Numbers 10:35

Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, “Rise up, O LORD! May Your enemies be scattered; may those who hate You flee before You.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses speaks to Yahweh as the ark departs, initiating the Israelites' movement from the camp under the guiding cloud.

The words — The imperative קוּמָה (qumah) commands God to "rise up," while the jussive יָפֻצוּ (yafutsu) petitions for enemies to be "scattered."

The thread — This departure formula aligns with the ascent petition in Psalm 68:1 and shares the motif of divine judgment against adversaries found in Deuteronomy 7:10 and Deuteronomy 32:41.

Why it lands — The text establishes that Israel's progress requires Yahweh's active intervention, framing the community's movement as dependent on direct divine action rather than human strategy.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיְהִ֛יva/y.Hiand/ it was בִּנְסֹ֥עַbi/n.So.a'when/ set out הָאָרֹ֖ןha./'a.Ronthe/ ark וַיֹּ֣אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said מֹשֶׁ֑הmo.ShehMoses קוּמָ֣ה׀ku.Ma/hrise up/ !יְהוָ֗הYah.wehO Yahweh וְיָפֻ֙צוּ֙ve./ya.Fu.tzuso/ they may be scattered אֹֽיְבֶ֔יךָ'o.ye.Vei./khaenemies/ your וְיָנֻ֥סוּve./ya.Nu.suand/ they may flee מְשַׂנְאֶ֖יךָme.san.'Ei./kha[those who] hate/ you מִפָּנֶֽיךָ׃mi./pa.Nei./khafrom/ before/ you

King James Version

And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.

Cross-references

Psalms 68:1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A song. God arises. His enemies are scattered, and those who hate Him flee His presence.
Deuteronomy 7:10 But those who hate Him He repays to their faces with destruction; He will not hesitate to repay to his face the one who hates Him.
Deuteronomy 32:41 when I sharpen My flashing sword, and My hand grasps it in judgment, I will take vengeance on My adversaries and repay those who hate Me.
Psalms 132:8 Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength.
Isaiah 17:12 Alas, the tumult of many peoples; they rage like the roaring seas and clamoring nations; they rumble like the crashing of mighty waters.
Isaiah 51:9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD. Wake up as in days past, as in generations of old. Was it not You who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced through the dragon?

People named

Moses