Numbers 2

1 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:
2 All the children of Israel shall camp by their troops, ensigns, and standards, and the houses of their kindreds, round about the tabernacle of the covenant.
3 On the east Juda shall pitch his tents by the bands of his army: and the prince of his sons; shall be Nahasson the son of Aminadab.
4 And the whole sum of the fighting men of his stock, were seventy-four thousand six hundred.
5 Next unto him they of the tribe of Issachar encamped, whose prince was Nathanael, the son of Suar.
6 And the whole number of his fighting men were fifty-four thousand four hundred.
7 In the tribe of Zabulon the prince was Eliab the son of Helon.
8 And all the army of fighting men of his stock, were fifty-seven thousand four hundred.
9 All that were numbered in the camp of Juda, were a hundred and eighty-six thousand four hundred: and they by their troops shall march first.
10 In the camp of the sons of Ruben, on the south side, the prince shall be Elisur the son of Sedeur:
11 And the whole army of his fighting men, that were numbered, were forty-six thousand five hundred.
12 Beside him camped they of the tribe of Simeon: whose prince was Salamiel the son of Surisaddai.
13 And the whole army of his fighting men, that were numbered, were fifty-nine thousand three hundred.
14 In the tribe of Gad the prince was Eliasaph the son of Duel.
15 And the whole army of his righting men that were numbered, were forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty.
16 All that were reckoned up in the camp of Ruben, were a hundred and fifty-one thousand four hundred and fifty, by their troops: they shall march in the second place.
17 And the tabernacle of the testimony shall be carried by the officers of the Levites and their troops. As it shall be set up, so shall it be taken down. Every one shall march according to their places, and ranks.
18 On the west side shall be the camp of the sons of Ephraim, whose prince was Elisama the son of Ammiud.
19 The whole army of his fighting men, that were numbered, were forty thousand five hundred.
20 And with them the tribe of the sons of Manasses, whose prince was Gamaliel the son of Phadassur.
21 And the whole army of his fighting men, that were numbered, were thirty-two thousand two hundred.
22 In the tribe of the sons of Benjamin the prince was Abidan the son of Gedeon.
23 And the whole army of fighting men, that were reckoned up, were thirty-five thousand four hundred.
24 All that were numbered in the camp of Ephraim, were a hundred and eight-thousand one hundred by their troops: they shall march in the third place.
25 On the north side camped the sons of Dan: whose prince was Ahiezar the son of Ammisaddai.
26 The whole army of his fighting men, that were numbered, were sixty-two thousand seven hundred.
27 Beside him they of the tribe of Aser pitched their tents: whose prince was Phegiel the son of Ochran.
28 The whole army of his fighting men, that were numbered, were forty-one thousand five hundred.
29 Of the tribe of the sons of Nephtali the prince was Ahira the son of Enan.
30 The whole army of his fighting men, were fifty-three thousand four hundred.
31 All that were numbered in the camp of Dan, were a hundred and fifty-seven thousand six hundred: and they shall march last.
32 This is the number of the children of Israel, of their army divided according to the houses of their kindreds and their troops, six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty.
33 And the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel: for so the Lord had commanded Moses.
34 And the children of Israel did according to all things that the Lord had commanded. They camped by their troops, and marched by the families and houses of their fathers.

Numbers 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.

Numbers 2 Commentaries

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