21. The men of Kohath started out. They carried the holy things. The holy tent had to be set up before they arrived.
22. The companies of the camp of Ephraim went next. They went out under their flag. Elishama was their commander. He was the son of Ammihud.
23. Gamaliel was over the company of the tribe of Manasseh. Gamaliel was the son of Pedahzur.
24. Abidan was over the company of the tribe of Benjamin. Abidan was the son of Gideoni.
25. Finally, the companies of the camp of Dan started out. They marched out under their flag. They followed behind all of the other companies and guarded them. Ahiezer was their commander. He was the son of Ammishaddai.
26. Pagiel was over the company of the tribe of Asher. Pagiel was the son of Ocran.
27. Ahira was over the company of the tribe of Naphtali. Ahira was the son of Enan.
28. As the companies of Israel started out, that was the order they marched in.
29. Moses spoke to Hobab, the son of Reuel. Reuel was Moses' father-in-law. Reuel was from Midian. Moses said to Hobab, "We're starting out for the place the Lord promised to us. He said to us, 'I will give it to you.' So come with us. We'll treat you well. The Lord has promised to give good things to Israel."
30. Hobab answered, "No. I can't go. I'm going back to my own land. I'm returning to my own people."
31. But Moses said, "Please don't leave us. You know where we should camp in the desert. You can be our guide.
32. So come with us. The Lord will give us good things. We'll share them with you."
33. So they started out from the mountain of the Lord. They traveled for three days. The ark of the covenant of the Lord went in front of them during those three days. It went ahead of them to find a place for them to rest.
34. They started out from the camp by day. And the cloud of the Lord was above them.