Numbers2
English Standard Version
1The Lord to and , ,
2The of shall by his own , with the of their ’ . They shall the of on every .
3Those to on the side toward the shall be of the of the of by their , the of the of being the of ,
4his as being .
5Those to next to him shall be the of , the of the of being the of ,
6his as being .
7Then the of , the of the of being the of ,
8his as being .
9 those of the of , by their , were . They shall on the march.
10On the side shall be the of the of by their , the of the of being the of ,
11his as being .
12And those to next to him shall be the of , the of the of being the of ,
13his as being .
14Then the of , the of the of being the of ,
15his as being .
16 those of the of , by their , were . They shall .
17Then the of shall , with the of the in the of the ; as they , so shall they , in , standard by .
18On the side shall be the of the of by their , the of the of being the of ,
19his as being .
20And next to him shall be the of , the of the of being the of ,
21his as being .
22Then the of , the of the of being the of ,
23his as being .
24 those of the of , by their , were . They shall on the march.
25On the side shall be the of the of by their , the of the of being the of ,
26his as being .
27And those to next to him shall be the of , the of the of being the of ,
28his as being .
29Then the of , the of the of being the of ,
30his as being .
31 those of the of were . They shall , standard by .
32 are the of as by their ’ . those in the by their were .
33But the were not the of , as the Lord .
34Thus the of . According to that the Lord , so they by their , and so they , one in his , according to his ’ .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Numbers 2.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The order of the tribes in their tents. (1-34).
vv1-34
The tribes were to encamp about the tabernacle, which was to be in the midst of them. It was a token of God's gracious presence. Yet they were to pitch their tents afar off, in reverence to the sanctuary. The children of Israel put themselves in their posts, without murmuring or disputing; and as it was their safety, so it was their beauty. It is our duty and interest to be contented with the place allotted to us, and to endeavour to occupy it in a proper manner, without envying or murmuring; without ambition or covetousness. Thus the gospel church ought to be compact, according to the Scripture model, every one knowing and keeping his place; and then all that wish well to the church rejoice, beholding their order, Col 2:5.
Key Words
דָבַר: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
מֹשֶׁה: Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
אַהֲרוֹן: Aharon, the brother of Moses
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
חָנָה: properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening); specifically, to pitch atent; gen. to encamp (for abode or siege)
אִישׁ: a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
דֶּגֶל: a flag
אוֹת: a signal (literally or figuratively), as aflag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc.
Cross References
Numbers 2Establishes the 'far off' distance of 2000 cubits between the camp of Israel and the Ark.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Spiritual parallel to the order, beauty, and compact structure of the gospel church.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Nahshon, captain of Judah, is listed in the messianic genealogy of Jesus Christ.
Supported by JFB
Confirms the fulfillment of the marching order with Judah departing first.
Supported by JFB
Explains how the Levites set forward in the midst of the camps during journeys.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Details the sanctuary being carried in the midst, matching the encampment layout.
Supported by JFB
Ephraim is preferred before his older brother Manasseh, fulfilling Jacob's prophetic blessing.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Levites pitching around the Tabernacle explains why Israel pitched 'far off' to prevent wrath.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Judah's preeminence and standard (lion) relate to Jacob's blessing of the tribes.
Supported by JFB
Direct parallel linking the command to pitch by standards to the initial census.
Balaam's admiration of Israel's order when he saw them tents abiding by standards.
The total sum of the camps matches the exact military census figure.
Apostolic mandate that all things in the church should be done decently and in order.
Identifies the command exempting the Levites from the general military numbering.