Numbers 2:3-13

3 These shall pitch toward the sunrise, on the east: the standard of the camp of Judah throughout their hosts and the prince of the sons of Judah, Nahshon, the son of Amminadab.

4 His host, with those that were numbered of them, were seventy-four thousand six hundred.

5 Next to him shall pitch those of the tribe of Issachar and the prince of the sons of Issachar, Nethaneel, the son of Zuar.

6 His host, with those that were numbered thereof, were fifty-four thousand four hundred.

7 And the tribe of Zebulun and the prince of the sons of Zebulun, Eliab, the son of Helon.

8 His host, with those that were numbered thereof, were fifty-seven thousand four hundred.

9 All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were one hundred and eighty-six thousand four hundred, by their hosts. These shall set forth first.

10 The standard of the camp of Reuben shall be towards the Negev, by their hosts and the prince of the sons of Reuben, Elizur, the son of Shedeur.

11 His host, with those that were numbered thereof, were forty-six thousand five hundred.

12 And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon and the prince of the sons of Simeon, Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai.

13 His host, with those that were numbered of them, were fifty-nine thousand three hundred.

Numbers 2:3-13 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.