18. With their flag in front, the armies led by Reuben’s descendants broke camp next. Elizur, son of Shedeur, was in command.
19. Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai, commanded the army of Simeon.
20. Eliasaph, son of Deuel, commanded the army of Gad.
21. Then the Kohathites, who carried the holy things, broke camp. By the time they arrived, the tent ⌊of meeting⌋ would already be set up.
22. With their flag in front, the armies led by Ephraim’s descendants broke camp next. Elisha, son of Ammihud, was in command.
23. Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur, commanded the army of Manasseh.
24. Abidan, son of Gideoni, commanded the army of Benjamin.
25. As a rear guard for the whole camp, the armies led by Dan’s descendants broke camp last with their flag in front. Ahiezer, son of Ammishaddai, was in command.
26. Pagiel, son of Ochran, commanded the army of Asher.
27. Ahira, son of Enan, commanded the army of Naphtali.
28. This was the order in which the Israelite armies broke camp when they went from place to place.
29. Moses said to his brother-in-law Hobab, son of Reuel the Midianite, “We are going to the place the Lord promised to give us. Come with us. We will be good to you, because the Lord has promised good things to Israel.”
30. Hobab answered, “No, I won’t go. I want to go back to my own country where my relatives are.”
31. But Moses said, “Please don’t leave us. You know where we can set up camp in the desert, and you could be our guide.