Numbers, Chapter 2

בס״ד

Numbers Chapter 2

Verses 1-34: The Arrangement of the Israelite Camp

  1. The LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
  2. “The Israelites are to camp around the tent of meeting some distance from it, each man under his standard with 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, and those who were numbered of them, were 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, and those who were numbered of them, were 54,400.
  7. Then the tribe of Zebulun. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon.
  8. His division, and those who were numbered of them, were 57,400.
  9. All the men assigned to the camp of Judah, according to their divisions, were 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, and those who were numbered of them, were 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, and those who were numbered of them, were 59,300.
  14. Then the tribe of Gad. The leader of the people of Gad is Eliasaph son of Deuel.
  15. His division, and those who were numbered of them, were 45,650.
  16. All the men assigned to the camp of Reuben, according to their divisions, were 151,450. They will set out second.
  17. Then the tent of meeting and the camp of the Levites will move out in the middle of the camps. They will move out in the same order as they encamp, each in his own place under his 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, and those who were numbered of them, were 40,500.
  20. The tribe of Manasseh will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.
  21. His division, and those who were numbered of them, were 32,200.
  22. Then the tribe of Benjamin. The leader of the people of Benjamin is Abidan son of Gideoni.
  23. His division, and those who were numbered of them, were 35,400.
  24. All the men assigned to the camp of Ephraim, according to their divisions, were 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, and those who were numbered of them, were 62,700.
  27. The tribe of Asher will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Asher is Pagiel son of Ocran.
  28. His division, and those who were numbered of them, were 41,500.
  29. Then the tribe of Naphtali. The leader of the people of Naphtali is Ahira son of Enan.
  30. His division, and those who were numbered of them, were 53,400.
  31. All the men assigned to the camp of Dan, according to their divisions, were 157,600. They will set out last, under their standards.
  32. These are the Israelites, counted according to their families. All those in the camps, by their divisions, were 603,550.
  33. But the Levites were not counted among the Israelites, as the LORD commanded Moses.
  34. Thus 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 with their family, according to their fathers’ houses.

Interpretation: This detailed organization of the Israelite camp around the Tabernacle signifies not just a practical military arrangement, but a symbolic formation of their community centered around their faith and the presence of God. Each tribe’s specific location and order of march underscores the importance of order, unity, and the distinct role each group plays within the larger community. The central positioning of the Levites and the Tabernacle underscores the centrality of spiritual worship and divine guidance in their journey and life as a people.

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