Numbers 2

2 far off about the tabernacle of the congregation. “Over against the tent of meeting,” R.V. It is the Oriental usage to place the monarch and his chief officers in the centre of the camp.

3 captain. The chiefs appointed to preside over the mustering (see i. 5-14) were commanders of the several tribes.

9 camp of Judah. Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, who formed the first camp, were all descendants of the same mother; and so were Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin, who made the third. The “camp of Judah,” which formed the van, and that of Dan, in the rear, were the most numerous of the four grand divisions.—throughout their armies. Rather, “according to” (R.V.), or “by their hosts."—These shall first set forth. Or rather, “These shall be the first to strike camp”; literally, “pull up” (the tent pegs). And so in vers. 16, 24, 31.

14. Reuel.** Called in i. 14, “Deuel,” the similar Hebrew letters D and R (“and”) being exchanged, probably by mistake. So in several other cases.