Bamidbar 2

1 And Hashem spoke unto Moshe and unto Aharon, saying,

2 The Bnei Yisroel shall encamp, each man under his own degel (standard, banner), with the otot (ensigns) of the bais of their avot; some distance from it, around the Ohel Mo’ed must they encamp. [see Yehoshua 3:4]

3 And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the degel (standard, banner) of the machaneh of Yehudah encamp by their tzvaos: and Nachshon ben Amminadav shall be Nasi of the Bnei Yehudah.[Bereshis 49:10]

4 And his tz’va (host), and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.

5 And those that do encamp next unto him shall be the tribe of Yissakhar; and Netanel ben Tzuar shall be Nasi of the Bnei Yissakhar.

6 And his tz’va (host), and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.

7 Then the tribe of Zevulun; and Eliav ben Helon shall be Nasi of the Bnei Zevulun.

8 And his tz’va (host), and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.

9 All that were numbered in the machaneh of Yehudah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, by their tzvaos. These shall set forth first.

10 On the south side shall be the degel (standard, banner) of the machaneh of Reuven according to their tzvaos: and the Nasi of the Bnei Reuven shall be Elitzur ben Shedeur.

11 And his tz’va (host), and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.

12 And those which encamp by him shall be the tribe of Shim’on; and the Nasi of the Bnei Shim’on shall be Shelumiel ben Tzurishaddai.

13 And his tz’va (host), and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.

14 Then the tribe of Gad; and the Nasi of the Bnei Gad shall be Elyasaph ben Reuel.

15 And his tz’va (host), and those that were numbered of them, were forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty.

16 All that were numbered in the machaneh of Reuven were an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, by their tzvaos. And they shall set forth in the second rank.

17 Then the Ohel Mo’ed shall set forward with the machaneh of the Levi’im in the midst of the machaneh; as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their degel.

18 On the west side shall be the degel of the machaneh of Ephrayim according to their tzvaos; and the Nasi of the Bnei Ephrayim shall be Elishama ben Ammihud.

19 And his tz’va (host), and those that were numbered of them, were forty thousand and five hundred.

20 And by him shall be the tribe of Menasheh; and the Nasi of the Bnei Menasheh shall be Gamli’el ben Pedahtzur.

21 And his tz’va (host), and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.

22 Then the tribe of Binyamin; and the Nasi of the Bnei Binyamin shall be Avidan ben Gideoni.

23 And his tz’va (host), and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.

24 All that were numbered of the machaneh of Ephrayim were an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred, by their tzvaos. And they shall go forward in the third rank.

25 The degel (standard, banner) of the machaneh of Dan shall be on the north side by their tzvaos; and the Nasi of the Bnei Dan shall be Achiezer ben Ammishaddai.

26 And his tz’va (host), and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.

27 And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher; and the Nasi of the Bnei Asher shall be Pagiel ben Ochran.

28 And his tz’va (host), and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.

29 Then the tribe of Naphtali; and the Nasi of the Bnei Naphtali shall be Achira ben Enan.

30 And his tz’va (host), and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.

31 All they that were numbered in the machaneh of Dan were an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred. They shall break camp last with their degel (standard, banner).

32 These are those which were numbered of the Bnei Yisroel by the bais of their avot; all those that were numbered of the machanot by their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.

33 But the Levi’im were not counted with the Bnei Yisroel; as Hashem commanded Moshe.

34 And the Bnei Yisroel did according to all that Hashem commanded Moshe; so they encamped by the degelim (standards, banners) of them, and so they set forward, every one after their mishpekhot, according to the bais of their avot.

Bamidbar 2 Commentary

Chapter 2

The order of the tribes in their tents.

- 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, ( Colossians 2:5 ) .

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 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 Nu 1:1,2; the particulars follow; on the cast of the tabernacle the camp of Judah was to pitch, and under his standard the tribes of Issachar and Zebulun, Nu 1:3-9; on the south side of it the camp of Reuben, and under his standard the tribes of Simeon and Gad, Nu 1:10-16; then the tabernacle, with the camp of the Levites round it, were next, to stand or set forward, Nu 1:17; and on the west side the camp of Ephraim, and under his standard the tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin, Nu 1:18-24; and on the north side the camp of Dan, and under his standard the tribes of Asher and Naphtali, Nu 1:25-31; the sum total of the numbers of which camps are given, exclusive of the camp of Levi, Nu 1:32,33; and the chapter is concluded with observing, that all was done according to the commandment of God, Nu 1:34.