FRAMEWORKS:
Numbers 2 :
The Arrangement of the Tribal Camps
Part
1.1: Ch.1 & 2: Israel, the Nation in Camp at Sinai
Ch.1:
The First Census of Israel at Sinai
Ch.2
: The
Arrangement of the Tribal Camps
[Introductory
Notes: Again some readers may not find this chapter
riveting but it does show the order brought to the nation when
they were in camp and when they broke camp and set off again.
In four rows of three, in a box shape with the Tabernacle at the
centre, the largest tribe, Judah, is first in order. The presence
of God was thus to be in the centre of the nation with the tribes
splayed out from it, no doubt stretching some considerable distance
back and away from it, to accommodate such a large number. Note
that the clans of the Levites and the priesthood [see ch.3] were
to camp the nearest to the Tabernacle, meaning the other tribes
would be further away from it. Some have suggested that this complete
‘campsite' must have taken up some twelve square miles. When they
broke camp, it was done in the same order as tribes listed with
the Tabernacle halfway in the convoy, with six tribes ahead and
six behind.]
v.1
The
Lord
said to Moses and Aaron:
v.2
“The
Israelites are to camp around the tent of meeting some
distance from it, each of them under their standard and holding
the banners of their family.”
3 On
the east, toward the sunrise, the divisions of the
camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard. The
leader of the people of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab. 4 His
division numbers 74,600.
5 The
tribe of Issachar will camp next to them. The
leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar.
6 His
division numbers 54,400.
7 The
tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of
the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon.
8 His
division numbers 57,400.
9 All
the men assigned to the camp of Judah, according to their divisions,
number 186,400. They will set out first.
10 On
the south will be the divisions of the camp
of Reuben under their standard. The leader of the people
of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur.
11 His
division numbers 46,500.
12 The
tribe of Simeon will camp next to them. The leader
of the people of Simeon is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.
13 His
division numbers 59,300.
14 The
tribe of Gad will be next. The leader of the
people of Gad is Eliasaph son of Deuel.
15 His
division numbers 45,650.
16 All
the men assigned to the camp of Reuben, according to their divisions,
number 151,450. They will set out second .
v.17
Then
the tent of meeting and the camp of the Levites will set out in
the middle of the camps. They will set out in the same order as
they encamp, each in their own place under their standard.
18 On
the west will be the divisions of the camp of
Ephraim under their standard. The leader of the people
of Ephraim is Elishama son of Ammihud.
19 His
division numbers 40,500.
20 The
tribe of Manasseh will be next to them. The leader
of the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.
21 His
division numbers 32,200.
22 The
tribe of Benjamin will be next. The leader of
the people of Benjamin is Abidan son of Gideoni.
23 His
division numbers 35,400.
24 All
the men assigned to the camp of Ephraim, according to their divisions,
number 108,100. They will set out third.
25 On
the north will be the divisions of the camp
of Dan under their standard. The leader of the people
of Dan is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.
26 His
division numbers 62,700.
27 The
tribe of Asher will camp next to them. The leader
of the people of Asher is Pagiel son of Okran.
28 His
division numbers 41,500.
29 The
tribe of Naphtali will be next. The leader of
the people of Naphtali is Ahira son of Enan.
30 His
division numbers 53,400.
31 All
the men assigned to the camp of Dan number 157,600. They will
set out last, under their standards.
v.32
These
are the Israelites, counted according to their families. All the
men in the camps, by their divisions, number 603,550.
v.33
The
Levites, however, were not counted
along with the other Israelites, as the Lord
commanded
Moses.
v.34
So
the Israelites did everything the Lord
commanded
Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and
that is the way they set out, each of them with their clan and
family.