Numbers 2

AND the LORD spake unto Moses, and unto Aaron, saying,

Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard Or, ensign, by that to which he is allotted by the following order. It is manifest that there were four great Standards or Ensigns, which here follow, distinguished by their colours or figures or otherwise; also that there were other particular Ensigns belonging to each of their Fathers Houses or Families, as is here said., with the ensign of their fathers house: far off Partly out of reverence to God and his Worship and the portion allotted to it, and partly for caution, least their vicinity to it might tempt them to make too near approaches to it. It is supposed they were at 2000 cubits distance from it, which was the space between the people and the Ark, Ios. 3. 4. and it is not improbable, because the Levites encamped round about it, between them and the Tabernacle. about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.

And on the east-side toward the rising of the Sun, shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch, throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah.

And his host, and those that were numbred of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.

And those that do pitch next unto him, shall be the tribe of Issachar He and Zebulun were Leah's two youngest sons, and therefore would more contentedly submit to Iudah.: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar.

And his host, and those that were numbred thereof, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.

Then the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun.

And his host, and those that were numbred thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.

All that were numbred in the camp of Judah, were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred This was the most numerous camp, because they marched first, as being placed on the East and going towards the East, and because they guarded the Sanctuary., throughout their armies: these shall first set forth.

On the south-side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben Who being the first-born was the leader of the second camp., according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.

And his host, and those that were numbred thereof were fourty and six thousand and five hundred.

And those which pitch by him, shall be the tribe of Simeon, and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

And his host, and those that were numbred of them were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.

Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel Called Devel, Numb. 1. 14. the Hebrew letters Daleth and Resh being very like and oft changed, as appears by comparing Gen. 10. 3. with 1 Chron. 1. 6. and Gen. 36. 26, 38. with 1 Chron. 1. 41, 50..

And his host, and those that were numbred of them, were fourty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty.

All that were numbred in the camp of Reuben, were an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies: and they shall set forth in the second rank.

Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites, in the midst of the camp Which is not to be understood strictly or exactly, but largely; for in their march they were divided, and part of that Tribe marched next after Iudah, Numb. 10. 17. and the other part exactly in the midst of the camp.: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards.

On the west-side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim Who is here preferred before his brother, according to the prophesie, Gen. 48. 19, 20., according to their armies: and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud.

And his host, and those that were numbred of them, were fourty thousand and five hundred.

And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

And his host, and those that were numbred of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.

Then the Tribe of Benjamin and the captain of the sons of Benjamin, shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni.

And his host, and those that were numbred of them, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.

All that were numbred of the camp of Ephraim, were an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout their armies: and they shall go forward in the third rank.

The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north-side by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Abiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

And his host, and those that were numbred of them, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.

And those that encamp by him, shall be the tribe of Asher: and the captain of the children of Asher, shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran.

And his host, and those that were numbred of them, were fourty and one thousand and five hundred.

Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of the children of Naphtali, shall be Ahira the son of Enan.

And his host, and those that were numbred of them, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.

All they that were numbred in the camp of Dan, were an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred The strongest camp next after Iudah, and therefore he comes in the rear, as Iudah marched in the front, that the Tabernacle might be best guarded where there was most danger.: they shall go hindmost with their standards.

These are those which were numbred of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers; all those that were numbred of the camps throughout their hosts, were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.

But the Levites were not numbred Because their warfare was of another kind. among the children of Israel, as the LORD commanded Moses.

And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards (i. e.) Each of them under his principal standard., and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.