SERIES E --- YHVH’S LAWS --- LESSON 11

THE JOURNEY BEGINS

THE MOVE FROM MOUNT SINAI

From Numbers 10

Make two trumpets of hammered silver, Adonai Instructed Moses. Use them to summon the people and to signal the time to break camp. The people will assemble at the entrance to the tabernacle when both trumpets are sounded. When one trumpet is sounded, only the chiefs of the tribes will come. When the trumpets are blown in a certain way, the tribes on the east will break camp first. When the second signal is given, the tribes on the south will move. The signal to move will be different from the signal to assemble. Only Aaron’s sons, the priests, may blow the trumpets. This will be a permanent rule for you to follow throughout all generations. When you go to war against your enemies, sound the alarm with the trumpets. Adonai will hear the trumpets and save you from your enemies. Sound the trumpets on days of celebration, on appointed feast days and on the first day of the month when you remember Adonai with your burnt offerings and peace offerings. Adonai will remember His Covenant with you. I am Adonai your YHVH. The day came when the cloud moved from the tabernacle, signalling the time for the people to break camp and move forward. It was the twentieth day of the second month in the second year after the people of Israel had left Egypt. At Adonai’s direction the people set out for the first time since they arrived at Mount Sinai. They moved from the Wilderness of Sinai to the Wilderness of Paran. The first in line was the tribe of Judah, moving behind their standard and led by Nahshon the son of Amminadab. After Judah, the tribe of Issachar came next, led by Nethaneel the son of Zuar. Zebulun was the third tribe in line led by Eliab the son of Helon. When the tabernacle was taken down, the descendants of Gershon and Merari carried it. The tribe of Reuben moved next, following its standard, led by Elizur the son of Shedeur. After that came the tribe of Simeon, led by Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. Then came the tribe of Gad, led by Eliasaph the son of Deuel. The descendants of Kohath carried the holy items of the tabernacle. But before they arrived at the new campsite, the tabernacle was already set up. The remaining tribes followed in this order: Ephraim, led by Elishama the son of Ammihud; Manasseh, led by Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur; Benjamin, led by Abidan the son of Gideoni; Dan, led by Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai; Asher, led by Pagiel the son of Ocran; and Naphtali, led by Ahira the son of Enan. This was the order in which the tribes of Israel marched when they travelled to a new location. One day Moses spoke with his brother-in-law Hobab, son of his father-in-law Reuel, the Midianite. We are moving now toward the Promised Land, the place which Adonai said ‘I will give it to you,’ said Moses. Come with us and we will do good for you, for Adonai has promised to do good for us. No, I must go home to my own land and my relatives, Hobab answered. Please don’t do that, Moses replied. You know how we must camp in the wilderness and we need you to serve as our eyes. Come with us and whatever Adonai does for us, we will do for you. The people of Israel travelled from Mount Sinai for three days. Leading the entire company was the Ark of the Covenant, guiding them to a place to stop. The people left Mount Sinai during the daytime and the cloud moved ahead of them as they travelled. As the Ark went forward on each move, Moses would say, Arise, Adonai and let Your enemies be scattered; let them that hate You flee before You. When the Ark came to rest in its place he would say, Return, Adonai, to the countless thousands of Israel.

COMMENTARY

LIFE THEY LEFT BEHIND: MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF ANCIENT EGYPT

The stringed instruments of ancient Egypt were plucked or strummed with the fingers; they did not have bows, such as those used with a modern violin or cello. The lute was something like a guitar with a full-blown body. It had three strings, instead of the six on today’s guitar. The lyre was shaped a little like a large {U} with strings running across it. As each string was plucked, the others were covered so they would not sound at the same time. Both lutes and lyres came to Egypt from other countries. Harps were very popular and native to Egypt. There were basically two kinds. One looked somewhat like a long boat. It was held to the shoulder and had four strings. The other kind looked more like the harp of today. It was bow-shaped, taller than a man and stood on the ground. They were often played by blind men. Most of the Egyptian wind instruments were flutes of one kind or another. From Greece, the Egyptians learned to use panpipes; they were made up of several flutes of different lengths bound together. The Egyptian clarinet looked like two slender flutes tied together. It was played through both mouthpieces and had finger holes instead of the keys of modern clarinets. The trumpets and horns were much simpler than those in use today. They were long straight tubes that opened into small bell-shaped ends. They were very hard to blow into and could make only a few musical sounds. Percussion instruments were many. There were several different kinds of drums and cymbals, as well as finger castanets to clack together. A favourite instrument was called the {sistrum.} It had a slender handle leading to a thin open metal frame with metal rods and discs attached to it. When it was shaken, it made a great deal of noise. The Egyptians loved to dance and sing, accompanied by their music. Music was played at numerous events, including banquets, weddings and funerals.