Numbers 2:25

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

Numbers 2:25 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 2:25

The standard of the camp of Dan [shall be] on the north side
by their armies
To the left of the tabernacle as encamped, and so was the left wing of the grand army; it consisted of the tribes of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali, in which were several divisions and companies, whose camp also the Targum of Jonathan says reached four miles. According to the Jewish writers F13, Dan's stone was the "ligure", and his flag was coloured like to a sapphire, and there was figured upon it a serpent, on account of what is said ( Genesis 49:17 ) ; Asher's stone was the "tarshish" or beryl, and his flag was coloured like to a precious stone, with which women adorn themselves, and on it was figured an olive tree, on account of what is said ( Genesis 49:20 ) . Naphtali's stone was the amethyst, and his flag was coloured like to clear wine, whose redness is not strong, and on it was figured an hind, on account of what is said of him ( Genesis 49:21 ) :

and the captain of the children of Dan [shall be] Ahiezer the son of
Ammishaddai;
who made mention of in ( Numbers 1:10 ) ( 7:66 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F13 Bemidbar Rabba, ut supra. (sect. 2. fol. 178. 2.)

Numbers 2:25 In-Context

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.
27 The tribe of Asher will camp next to them, led by Pagiel son of Ocran.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.