2 "Make two silver trumpets; of hammered work you shall make them; and you shall use them for summoning the congregation, and for breaking camp.
3 And when both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
Blowing the trumpets symbolizes empowering and balancing both the Masculine and Feminine sides our being. Activating these calls all faculties and parts of your being to your consciousness.
4 But if they blow only one, then the leaders, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you.
Activating either one of these by itself initiates the process of spiritual enlightenment. This is what the leaders of the tribes of Israel symbolize.
5 When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the East side shall set out.
The first thing to change within the psyche is always the forces of Spirit, symbolized here by the tribes in the East.
6 And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out.
The karmic and other earthly forces are the second to act.
7 But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm.
Blowing the trumpet symbolizes placing active attention of either the feminine or masculine type of consciousness on your inner faculties. Sounding an alarm symbolizes starting to actively work toward Spiritual Transformation or Enlightenment. To assemble the forces together, all that is needed is to turn the consciousness inward, which is symbolized by blowing either trumpet.
8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations.
Only the forces of Spirit are allowed to summon all the faculties of consciousness together or initiate Spiritual Transformation. These must always be contacted first.
9 And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before YHVH, your god, and you shall be saved from your enemies.
Sounding the alarm symbolizes using both the Masculine and Feminine forces (Intellect and Heart) and all your faculties to purify your consciousness of your lower nature. The “war” mentioned is simply the path of spiritual purification, and is a conscious working against your lower nature. If you devote all your faculties to this, you will complete this, the Great Work.
10 On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts, and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; they shall serve you for remembrance before your god: I am YHVH, your god."
The two trumpets represent the same two forces as the Cloud and the Fire. The individual must direct the spiritual forces he or she is developing in order to progress. This direction is symbolized by the blowing of the trumpets. It is these forces which are used to accomplish the continuing work or building of the temple within.
11 In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle of the testimony,
12 and the people of Israel set out by stages from the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Paran.
The number two symbolizes the descent of spirit into matter. It refers again to the idea of Male and Female, the duality of the material world. Sinai, in Hebrew, means precipitous. It represents a state of consciousness wherein we are searching for Enlightenment (or "God") and it is there to be found. Paran means a region of searching. It represents an even more earnest searching after Truth.
13 They set out for the first time at the command of YHVH, by Moses.
Again, Spirit is always the initiator of action.
14 The standard of the camp of the men of Judah set out first by their companies; and over their host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
The whole process is started with the attitude of self-assurance, the knowing that the spiritual work is possible and will be completed. It comes from a generous nature, which is the first inclination of the inner divine nature surfacing within the individual.
15 And over the host of the tribe of the men of Issachar was Nethanel, the son of Zuar.
Next, the individual feels more zealous toward the work, and acknowledges the divine nature of it, reducing the presence of the lower nature within the consciousness.
16 And over the host of the tribe of the men of Zebulun was Eliab, the son of Helon.
To keep the thoughts of the mind in order, the individual must remember that all this power comes from God, the spiritual presence within him or her, and keep that belief firm. It serves as a constant reminder to never abandon the work, and of it’s importance.
17 And when the tabernacle was taken down, the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who carried the tabernacle, set out.
The sons of Gershon and Merari symbolize the feelings of separation, and selfish love, respectively. They manifest when the attention is turned from the spiritual work.
18 And the standard of the camp of Reuben set out by their companies; and over their host was Elizur the son of Shedeur.
The next phase of the work is the strengthening of the rationalizing faculties by the spiritual nature of the practitioner, or God. This is what Elizur, the son of Shedeur and leader of the tribe of Reuben symbolizes.
19 And over the host of the tribe of the men of Simeon was Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai.
The next phase of the work is learning to listen to and trust the inner\spiritual guidance of God. In continuing the work, the individual must adhere to the steadfast presence of God within him or herself and learn to trust it. This is what Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai and leader of the tribe of Simeon symbolizes.
