Numbers 2
This chapter contains the order of the encampment and march of the tribes of Israel in their proper places about the tabernacle; the general direction for the same is in Num_1:1; the particulars follow; on the east of the tabernacle the camp of Judah was to pitch, and under his standard the tribes of Issachar and Zebulun, Num_1:3; on the south side of it the camp of Reuben, and under his standard the tribes of Simeon and Gad, Num_1:10; then the tabernacle, with the camp of the Levites round it, were next, to stand or set forward, Num_1:17; and on the west side the camp of Ephraim, and under his standard the tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin, Num_1:18; and on the north side the camp of Dan, and under his standard the tribes of Asher and Naphtali, Num_1:25; the sum total of the numbers of which camps are given, exclusive of the camp of Levi, Num_1:32; and the chapter is concluded with observing, that all was done according to the commandment of God, Num_1:34.
Num 2:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
the Lord spake unto Moses, and unto Aaron - Very probably after the number of the children of Israel was taken.
Num 2:2 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.
There is the persistent yet erroneous view that the Hebrew word degel, translated as standard means "company, or companies." There is no justification for that interpretation. It is a masculine noun denoting a flag, banner, standard. It depicted banners or standards to identify the various tribes of Israel.
Neither the Mosaic law, nor the Old Testament generally, gives us any hint as to the form or character of the standard (degel). According to rabbinical tradition, the banner of Judah bore the image of a lion; that of Reuben the picture of a man or of a human head; that of Ephraim the image of an ox; that of Dan the emblem of an eagle; so that on these four standards the four creatures which are united in the cherubic figures given by Ezekiel Eze 1:10 As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. are said to have been represented. Other Jewish traditions associated the same figures to different tribes, along with colors associated with the standards, linked to the stones of each tribe on the breastplate of the High Priest. These traditional views linked to the encampments in the wilderness are not supported by scripture.
The early Christians used these same symbols to represent the four Gospels. They used a lion to stand for Matthew, an ox for Mark, a man for Luke, and an eagle for John. These animals symbolize aspects of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ that each evangelist stressed. That imagery is also present in Revelation 4:4-16, specifically Rev 4:7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
Order of the Twelve Tribes in the Camp and on the March. The twelve tribes were to encamp each one by his standard, by the signs of their fathers' houses, opposite to the tabernacle (at some distance) round about, and, according to the more precise directions given afterwards, in such order that on every side of the tabernacle three tribes were encamped side by side and united under one banner, so that the twelve tribes formed four large camps. Between these camps and the court surrounding the tabernacle, the lineages of the three sons of Levi were to be encamped on three sides, and Moses and Aaron with the sons of Aaron (i.e., the priests) upon the fourth, i.e., the front or eastern side, before the entrance (Num 3:21-38).
Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard - Or banner, of which there were four, as appears from the following account, under each of which were placed three tribes; and so every man of each tribe was to pitch his tent in the tribe he belonged to, and by the standard under which his tribe was marshalled.
with the ensigns of their father's house - which were either lesser standards or banners, somewhat different from the great standard or banner, which belonged to the camp consisting of three tribes, and which were peculiar to their several families and houses, and distinguished one from another, like flags in different regiments; or these were signs, or marks in the standards or banners, which, distinguished one from another;
far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch - Partly out of reverence to God and his worship, and the portion allotted to it, and partly for caution, lest their vicinity to it might tempt them to make too near approaches to it. The distance apart is not mentioned although it has been thought to be a mile from it, according to one Jewish scholar, or two thousand cubits, which is supposed to be a sabbath day's journey, Act_1:12; and this distance is gathered from Jos_3:4, and is not improbable. Given that distance, the area of the camp might be about three square miles:
pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father’s house — Standards were visible signs of a certain recognized form for directing the movements of large bodies of people. As the Israelites were commanded to encamp “each by his own standard, with the ensign of their father’s house,” the direction has been considered as implying that they possessed three varieties: (1) the great tribal standards, which served as rallying points for the twelve large clans of the people; (2) the standards of the subdivided portions; and, (3) those of families or houses. The latter must have been absolutely necessary, as one ensign only for a tribe would not have been visible at the extremities of so large a body. We possess no authentic information as to their forms, material, colors, and devices. But it is probable that they might bear some resemblance to those of Egypt, only stripped of any idolatrous symbols. These were of an umbrella or a fanlike form, made of ostrich feathers, shawls, etc., lifted on the points of long poles.
Num 2:3 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.
And on the east side - Judah encamped foremost. It was fit the lion should lead the way. This order in their march showed the principality that should continue in this tribe till Shiloh came. Judah herein also was a type of Christ, who is "the Captain of the Lord’s host," Jos 5:14 and "of our salvation," Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
On the east - in front of the door of the tabernacle. Nearest to the tents of Moses and Aaron and the priests, and situated toward the sunrise, was Judah.
