The Meaning of Numbers 10:2 Explained

Numbers 10:2

KJV: Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.

YLT: 'Make to thee two trumpets of silver; beaten work thou dost make them, and they have been to thee for the convocation of the company, and for the journeying of the camps;

Darby: Make thee two trumpets of silver; of beaten work shalt thou make them; and they shall serve for the calling together of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.

ASV: Make thee two trumpets of silver; of beaten work shalt thou make them: and thou shalt use them for the calling of the congregation, and for the journeying of the camps.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Make  thee two  trumpets  of silver;  of a whole piece  shalt thou make  them: that thou mayest use  them for the calling  of the assembly,  and for the journeying  of the camps. 

What does Numbers 10:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 10:1-16 - The Trumpets Sound The March
Each trumpet was made of a solid piece of silver. They fulfilled several purposes, summoning an assembly, sounding the march, gathering for battle. They are referred to symbolically in Matthew 24:31, and 1 Corinthians 15:52. We are constantly being called to arise and depart! Is not the trumpet calling today to a slumbering Church to move out to the evangelization of the world? For a whole year Israel had sojourned under Sinai. They left Egypt an undisciplined crowd; they had become a nation, and a marshaled host. Each knew his pedigree and standard; every tribe had its appointed place. The soul must visit Sinai, but not live there. It must journey forth to Hermon, Olivet, and Calvary. The Church is moving on! Find thy place in the great procession and keep it. Remembered by God and saved from your enemies! Compare Numbers 10:9 and Isaiah 52:12. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 10

1  The use of the silver trumpets
11  The Israelites move from Sinai to Paran
14  The order of their march
29  Hobab is entreated by Moses not to leave them
33  The blessing of Moses at the removing and resting of the ark

What do the individual words in Numbers 10:2 mean?

Make for yourself two trumpets silver Of hammered work you shall make them and you shall make use of them for calling the congregation for directing the movement of the camps
עֲשֵׂ֣ה לְךָ֗ שְׁתֵּי֙ חֲצֽוֹצְרֹ֣ת כֶּ֔סֶף [work]מִקְשָׁ֖ה תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה אֹתָ֑ם וְהָי֤וּ לְךָ֙ לְמִקְרָ֣א הָֽעֵדָ֔ה וּלְמַסַּ֖ע אֶת־ הַֽמַּחֲנֽוֹת

עֲשֵׂ֣ה  Make 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
לְךָ֗  for  yourself 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
שְׁתֵּי֙  two 
Parse: Number, fdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
חֲצֽוֹצְרֹ֣ת  trumpets 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: חֲצֹצְרָה  
Sense: trumpet, clarion.
כֶּ֔סֶף  silver 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֶּסֶף  
Sense: silver, money.
[work]מִקְשָׁ֖ה  Of  hammered  work 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִקְשָׁה  
Sense: hammered work, finely decorated cultic objects of gold or silver.
תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה  you  shall  make 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
וְהָי֤וּ  and  you  shall  make  use 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לְךָ֙  of  them 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
לְמִקְרָ֣א  for  calling 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִקְרָא  
Sense: convocation, convoking, reading, a calling together.
הָֽעֵדָ֔ה  the  congregation 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵדָה  
Sense: congregation, gathering.
וּלְמַסַּ֖ע  for  directing  the  movement 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַסַּע  
Sense: a pulling up (of stakes), breaking camp, setting out, journey.
הַֽמַּחֲנֽוֹת  the  camps 
Parse: Article, Noun, common plural
Root: מַחֲנֶה  
Sense: encampment, camp.