Numbers 10:13
And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּסְע֖וּ
took their journey
H5265
וַיִּסְע֖וּ
took their journey
Strong's:
H5265
Word #:
1 of 7
properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e., start on a journey
בָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֑ה
And they first
H7223
בָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֑ה
And they first
Strong's:
H7223
Word #:
2 of 7
first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
3 of 7
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
פִּ֥י
according to the commandment
H6310
פִּ֥י
according to the commandment
Strong's:
H6310
Word #:
4 of 7
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos
יְהוָ֖ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֖ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
5 of 7
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
Historical Context
Moses, now 81 years old, had led Israel for approximately one year since the Exodus. The journey organization detailed in Numbers 1-10 demonstrates meticulous divine planning—census, camp arrangement, tribal order, Levitical duties, purity laws, and trumpet signals all preceded movement. This was no disorganized refugee migration but a disciplined covenant people advancing under divine command.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God emphasize that this first journey was "according to the commandment of the LORD" before recording subsequent failures?
- How does Moses as mediator "by whose hand" God commands prefigure Christ as the mediator of a better covenant?
- What safeguards against the pattern of initial obedience eroding into eventual rebellion?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
They first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses (פִּי־יְהוָה pi-YHWH, mouth of the LORD)—The literal Hebrew is "by the mouth of the LORD," emphasizing verbal command. By the hand of Moses (בְּיַד־מֹשֶׁה beyad-Moshe)—Moses functioned as the mediating agent transmitting divine directives. Every stage of the journey was regulated by explicit command, not human strategy or convenience.
This verse stresses obedience at the outset of the journey to Canaan—tragically, the book of Numbers chronicles how this initial compliance gave way to repeated rebellion (ch. 11-14, 16-17, 20-21, 25). The phrase "they first took their journey" marks faithful beginning before faithless wavering. Deuteronomy reflects on this pattern: "You were rebellious against the LORD from the day that I knew you" (9:24).