Nahshon, the son of Amminadab - shall be captain of the children of Judah; who had been assisting in numbering the people, and who afterwards offered to the dedication of the altar, Num_1:2. Both names are in the genealogy of Christ
Nahshon — It appears that the twelve men who were called to superintend the census were also appointed to be the captains of their respective tribes - a dignity which they owed probably to the circumstances, formerly noticed, of their holding the hereditary office of head or “prince.”
God evidently arranged the tribes in this order because of their ancestry.
1) Judah, Issachar, Zebulun Descendants of Leah
2) Reuben, Simeon, Gad Descendants of Leah and her maid Zilpah
3) Ephraim, Manasseh,
Benjamin Descendants of Rachel
4) Dan, Asher, Naphtali Descendants of the maids Bilhah and Zilpah
The first side mentioned is the east side. On the east side is the entrance to the tabernacle and it is the side where the sun rises. These two aspects we can apply to (1) entering the sanctuary and (2) looking forward to the coming of the Lord Jesus. The placement on the east is very significant in cultures of that time, including Israel. For Israel the place of pride was on the east. Hence there we find the triad of tribes headed by Judah, Jacob’s fourth son and father of the royal house that leads to the Messiah.
Genesis devotes much attention to the notion of ’the east,’ a theme that also appears important in the arrangement of the tribes. The land prepared by God for man was in the east. Gen 2:8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. After the Fall, Adam and Eve, and then Cain, were cast out of God’s good land ’toward the east’ Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Gen
4:16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the
land of Nod, on the east of Eden. Furthermore,
Sodom was ’east’ of the Promised Land Gen
13:11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east:
and they separated themselves the one from the other. The
Messiah’s return is linked to the east. Mat
24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto
the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Ezekiel contains many references to an
eastern gate. Eze 10:19 And the cherubims
lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they
went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of
the east gate of the LORD'S house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over
them above.
Eze
11:23 And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and
stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.
Eze
43:1 Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh
toward the east:
Eze
43:2 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the
east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with
his glory.
Eze
43:3 And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw,
even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and
the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell
upon my face.
Eze
43:4 And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate
whose prospect is toward the east.
We note here that while Reuben as the firstborn headed the list in chapter 1, here Judah takes the lead, as they will also in the final invasion Judges 1:2 And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.
Judah was the tribe whence the Messiah was expected, and therefore justly preferred to lead the way to Canaan; as Christ his offspring was to set the captives free. Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Num 2:4 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.
Num 2:5 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.
the tribe of Issachar - Who with Zebulun, after mentioned, as placed with him under the same standard, were the brethren of Judah, by the same mother Leah. And with Judah they would march ahead of the column behind the.
Num 2:6 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.
Num 2:7 Then the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun.
Num 2:8 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.
Num 2:9 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.
186,400 men - The sum total of the three tribes, which formed that camp: this was the largest camp of them all, being near 30,000 more than Dan's, Num_2:31, which was the next in number unto it, and therefore placed foremost, and as the vanguard to the tabernacle:
these shall first set forth - in a march, when about to journey; when they saw the cloud remove, the priests blew with the trumpets, and then the camp of Judah moved first, and when they went out to fight, Judah went up first, Jdg 1:1 Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?
Jdg
1:2 And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the
land into his hand.
These shall first set forth - as the vanguard and the first division of the mighty army of the Lord, the position of Judah as the champion of his brethren thus being brought out, Genesis Gen 49:8 Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. Gen 49:9 Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? Gen 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
These shall first set forth - Literally, pull up (stakes) first:
From the Hebrew word nasa,
translated set forth, meaning to pull up, especially the tent pins, that is,
start on a journey: - cause to blow, bring, get, (make to) go (away, forth,
forward, onward, out), (take) journey, march, remove, set aside (forward), be
on his (go their) way.
Num 2:10 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.
the camp of Reuben - This camp consisted of the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad, which was divided into lesser bodies, regiments, or companies, called armies; and this was placed to the south of the tabernacle.
Num 2:11 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.
Num 2:12 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.
the tribe of Simeon - Under his standard, and on one side of it; Reuben and Simeon being brothers by the mother as well as the father's side.
Num 2:13 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.
Num 2:14 Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel.
the son of Reuel - who is called Deuel, Num_1:14. The letters "resh" and "daleth" being similar, are sometimes put one for the other, of which there are other instances, as appears by comparing Genesis 10:3, with 1 Chronicles 1:6; Genesis 36:26,Genesis 36:38, with 1 Chronicles 1:41,1 Chronicles 1:50. There is good authority for reading Deuel here, as in Numbers 1:14; Numbers 7:42; Numbers 10:20.
the son of Reuel - Here Eliasaph’s father is named Reuel (‘friend of God’), contrast Deuel (‘one who knows God’) in Numbers 1:0. This may be an alternative spelling of his name (compare Paul and Saul).
Num 2:15 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty.
