Numbers 2:17

_ON THE SOUTH SIDE SHALL BE THE STANDARD OF THE CAMP OF REUBEN ACCORDING TO THEIR ARMIES: AND THE CAPTAIN OF THE CHILDREN OF REUBEN SHALL BE ELIZUR THE SON OF SHEDEUR._ On the south side ... the standard of the camp of Reuben. The description given of the position of Reuben and his attendant tribes on the south, of Ephraim and his associates on the west, of Dan and his confederates on the north, with that of Judah on the east, suggests the idea of a square or quadrangle, which, allowing one square cubit to each soldier while remaining close in the ranks, has been computed to extend over an area of somewhat more than 12 square miles. But into our calculations of the occupied space must be taken not only the fighting men, whose numbers are here given, but also the families, tents, and baggage. The tabernacle or sacred tent of their Divine King, with the camp of the Levites around it (see...

The following plan shows the general arrangement of the camp, which would vary in different places according to local exigencies. The area of the camp might be about three square miles: Numbers 2:14 REUEL - Doubtless an error of transcription for Deuel Numbers 1:14....

EXPOSITION THE ENCAMPING OF THE TRIBES (Numbers 2:1). NUMBERS 2:1 THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES AND UNTO AARON. Probably when they had finished the census, and brought the results into the tabernacle. NUMBERS 2:2 SHALL PITCH BY HIS OWN STANDARD. We are not told how they had pitched hitherto; the tribal and family order now enforced was the natural order, but in the absence of precise directions would sometimes be departed from. WITH THE ENSIGN. Rather, "ensigns" (_othoth _in the plural). Each tribe, it would s

THEN THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION SHALL SET FORWARD WITH THE CAMP OF THE LEVITES,.... Which reached four miles, according to the Targum of Jonathan, as did Judah's. Levi's stone, as the Jews say i, was the carbuncle, and his flag was coloured, a third part white, and a third part black, and a third part red, and on it were formed Urim and Thummim: IN THE MIDST OF THE CAMP; or "camps" k; between the camps of Judah and Reuben, before mentioned, and those of Ephraim and Dan, which are after spoken of: the order in which they moved was this, as Aben Ezra observes; the Gershonites and Merarites marched between the standard of Judah and the standard of Reuben; and the Kohathites marched, and with them Aaron and his sons, between the standard of Reuben and the standard of Ephraim: AS THEY ENCAMP, SO SHALL THEY SET FORWARD; this is to be understood, according to Aben Ezra, not of the cam...

2. THE CAMP PUT IN ORDER CHAPTER 2 _ 1. The command (Numbers 2:1)_ 2. The east-side: Judah, Issachar and Zebulun (Numbers 2:3) 3. The south-side: Reuben, Simeon and Gad (Numbers 2:10) 4. The position of the Levites (Numbers 2:17) 5. The west-side: Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin (Numbers 2:18) 6. The north-side: Dan, Asher and Naphtali (Numbers 2:25) The camp is now divinely arranged and put in order. Nothing was left

THE POSITION OF THE TRIBES IN THE CAMP AND ON THE MARCH. The encampment, when stationary, was arranged as a quadrilateral, containing within it the Tabernacle, surrounded by the consecrated tribe of Levi, and having each of its four sides constituted by the camps of three tribes. On the E. (or front) were Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun (descended from Leah, Genesis 29:35; Genesis 30:18); on the S. were Reuben. Simeon (also descended from Leah, Genesis 29:32 f.), and Gad (descended from Zilpah, Genesis 30:10 f.); on the W. were Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin (descendants of Rachel,...

TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION. See note on Numbers 2:2. This was in centre. So is the tent of the chief of the tribe to this day. The manner of its being carried is shown in Ch. Numbers 10:17, &c. LEVITES. The order of the Levites' camping is shown in Numbers 3, their marching in Numbers 10. Their sign was Libra, or more anciently the "altar". AS. according as....

_in the midst of the camps_ This appears to mean in the centre of the line of march. The tribes on the east and south sides start first and second. Then follows the Tabernacle with all its parts and accessories, the Levites who carry it forming a hollow square. After them follow the tribes on the west and north sides. The Levitical families retain the respective positions which they occupy when encamped. In the present order of the text, these positions are not described till Numbers 3:23; Numbers 3:29; Numbers 3:35; Numbers 3:38. A different priestly tradition as to the order of match is given in...

THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION, &C.— See chap. Numbers 10:17; Numbers 10:21....

IV. ARRANGEMENTS OF TRIBES FOR CAMPING, MARCHING (NUMBERS 2) TEXT Numbers 2:1. And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 2. Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch. 3, And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah. 4. And his host, and those that were numbered of them were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred. 5. And those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar. 6. And his host, and those that were numbered thereof,