But if only one is sounded, then the leaders, the heads of the clans of Israel, are to gather before you.
Parallel translations
- WEB If they blow just one, then the princes, the heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves to you.
- KJV And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.
- NKJV But if they blow only one, then the leaders, the heads of the divisions of Israel, shall gather to you.
- NASB But if only one is blown, then the leaders, the heads of the divisions of Israel, shall meet you.
- NLT But if only one trumpet is blown, then only the leaders—the heads of the clans of Israel—must present themselves to you.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
If only one trumpet sounded, just the leaders of the tribes gathered. Different signals called different groups.
Overview
A single trumpet summoned the princes rather than the whole nation, showing the system's flexibility. God provided ordered communication so leaders could be convened for counsel, reflecting His design for structured, orderly governance among His people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Num 7:2And the leaders of Israel, the heads of their families, presented an offering. These men were the tribal leaders who had supervised the registration.
- Exod 18:21Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
- Num 1:4–16And one man from each tribe, the head of each family, must be there with you.
- Deut 1:15So I took the leaders of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them as leaders over you—as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens, and as officers for your tribes.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 10:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.