The Wilderness Years

Then the tabernacle was taken down; and the descendants of Gershon and the descendants of M'rari set out, carrying the tabernacle.

Next, the banner of the camp of Re'uven moved forward by companies; over his company was Elitzur the son of Sh'de'ur.

Over the company of the tribe of the descendants of Shim'on was Shlumi'el the son of Tzurishaddai.

Over the company of the descendants of Gad was Elyasaf the son of De'u'el.

Then the descendants of K'hat set out, carrying the sanctuary, so that [at the next camp] the tabernacle could be set up before they arrived.

The banner of the camp of the descendants of Efrayim moved forward by companies; over his company was Elishama the son of 'Ammihud.

Over the company of the tribe of the descendants of M'nasheh was Gamli'el the son of P'dahtzur.

Over the company of the descendants of Binyamin was Avidan the son of Gid'oni.

The banner of the camp of the descendants of Dan, forming the rearguard for all the camps, moved forward by companies; over his company was Achi'ezer the son of 'Ammishaddai.

Over the company of the tribe of the descendants of Asher was Pag'i'el the son of 'Okhran.

Over the company of the descendants of Naftali was Achira the son of 'Enan.

This is how the people of Isra'el traveled by companies; thus they moved forward.

Moshe said to Hovav the son of Re'u'el the Midyani, Moshe's father-in-law, "We are traveling to the place about which ADONAI said, 'I will give it to you.'Come with us, and we will treat you well, because ADONAI has promised good things to Isra'el."

But he replied, "I will not go; I would rather go back to my own country and my own kinsmen."

Moshe continued, "Please don't leave us, because you know that we have to camp in the desert, and you can serve as our eyes.

If you do go with us, then whatever good ADONAI does for us, we will do the same for you."

So they set out from ADONAI's mountain and traveled for three days. Ahead of them on this three-day journey went the ark of ADONAI's covenant, searching for a new place to stop.

The cloud of ADONAI was over them during the day as they set out from the camp.

When the ark moved forward, Moshe said, "Arise, ADONAI! May your enemies be scattered! Let those who hate you flee before you!"

When it stopped, he said, "Return, ADONAI of the many, many thousands of Isra'el!"

But the people began complaining about their hardships to ADONAI. When ADONAI heard it, his anger flared up, so that fire from ADONAI broke out against them and consumed the outskirts of the camp.

Then the people cried to Moshe, Moshe prayed to ADONAI, and the fire abated.

That place was called Tav'erah [burning] because ADONAI's fire broke out against them.

Next, the mixed crowd that was with them grew greedy for an easier life; while the people of Isra'el, for their part, also renewed their weeping and said, "If only we had meat to eat!

We remember the fish we used to eat in Egypt - it cost us nothing! -and the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, the garlic!