CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Numbers 2
Chapter 2 of 36
Chapter Overview
What happens in Numbers 2
God gives instructions for how the twelve tribes must arrange their camps around the tabernacle. Three tribes camp on each of the four sides, with the tabernacle and the Levites in the center.
Scripture
Numbers 2
Camp Instructions
Study note
God wanted the Israelite camp to be orderly and centered around his presence. Each tribe had its own flag and banner, and they were told to camp at a distance from the tent of meeting while still surrounding it on all four sides.
1 The Lord gave these instructions to Moses and Aaron: And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
2 "Each Israelite should set up camp near his own tribal flag and family banner. They should camp around the tent of meeting, but at a distance from it." Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.
The East Side: Judah's Division
Study note
The tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun camped on the east side of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise. Judah was given the position of honor, leading the march when the camp moved. These three tribes together had 186,400 fighting men.
3 The divisions under Judah's flag were assigned the east side, facing the sunrise. Nahshon son of Amminadab led the tribe of Judah. And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah.
4 His fighting force numbered 74,600. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.
5 Camping beside Judah was the tribe of Issachar, led by Nethanel son of Zuar. And those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar.
6 His fighting force numbered 54,400. And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.
7 The tribe of Zebulun camped there too, led by Eliab son of Helon. Then the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun.
8 His fighting force numbered 57,400. And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.
9 Judah's entire camp totaled 186,400 soldiers when counted by divisions. They were to lead the march whenever the people moved. All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth.
The South Side: Reuben's Division
Study note
The tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad camped on the south side. Their combined fighting force was 151,450 men. They were the second group to march when the camp moved forward.
10 Reuben's flag and divisions were assigned the south side. Elizur son of Shedeur led the tribe of Reuben. On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.
11 His fighting force numbered 46,500. And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.
12 The tribe of Simeon camped beside Reuben. Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai led them. And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon: and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
13 His fighting force numbered 59,300. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.
14 The tribe of Gad camped there too, led by Eliasaph son of Reuel. Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel.
15 His fighting force numbered 45,650. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty.
16 Reuben's entire camp totaled 151,450 soldiers when counted by divisions. They were to march second. All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben were an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies. And they shall set forth in the second rank.
The Levites in the Center
Study note
The Levites and the tabernacle traveled in the middle of the marching order. This protected the holy dwelling from enemy attack and kept God's presence at the center of the nation.
17 After that, the tent of meeting would move forward. The Levites carried it in the center of all the groups. Each group marched in the same order they used when camping. Everyone stayed in place under their flag. Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards.
The West Side: Ephraim's Division
Study note
The tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin camped on the west side. With 108,100 fighting men, they were the smallest division. They marched third in the order.
18 Ephraim's flag and divisions were assigned the west side. Elishama son of Ammihud led the tribe of Ephraim. On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies: and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud.
19 His fighting force numbered 40,500. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty thousand and five hundred.
20 Camping beside Ephraim was the tribe of Manasseh, led by Gamaliel son of Pedahzur. And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
21 His fighting force numbered 32,200. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
22 The tribe of Benjamin camped there too, led by Abidan son of Gideoni. Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni.
23 His fighting force numbered 35,400. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.
24 Ephraim's entire camp totaled 108,100 soldiers when counted by divisions. They were to march third. All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout their armies. And they shall go forward in the third rank.
The North Side: Dan's Division
Study note
The tribes of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali camped on the north side with 157,600 men. They served as the rear guard when Israel traveled.
25 Dan's flag and divisions were assigned the north side. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai led the tribe of Dan. The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
26 His fighting force numbered 62,700. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.
27 Camping beside Dan was the tribe of Asher, led by Pagiel son of Ocran. And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran.
28 His fighting force numbered 41,500. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.
29 The tribe of Naphtali camped there too, led by Ahira son of Enan. Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan.
30 His fighting force numbered 53,400. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.
31 Dan's entire camp totaled 157,600 soldiers. They would march last, serving as the rear guard. All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan were an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred. They shall go hindmost with their standards.
Summary of the Census
Study note
The total of all fighting men from the twelve tribes was 603,550. The Levites were not included. The chapter ends by noting that the people obeyed God and set up camp exactly as he directed.
32 When all the Israelites were counted by family and sorted into their camp groups, the grand total was 603,550 men. These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.
33 The Levites were left out of this count, following what the Lord had told Moses. But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.
34 The Israelites carried out everything the Lord told Moses. They camped under their own flags and marched in proper order, each person staying with his family and household. And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.
Key Themes
Themes in Numbers 2
God's presence at the center of communityDivine order and structureTribal unity under God's directionObedience to God's design
Apply This Today
Living Numbers 2
When God is at the center of a community, everything else falls into its proper place. The camp arrangement reminds us that our lives, families, and churches function best when organized around God's presence rather than our own preferences.
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