Numbers2
World English Bible · Public Domain
1Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,
2“The children of Israel shall encamp every man by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ houses. They shall encamp around the Tent of Meeting at a distance from it.
3“Those who encamp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah, according to their divisions. The prince of the children of Judah shall be Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
4His division, and those who were counted of them, were seventy-four thousand six hundred.
5“Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar. The prince of the children of Issachar shall be Nethanel the son of Zuar.
6His division, and those who were counted of it, were fifty-four thousand four hundred.
7“The tribe of Zebulun: the prince of the children of Zebulun shall be Eliab the son of Helon.
8His division, and those who were counted of it, were fifty-seven thousand four hundred.
9“All who were counted of the camp of Judah were one hundred eighty-six thousand four hundred, according to their divisions. They shall set out first.
10“On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their divisions. The prince of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.
11His division, and those who were counted of it, were forty-six thousand five hundred.
12“Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Simeon. The prince of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
13His division, and those who were counted of them, were fifty-nine thousand three hundred.
14“The tribe of Gad: the prince of the children of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel.
15His division, and those who were counted of them, were forty-five thousand six hundred fifty.
16“All who were counted of the camp of Reuben were one hundred fifty-one thousand four hundred fifty, according to their armies. They shall set out second.
17“Then the Tent of Meeting shall set out, with the camp of the Levites in the middle of the camps. As they encamp, so shall they set out, every man in his place, by their standards.
18“On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their divisions. The prince of the children of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud.
19His division, and those who were counted of them, were forty thousand five hundred.
20“Next to him shall be the tribe of Manasseh. The prince of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
21His division, and those who were counted of them, were thirty-two thousand two hundred.
22“The tribe of Benjamin: the prince of the children of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni.
23His army, and those who were counted of them, were thirty-five thousand four hundred.
24“All who were counted of the camp of Ephraim were one hundred eight thousand one hundred, according to their divisions. They shall set out third.
25“On the north side shall be the standard of the camp of Dan according to their divisions. The prince of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
26His division, and those who were counted of them, were sixty-two thousand seven hundred.
27“Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Asher. The prince of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ochran.
28His division, and those who were counted of them, were forty-one thousand five hundred.
29“The tribe of Naphtali: the prince of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan.
30His division, and those who were counted of them, were fifty-three thousand four hundred.
31“All who were counted of the camp of Dan were one hundred fifty-seven thousand six hundred. They shall set out last by their standards.”
32These are those who were counted of the children of Israel by their fathers’ houses. All who were counted of the camps according to their armies were six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty.
33But the Levites were not counted among the children of Israel, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
34Thus the children of Israel did. According to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so they encamped by their standards, and so they set out, everyone by their families, according to their fathers’ houses.
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.