20 And over the host of the tribe of the men of Gad was Eliasaph, the son of Deuel.
The next phase of the work is an increase in spiritual power and understanding that comes from living in the state of Enlightenment, that is, the Consciousness of God. This comes from consciously directing the attention inward, and living in the world through that state. This is what Eliasaph, the son of Deuel and leader of the tribe of Gad symbolizes.
21 Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things, and the tabernacle was set up before their arrival.
The Kohathites setting out symbolizes the emerging of Love within the consciousness of the individual. The tabernacle (inner temple or state of harmony) is the foundation for this, here symbolized by it being set up before the arrival of the Kohathites.
22 And the standard of the camp of the men of Ephraim set out by their companies; and over their host was Elishama, the son of Ammihud.
The next part of the Great Work strengthens the Will. This comes about by living in spiritual purity and learning to understand the nature of God.
23 And over the host of the tribe of the men of Manasseh was Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur.
Next in the Great Work is the removal of error\sin from consciousness. This is done by continuing the process of spiritual purification, which strengthens all inner forms of guidance and wisdom. This is what Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur and leader of the tribe of Manasseh, symbolizes.
24 And over the host of the tribe of the men of Benjamin was Abidan, the son of Gideoni.
As more error\sin\evil is removed through your work, your confidence in your own abilities will grow and your own intuition and ability to judge will be strengthened. This is the next phase of the Great Work. It is symbolized by Abidan, the son of Gideoni and leader of Benjamin.
25 Then the standard of the camp of the men of Dan, acting as the rear guard of all the camps, set out by their companies; and over their host was Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai.
The spiritually purified power of Judgment (Dan) is empowered by the purified Intuition, which comes from maintaining a strong internal connection to God. This helps protect the mind of the individual from potential corruption before that negative behavior manifests completely, giving the individual a chance to correct it. This is what is meant by Dan “acting as the rear guard of all the camps”. This is the next phase of the Great Work.
26 And over the host of the tribe of the men of Asher was Pagiel, the son of Ochran.
The next phase of the work is a more active connection with God. In times of stress, this connection becomes a source of peace and guidance. This is symbolized by Pagiel, the son of Ochran and leader of the tribe of Asher.
27 And over the host of the tribe of the men of Naphtali was Ahira, the son of Enan.
The next phase of the work is learning to consciously experience that connection with God through your whole consciousness. This conscious connection is the source of both empowerment for all the faculties in the entire being, and also the internal conflict between Human and Divine. That is what is symbolized by Ahira, the son of Enan and leader of the tribe of Naphtali.
28 This was the order of march of the people of Israel according to their hosts, when they set out.
This is how the process of Spiritual Transformation begins.
29 And Moses said to Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, "We are setting out for the place of which YHVH said, 'I will give it to you'; come with us, and we will do you good; for YHVH has promised good to Israel."
30 But he said to him, "I will not go; I will depart to my own land and to my kindred."
Hobab means beloved or cherished. He represents understanding and discrimination. Both of these are required and cherished by the awakening mind seeking after things spiritual.
31 And he said, "Do not leave us, I pray you, for you know how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and you will serve as eyes for us.
The spiritualized mind (Moses) is that part of us that knows how to survive in times of confusion (wilderness) and is needed in order to continue the path to enlightenment.
32 And if you go with us, whatever good YHVH will do to us, the same will we do to you."
The faculties of understanding and discrimination share in the rewards that come from the spiritual way of living, so long as they remain part of the psyche. These faculties are needed on the path to Enlightenment.
33 So they set out from the mount of YHVH three days' journey; and the ark of the covenant of YHVH went before them three days' journey, to seek out a resting place for them.
The three days represent the process by which all things are spiritualized.
34 And the Cloud of YHVH was over them by day, whenever they set out from the camp.
The Cloud of YHVH represents that Feminine side of the psyche; that is the Heart.
35 And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, "Arise, YHVH, and let thy enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee."
This call is an empowerment of the spiritual purification process.
36 And when it rested, he said, "Return, YHVH, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel."
The ten thousand thousands of Israel represent complete spiritual perfection as a foundation and goal for all the spiritual work.