Numbers 2:16-26

16 The total number of men assigned to Reuben, troop by troop, is 151,450. They are second in the order of the march.

17 The Tent of Meeting with the camp of the Levites takes its place in the middle of the march. Each tribe will march in the same order in which they camped, each under its own flag.

18 To the west are the companies of the camp of Ephraim under its flag, led by Elishama son of Ammihud.

19 His troops number 40,500.

20 The tribe of Manasseh will set up camp next to them, led by Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

21 His troops number 32,200.

22 And next to him is the camp of Benjamin, led by Abidan son of Gideoni.

23 His troops number 35,400.

24 The total number of men assigned to the camp of Ephraim, troop by troop, is 108,100. They are third in the order of the march.

25 To the north are the companies of the camp of Dan under its flag, led by Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

26 His troops number 62,700.

Numbers 2:16-26 Meaning and Commentary

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.