Numbers 2

Orders for the Tribes camping round about the Tabernacle and their marching, ver. 1. & c. The Tribe of Juda was to camp on the East-side of the Tabernacle with Issachar and Zebulon, who led the Van in marching, 3. The Tribe of Reuben on the South-side, with Simeon et Gad, marching in the second rank or body, 10. Upon them the Tabernacle was to follow, and the Levites were to camp round about the same, 17. The Tribe of Ephraim with Manasseh and Benjamin kept the West-side and the third rank in the March, 18. Dan with Aser and Naphtali had the North quarter in the Camp, and brought up the rear in marching, 25. The conclusion of this chapter, 32.

1. And the LORD spoke unto Moseh and unto Aaron saying;

2. The Children of Israel shall camp themselves every one under his Banner, [Of these there were four, as appears by verse 5. 3, 10, 18, 25. They were divided according to the fourth parts of the world; under each Banner there were three Tribes, whereof one was the Chief, as Juda, Reuben, Ephraim and Dan; Juda was camped Eastward, together with Issachar and Zebulon; Reuben, Southwards, with Simeon and Gad; Ephraim Westward, with Manasseh and Benjamin: Dan Northwards, with Aser and Naphtali: See the strength of every one host, verse 9. 16, 24, 31.] according to the signs (or Tokens) [or, Ensigns made use of according to the quantity or number of the Families] of the house of their Fathers, round about over against the Tent of the Congregation shall they camp themselves. [It is conceived, that the Tribes camped themselves round about the Tabernacle, at a distance of about 2000 Cubits, and that from that which is related, Joshua 3:4. The Priests now and the Levites, according to their Orders, camped betwixt the camps of the Tribes and the Tabernacle, above chapter 1. 53. And below verse 17. Moseh and Aaron were on the East-side, the Gersonites on the West-side, the Kohathites on the South-side, and the Meratites on the North-side of the Tabernacle.]

3. They now that shall camp Eastward towards the rising [Namely of the Sun] shall be the Banner of the camp of Judah, according to their hosts; and Nahasson the son of Amminadab, shall be the chief of the Sons of Judah.

4. His host now, and their number (ones) were seventy and four thousand, and six hundred.

5. And next to (or, by) him shall camp the Tribe of Issachar; and Nathaneal the son of Zuar shall be the Chieftain of the sons of Issachar.

6. His host now and his numbered (ones) were fifty and four thousand, and four hundred.

7. (Besides) [This particle is inserted out of the sequel, verse 14. 22. And 29.] The Tribe of Zebulon [viz. shall camp themselves by Judah there, as in the foregoing fifth verse, and in the following twelfth, etc.] and Eliah the son of Helon shall be the Chieftain of the sons of Zebulon.

8. His host now, and his numbered were fifty seven thousand and four hundred.

9. All the numbered of the camp of Juda [Comprehending those of the Tribes of Issachar and Zebulon, whereof Juda was the chief: and so afterwards for the rest, as the camp of Ruben, vers. 16. Of Ephraim vers. 24. of Dan. Verse 31] were an hundred thousand and eighty-six thousand [Heb. eighty thousand, and six thousand] and four hundred, according to their hosts; they shall march up before. [i.e. have or lead the Van in marching.]

10. The Banner of the camp of Ruben, according to their hosts, shall be toward the South; and Eliazar the son of Seduer, shall be the Chieftain of the Sons of Ruben.

11. His host now, and his numbered were forty-six thousand and five hundred.

12. And by him shall camp the Tribe of Simeon; and Selumiel the son of Zurisaddai shall be the Chieftain of the sons of Simeon.

13. His haste now and their numbered were fifty-nine thousand and three hundred.

14. Besides the Tribe of Gad, and Eliasaph the son of Reuel [Above chapter 1. 14, he is called Dehuel] shall be the Chieftain of the Sons of Gad.

15. His host now, and their numbered, were forty and five thousand, and six hundred and fifty.

16. All the numbered in the Camp of Ruben, were an hundred thousand, and fifty one thousand, and four hundred and fifty according to their hosts, and they shall march up the second, [i.e. in marching be the second brigade.]

17. After that the Tent of the Congregation shall march up, with the Camp of the Levites, in the midst of the Camps, even as they shall camp themselves, so shall they march up, every one in his place, [Heb. at his hand, i.e. in his place with his party (company, squadron, brigade)] according to their Banners.

18. The Banner of the Camp of Ephraim, according to their hosts, shall be against the West [Heb. seawards, See Gen. 12. On verse 8. And below 3. 23.] And Elisama the son of Ammihud shall be the Chieftain of the sons of Ephraim.

19. His host now, and their numbered, were forty thousand and five hundred.

20. And by him [viz. shall camp, as above verse 7. And below verse 22.] The Tribe of Manasseh, and Gamaliel the son of Pedazur, shall be the Chieftain of the sons of Manasseh.

21. His host now and their numbered were thirty two thousand and two hundred.

22. Besides [See above on verse 7.] the Tribes of Benjamin, and Abidan the son of Gideoni shall be the Chieftain of the sons of Benjamin.

23. His host now, and their numbered were thirty five thousand and four hundred.

24. All the numbered in the Camp of Ephraim, were an hundred and eight thousand [Hebr. And hundred thousand, compare above verse 9.] and one hundred, according to their hosts, and they shall march the third. [i.e. in marching they shall have the third brigade.]

25. The Banner of the camp of Dan shall be toward the North, according to their hosts: and Athieser the son of AmmaiSaddai, shall be the Chieftain of the Sons of Dan.

26. His host now and their numbered were sixty two thousand and seven hundred.

27. And by him shall camp the Tribe of Aser: and Pagiel the Son of Ochran shall be the Chieftain of the sons of Aser.

28. His host now and their number, were forty one thousand and five hundred.

29. Besides the Tribe of Naphtali, and Ahira the son of Enan shall be the Chieftain of the sons of Naphtali.

30. His host now and their numbered, were fifty three thousand and four hundred.

31. All the numbered in the camp of Dan, were an hundred thousand and fifty seven thousand and six hundred, they shall march up the hindmost [i.e. in marching they shall bring up the rear] by (or, according to) their Banners.

32. These are the numbered (ones) of the Children of Israel, according to the house of their Fathers; all the numbered of the Camps according to their hosts, were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.

33. But the Levites were not numbered among the sons of Israel: [Heb. in the midst of the sons of Israel] according as the LORD had commanded Moseh.

34. And the Children of Israel did according to all that the LORD had commanded Moseh; so they camped according to their Banners, and so they marched up, every one according to his Families, according to the house of the Fathers.