The Wilderness Years

And the tabernacle was taken down, and the sons of Gerson and Merari set forward, bearing it.

And the sons of Ruben also marched, by their troops and ranks, whose prince was Helisur the son of Sedeur.

And in the tribe of Simeon, the prince was Salamiel the son of Surisaddai.

And in the tribe of Gad, the prince was Eliasaph the son of Duel.

Then the Caathites also marched carrying the sanctuary. So long was the tabernacle carried, till they came to the place of setting it up.

The sons of Ephraim also moved their camp by their troops, in whose army the prince was Elisama the son of Ammiud.

And in the tribe of the sons of Manasses, the prince was Gamaliel the son of Phadassur.

And in the tribe of Benjamin, the prince was Abidan the son of Gedeon.

The last of all the camp marched the sons of Dan by their troops, in whose army the prince was Ahiezer the son of Ammisaddai.

And in the tribe of the sons of Aser, the prince was Phegiel the son of Ochran.

And in the tribe of the sons of Nephtali, the prince was Ahira the son of Enan.

This was the order of the camps, and marches of the children of Israel by their troops, when they set forward.

And Moses said to Hobab the son of Raguel the Madianite, his kinsman: We are going towards the place which the Lord will give us: come with us, that we may do thee good: for the Lord hath promised good things to Israel.

But he answered him: I will not go with thee, but I will return to my country, wherein I was born.

And he said: Do not leave us: for thou knowest in what places we should encamp in the wilderness, and thou shalt be our guide.

And if thou comest with us, we will give thee what is the best of the riches which the Lord shall deliver to us.

So they marched from the mount of the Lord three days' journey, and the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them, for three days providing a place for the camp.

The cloud also of the Lord was over them by day when they marched.

And when the ark was lifted up, Moses said: Arise, O Lord, and let thy enemies be scattered, and let them that hate thee, flee from before thy face.

And when it was set down, he said: Return, O Lord, to the multitude of the host of Israel.

In the mean time there arose a murmuring of the people against the Lord, as it were repining at their fatigue. And when the Lord heard it he was angry. And the fire of the Lord being kindled against them, devoured them that were at the uttermost part of the camp.

And when the people cried to Moses, Moses prayed to the Lord, and the fire was swallowed up.

And he called the name of that place, The burning: for that the fire of the Lord had been kindled against them.

For a mixt multitude of people, that came up with them, burned with desire, sitting and weeping, the children of Israel also being joined with them, and said: Who shall give us flesh to eat?

We remember the fish that we ate in Egypt free cost: the cucumbers come into our mind, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic.