Order for the Marckes and Camping of the Tribes, 1, 2. Judah on the Eaft-ſide, with 1ſachar and Zebulon, who led the Van, 3—9. Reuben on the South-ſiae, with Simeon and Gad : then the Tabernacle was to follow, the Levites camping round it, 19 -— 17. Ephraim on the Weſt-ſide with Manaſſes and Benjamin, 18 — 24. Dan on the North Quarter, with Aſher and Naphtali, 25.
ND the LOR D ſpake unto Moſes, and unto Aaron, ſaying, ; ;
2 Every man of the children of Iſrael ſhall pitch by his own ſtandard 4, with the enſign of their fathers houſe : + far of b about the tabernacle of the congregation ſhall they pitch. |
a Or, Enſign; by that to which: he is allotted by the following order. It is manifeſt that there were four great Standards or Enfigns, which ixre follow, diſtinguiſhed by their Colours or Figures, cr otherwiſe ; alſo that there were other particular Enſigns belonging to each of their Fathers houſes or Families, as is here taid. 6 Partly out of reverence to God and his worſhip, and the portion allotted te it, and partly for caution, leſt their vicinity to it might tempt them to make too near apyroaches to ir. Ir is ſuppoſed they wereat 2000 cubirs diſtance from it, which was the ſpace between the people and the Ark, Joſ: 3: 4 and it is not improbable, becauſe the Levites encamped round about it, between them and the Tabernacle.
And on the eaſt-fide toward the riting of the Sun, ſhall they of the ſtandard of the camp ef Judah pitch, threughout their Armies : and Nahſhon theſon of Am- minadab ſhakl be captain of the children of Judah.
4 And his hoſt, and thoſe that were numbred of them, were threeſcore and fourteen thouſand and ſix hundred.
5 And thoſe that do pitch next unto him, ſha# ve the tribe of Ifſachar c; and Nethaneel the fon of Zuar ſhall be captain of the children of Iflachar.
c He and Zebulon were Leah's two youngeſt ſons, and therefore
would more contentedly ſubmit to Judah. |
6 And his hoſt, and thoſe that were numbred there- of, were fifty and four thouſand ard four hundred.
7 Then the Tribe of Zebulun : and Eliab the ſon of Helon (hall be captain of the children of Zebulun.
8 And his hoſt, and thoſe that were numbredthereof, were fifty and ſeven thouſand and four hundred,
9 All that were numbred in the camp of Judah, were att hundred thouſand and fourſcore thouſand and fix thouſand and feur hundred d, throughout their armies: theſe ſhall firſt ſer forth.
4 This was the moſt numerous camp, becauſe they marched firſt, 23S being placed on the Eaſt and going towards the Eaſt, and becauſe they guarded the SanQtuary.
xo On the ſouth-ſide ſpall be the ſtandard of the camp of Reuben e, according to their armies : and the cap- eain of the children of Reuben fall be Elizur, the fon of Shedeur. e Who being the firſt-born, was the leader of the ſecond camp.
1t And his hoſt, and thoſe that were numbred there- of were fourty and ſix thouſand and five hundred.
12 And thoſe which pitch by him, ſhe# be the tribe of Simeon : and the captain of the children of Simeon ſoall be Shelumiel the ſon of Zuriſhaddai.
13 Andhis hoft, and thoſe that were numbred of them were fifty and nine thouſand and three hundred.
14 Then the tribe of Gad : andthe captain of the ſons of Gad ſhall be Eliaſaph the ſon of Reuel f.
f Called Devel, Num: 1: 14: the Hebrew letters Daleth and Reſb being
very like, and ofr changed, asappears by comparing Gen: 10: 3; with 1 Chron: 1:6: and Gen: 36: 26, 38. with x Chron: 1:41, 50.
15 And his hoſt, and thoſe that were numbred of them, were fourty and five thouſand and lix hundred and fifty.
16 All that were numbred in the camp of Reuben, were an hundred thouſand and fifry and one thouſand and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies : and they ſhall fer forth in the ſecond rank.
17 Then the tabernacle of the congregation ſhall ſet forward with the camp of the Levires in the midſt of che camp g : as they encamp, . fo ſhall they ſer forward, every man in his place by their ſtandards, |
NUMBER 8.
+ The franger elſewhere is one of another Nation, here one of
g Which 1s not to be underftood ftriftly or exaQtly, but largely ; for in their march they were divided, and part of that Tribe marched next after Judah, Numb: 10: 17: and the other part exaQly in the midſt of the camp.
138 On the weſt-{ide ſhall be the ſtandard of the camp of Ephraim h, according to their armies ; and the cap- tain of the ſons of Ephraim ſhall be Eliſhama the ſon of Ammihud.
h Who is here preferred before his Brother, according to the prepheſie, Gen: 48: 19, 20.
i9 And his hoft, and thofe that were numbred of them, were fourty thouſand and five hundred :
20 And by him ſhall be the tribe of Manafſeh : and the captain of the children of Manaſich ſbc!! be Gamaliel the ſon of Pedahzur.
21 And his hoſt, and thoſe that were numbred of them were thirty and two thouſand and two hundred.
22 Then the tribe of Benjamin : and the captain of the ſons of Benjamin jhu!] be Abidan the ſon of Gideoni.
23 Andhishoft, and thoſe that were numbred of them, were thirty and four thouſand and five hundred.
24 All that were numbred of the camp of Ephraim, were an hundred thouſand and eight thouſand and an hundred, threughout their armies : and they ſhall go forward in the third rank.
25 The ſtandard of the camp of Dan ſhall be on the north-flide by their armies : and the captain of the children of Dan ſpall be Ahiczer the ſon of Ammiſhaddai.
26 And his hoſt, and thoſe that were numbred of them, wcre threeſcore and two thouſand and ſeven hundred.
27 And thoſe that encamp by him, 4/1 be the tribe
of Aſher : and the captain of the Children of Aſher ſhall be Pagiel the ſon of Ocran. | c
28 Ard his hoft, and thoſe that were numbred of them were feurty and one thouſand and five hundred.
29 Then the tribe of Naphtali : And the captain of _ children of Naphtali, /all bs Ahira the ſon of
nan.
39 And hishoſt,and thoſe that were numbred of them, were fifty and three thouſandand four hundred.
31 All they that were numbred in the camp of Dan, were an hundred thouſand and fifry and ſeven thouſand and ſix hundred s : they ſhall go hindmoft with their ſtandards.
; The ſtrongeſt camp next after Judah, and therefore he comes in the Rear, as Judah marched in the Front, that the Tabernacle might be beſt guarded where there was moſt danger.