Big Idea: God leads his people both supernaturally and through his ministers.

Understanding the Text

In this unit the narrative flashes back to the first day of the first month of year two of the exodus (Exod. 40:17), when the pillar of fire had entered the tabernacle (Num. 9:15–23; cf. Exod. 40:34–38). This reminds the people that it is God himself who has led them in the wilderness. Jumping past the censuses taken in the first month (Num. 1–4), the text goes on to describe the silver trumpets made to direct the Israelites to their formations during the march, or to worship at the tent of meeting, or to defend themselves against enemies in war (Num. 10:1–10).

At that point, everything has been prepared for the journey, and six days after celebrating the Passover to commemorate the even…