When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out.
We have here directions concerning the public notices that were to be given to the people upon several occasions by sound of trumpet. In a thing of this nature, one would think, Moses needed not to have been taught of God: his own reason might teach him the conveniency of trumpets; but the constitution of Israel was to be in every thing divine, and therefore...
Commenting on Numbers 10:1-10
When ye blow an alarm,.... Making a broken, uneven, and quavering sound, which is called a "tara-tan-tara": then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward; the camps of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, which lay to the east of the tabernacle, at the front of it; see Num 1:3; this was to be the token for their march, which was first of all; Num 10:14.
When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. (b) That is, the host of Judah and they that are under his ensign.