life to engage the enemy, which is our flesh. Our leader has already assured us that being of the camp of Judah, we shall be the first to defeat the enemies as we break our enemies’ necks.

Gen 49:8  Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee. 

Num 10:17  And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle. 
Num 10:18  And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur. 
Num 10:19  And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 
Num 10:20  And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 

The second group to move consists of the tribes of Reuben, Simeon and Gad who were encamped on the south side. Before this group comes the sons of Merari and the Gershonites, who were Levites. They bear the tabernacle when the Israelites journeyed. Pitching their camp on the south side of the tabernacle of congregation means that their dwelling portion in this life is toward the sea. In other words, these Levites and this group are those who start their journey with the Lord. However, the pull of the sea of flesh denies them from attaining the higher calling of the Lord in this age.  

Eze 48:28  And by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar unto the waters of strife in Kadesh, and to the river toward the great sea.

Mat 13:22  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 

In the fullness of time, this group, together with the Levites, will also have Christ rise in their hearts.

Eze 16:55  When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate.

Num 10:21  And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came. 
Num 10:22  And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud. 
Num 10:23  And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 
Num 10:24  And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni. 

Before this group comes another group of Levites who also takes care of the tabernacle of the congregation. These Levites, together with this group which is composed of the tribe of Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin, follow after the tribes led by Reuben. The tribe of Ephraim is the dominant tribe of this group. This group is required to pitch their tents on the west side of the tabernacle of the congregation. The west is where the sun sets. This implies that those in this group will definitely be visited by the Lord at the end of the ages through judgment. The names of the leaders also confirm this assertion. The leaders of the tribe of Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin are Elishama, Gamaliel and Abidan. Eliashama means ‘God has heard’. Gamaliel means ‘God is my recompense’ and Abidan signifies ‘the Father judges’. What these names signify is that at the end of the ages, when the sun sets, this group shall have God as their reward when He hears them through His judgment.

Rev 7:9  After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 
Rev 7:10  and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 

As the scripture says, the Lord was not pleased with the tribe of Ephraim. This is what He says about the tribe of Ephraim:

Hos 4:17  Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

Hos 5:3  I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled.

Hos 7:8  Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

Hos 7:11  Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.

Hos 8:9  For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.

As a result of the sins of Ephraim, who leads this group, they shall surely undergo the Lord’s judgment at the end of the ages before they come to drink from the rivers of water. 

Num 10:25  And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rereward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 
Num 10:26  And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran. 
Num 10:27  And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan. 
Num 10:28  Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward. 

This last group was dwelling on the northern part of the tabernacle of the congregation and consisted of the tribes of Dan, Asher and Naphtali. Being in the north, which is the opposite of the south, means they are far from the sea of flesh. The dominant tribe in this group is Dan. In Judges we see the children of Dan setting up a graven image, which became a stumbling block to many people of Israel. In addition, they used Gershom and his sons, who were from the tribe of Manasseh, to become priests which was against the Lord’s requirement. Dan here or this group therefore represents Babylon where we worship another Jesus.

Jdg 18:30  And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 
2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 

The names of the leaders of the tribes in this group tell us about the nature of this group. The leaders of Dan, Asher and Naphtali are Ahiezer, Pagiel and Ahira respectively. Ahiezer means ‘brother of help’, Pagiel stands for ‘meeting with God’ and Ahira signifies ‘brother of evil’. What these names imply is that our brothers and sisters in Babylon cause us a lot of evil but they are also a help to us, the elect. As we can see in the scriptures, the Levites are given to help the elect. At the climax of the ages, our brothers and sisters in Babylon will also have the chance to meet the Lord. 

Num 10:29  And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses’ father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel. 
Num 10:30  And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred. 
Num 10:31  And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes. 
Num 10:32  And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee. 

These verses show us our tendency to rely on the arm of the flesh even though we have seen the Lord’s overwhelming provision and protection as we journey through the wilderness of this life. The Lord didn’t allow Moses to go with Hobab, his father-in-law. In a similar vein, the Lord will rid us of all that we depend on so that we can rely wholly on Him as we come to appreciate His guidance and support. May His name be praised!!

Jer 17:5 This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD. (NIV)

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

This verse signifies that our walk with the Lord in this life is aimed at finding rest in the Lord, and this is accomplished by the process of spiritual maturity through judgment (the significance of the three-day journey). When we cease from our works and depend entirely on Him, then we have found rest in Him. 

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.  

Luk 13:32  And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. 

Num 10:34  And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp. 
Num 10:35  And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee. 
Num 10:36  And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel.

As we journey on this earth, symbolized by the ark setting forward, the Lord is judging our old man, and it is this judgment which is scattering or decimating our old man or letting him flee from us. During the period that we shall rest from our labors, the Lord will return and show mercy on all humanity, represented by the many thousands of Israel. This period is the Lake-of-Fire age.

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

May His name be praised forever more. Amen!!