And his host - That is, the host of Gad, as distinct from those of Reuben and Simeon, which together formed the camp:
Num 2:16 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.
they shall set forth in the second rank - they in journeying moving next to the camp of Judah, and before the tabernacle; for though, while encamped, the camp of Reuben lay on the south, or right side of it, yet, when marching, went before it.
Num 2:17 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 Tabernacle and sacred things were in the middle of the camp and of the line of march. God desired to be at the center of the nation, the center of the hearts of these people. The Lord is ever present among His people. That symbolism holds true for Christians today. Psa 46:4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. Psa 46:5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
in the midst of the camp - between the camps of Judah and Reuben, before mentioned, and those of Ephraim and Dan, which are after spoken of: the order in which they moved was this; the Gershonites and Merarites marched between the standard of Judah and the standard of Reuben; and the Kohathites marched, and with them Aaron and his sons, between the standard of Reuben and the standard of Ephraim:
in the midst of the camp - The camp of the Levites is fully described in Numbers 3:14-39. The tabernacle itself, transported by the Gershonites and Merarites, had not its position in the column behind Reuben, but immediately in the rear of Judah, so as to be set up early for the reception of the sacred vessels and furniture, carried by the Kohathites in this central position in the rear of Reuben, for their better protection.
Num 2:18 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.
On the west side - The west side is closest to the ark of the testimony. It was in the rear or behind the tabernacle, consisting of his tribe, and of the tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin. Ephraim is preferred before his brother, according to the prophecy, Gen 48:20 And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
These three tribes, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin, are mentioned in Psalm Psa 80:2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us. This is an indication of their ability as an army.
Num 2:19 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty thousand and five hundred.
Num 2:20 And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
the tribe of Manasseh - Who though the elder brother to Ephraim, yet Ephraim was preferred to him, this being agreeably to the prophecy of Jacob.
Num 2:21 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
Num 2:22 Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni.
Then the tribe of Benjamin - This tribe appears at this early period associated with the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. This was natural, considering the full consanguinity of their ancestors, Joseph and Benjamin, and this association continued in the early period of the occupation of Canaan.
Num 2:23 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.
thirty and five thousand and four hundred - 35,400 men. The least number of all the tribes, excepting the tribe of Manasseh.
Num 2:24 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.
an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred - 108,100 men. Which was the smallest of all the camps, and near eighty thousand fewer than the camp of Judah, Num_2:9,
they shall go forward in the third rank - and which was the first following the tabernacle. On the march they followed behind the Levites who were bearing the Tent of Meeting and its furniture.
Num 2:25 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.
the camp of Dan - it consisted of the tribes of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali. All three are the sons of maids, Bilhah and Zilpa.
Dan does not have a good report. Jacob calls him in his blessing “a serpent” Gen 49:17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. by which he links Dan to the devil. The descendants of Dan, the Danites, were the first to introduce idolatry to Israel after they got to the promised land Jdg 18:30 And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.
Num 2:26 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.
Num 2:27 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.
Num 2:28 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.
Num 2:29 Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan.
Num 2:30 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.
Num 2:31 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.
All they that were numbered - 157,600 men. Consisting of his own tribe, and those of Asher and Naphtali, which make the largest camp next to Judah:
they shall go hindmost with their standards - for though, while encamped, they lay to the north, or the left side of the tabernacle, yet, when marching, they brought up the rear, and were the rear guard to the tabernacle; so that it had in its van and rear the two largest camps.
The Camp of Dan — The strongest camp next after Judah, and therefore he comes in the rear, as Judah marched in the front, that the tabernacle might be best guarded where there was most danger.
Num 2:32 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.
These are those that were numbered of the children of Israel - As the number was taken by Moses and Aaron, assisted by twelve princes of the tribe, who were now constituted captains over them, as so many hosts or armies:
Num 2:33 But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.
But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel - At this time, not among the Israelites, but by themselves, they being a camp of themselves: They were exempt from general military service. This has been stressed previously (Numbers 1:47-49). Here the fact is doubly emphasized. Their responsibility was to guard and serve the tabernacle at all times.
Num 2:34 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.
And the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses - Formed themselves into camps, so many tribes to a camp, and over each tribe or host appointed a captain, and erected a standard to each camp, by which they pitched as directed, which is next particularly observed:
To get a complete picture of the encampment of the Israelites, one must imagine a small rectangle representing the Tabernacle. On the right, that is, on the east, of this was the place of Moses, Aaron, and the priests, and beyond them that of the armies under the leadership of Judah; below, on the south, were the 8,000 Kohathites, and beyond them the divisions under the leadership of Reuben; to the left, on the west, were the 7,500 Gershonites, and beyond them the divisions under the leadership of Ephraim; and above, on the north, were the 6,200 Merarites, and beyond them the divisions under the leadership of Dan.
Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded - Again it is stressed that Israel did exactly as the Lord had commanded Moses. At this stage they were fully obedient.
