18. The standard of the camp of Reuben went forward according to their armies. Elizur the son of Shedeur was over his army.
19. Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai was over the army of the tribe of the children of Simeon.
20. Eliasaph the son of Deuel was over the army of the tribe of the children of Gad.
21. The Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary. The others set up the tabernacle before they arrived.
22. The standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies. Elishama the son of Ammihud was over his army.
23. Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur was over the army of the tribe of the children of Manasseh.
24. Abidan the son of Gideoni was over the army of the tribe of the children of Benjamin.
25. The standard of the camp of the children of Dan, which was the rear guard of all the camps, set forward according to their armies. Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai was over his army.
26. Pagiel the son of Ochran was over the army of the tribe of the children of Asher.
27. Ahira the son of Enan was over the army of the tribe of the children of Naphtali.
28. Thus were the travels of the children of Israel according to their armies; and they went forward.
29. Moses said to Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are journeying to the place of which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well; for the Lord has spoken good concerning Israel.”
30. He said to him, “I will not go; but I will depart to my own land, and to my relatives.”
31. Moses said, “Don’t leave us, please; because you know how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes.
32. It shall be, if you go with us—yes, it shall be—that whatever good the Lord does to us, we will do the same to you.”
33. They set forward from the Mount of the Lord three days’ journey. The ark of the Lord’s covenant went before them three days’ journey, to seek out a resting place for them.
34. The cloud of the Lord was over them by day, when they set forward from the camp.
35. When the ark went forward, Moses said, “Rise up, Lord, and let your enemies be scattered! Let those who hate you flee before you!”
36. When it rested, he said, “Return, Lord, to the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel.”