Numbers 2

1 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron,

2 The children of Israel are to put up their tents in the order of their families, by the flags of their fathers' houses, facing the Tent of meeting on every side.

3 Those whose tents are on the east side, looking to the dawn, will be round the flag of the children of Judah, with Nahshon, the son of Amminadab, as their chief.

4 The number of his army was seventy-four thousand, six hundred.

5 And nearest to him will be the tribe of Issachar, with Nethanel, the son of Zuar, as their chief.

6 The number of his army was fifty-four thousand, four hundred.

7 After him, the tribe of Zebulun, with Eliab, the son of Helon, as their chief.

8 The number of his army was fifty-seven thousand, four hundred.

9 The number of all the armies of Judah was a hundred and eighty-six thousand, four hundred. They go forward first.

10 On the south side is the flag of the children of Reuben, in the order of their armies, with Elizur, the son of Shedeur, as their chief.

11 The number of his army was forty-six thousand, five hundred.

12 And nearest to him, the tribe of Simeon, with Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai, as their chief.

13 The number of his army was fifty-nine thousand, three hundred.

14 Then the tribe of Gad, with Eliasaph, son of Reuel, as their chief.

15 The number of his army was forty-five thousand, six hundred and fifty.

16 The number of all the armies of Reuben together came to a hundred and fifty-one thousand, four hundred and fifty. They go forward second.

17 Then the Tent of meeting is to go forward, with the tents of the Levites, in the middle of the armies; in the same order as their tents are placed, they are to go forward, every man under his flag.

18 On the west side will be the flag of the children of Ephraim, with Elishama, the son of Ammihud, as their chief.

19 The number of his army was forty thousand, five hundred.

20 And by him the tribe of Manasseh with Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur, as their chief.

21 The number of his army was thirty-two thousand, two hundred.

22 Then the tribe of Benjamin, with Abidan, the son of Gideoni, as their chief.

23 The number of his army was thirty-five thousand, four hundred.

24 The number of all the armies of Ephraim was a hundred and eight thousand, one hundred. They go forward third.

25 On the north side will be the flag of the children of Dan, with Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai, as their chief.

26 The number of his army was sixty-two thousand, seven hundred.

27 Nearest to him will be the tribe of Asher, with Pagiel, the son of Ochran, as their chief.

28 The number of his army was forty-one thousand, five hundred;

29 Then the tribe of Naphtali, with Ahira, the son of Enan, as their chief.

30 The number of his army was fifty-three thousand, four hundred.

31 The number of all the armies in the tents of Dan was a hundred and fifty-seven thousand, six hundred. They will go forward last, by their flags.

32 These are all who were numbered of the children of Israel, in the order of their fathers' families: all the armies in their tents together came to six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty.

33 But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel, as the Lord said to Moses.

34 So the children of Israel did as the Lord said to Moses, so they put up their tents by their flags, and they went forward in the same order, by their families, and by their fathers' houses.

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.