Numbers 2:3

_AND ON THE EAST SIDE TOWARD THE RISING OF THE SUN SHALL THEY OF THE STANDARD OF THE CAMP OF JUDAH PITCH THROUGHOUT THEIR ARMIES: AND NAHSHON THE SON OF AMMINADAB SHALL BE CAPTAIN OF THE CHILDREN OF JUDAH._ On the east side ... Judah was placed at the head of a camp composed of three tribes rallying under its standard, said to have combined the united colours in the high priest's breastplate, but called by the name of Judah. They were appointed to occupy the east side; and to take the lead in the march, which, for the most part, was an easterly direction. NAHSHON (OR NAASSON, MATTHEW 1:4 ) ... SHALL BE CAPTAIN. It appears that the twelve men who were called to superintend the census were also appointed to be the captains wed probably to the circumstances, formerly noticed, of their holding the hereditary office of head or "prince....

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

AND ON THE EAST SIDE, TOWARDS THE RISING OF THE SUN,.... Which rises in the east; or of all; for, as Jarchi observes, that which is "before" is called "Kedem", the east, as the west is called "behind": SHALL THEY OF THE STANDARD OF THE CAMP OF JUDAH PITCH, THROUGHOUT THEIR ARMIES; the tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, formed one camp, which had its name from the principal tribe Judah; and this was divided into various regiments and companies, called armies, who severally pitched under one and the same standard. It is said g Judah's stone was the "nophech" (which we render an emerald), and his flag was coloured in the likeness of the colour of the heavens, and there was formed upon it a lion. Issachar's was the sapphire, and his flag was coloured black, like to black lead, and there were framed upon it the sun and moon, on account of what is said, 1 Chronicle

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,...

EAST. The order proceeds according to the course of the sun: east, south, west, north. camp. Each camp composed of three tribes. Compare verses: Numbers 2:3; Numbers 2:10; Numbers 2:17; Numbers 3:18; Numbers 3:25; Numbers 3:32. JUDAH. The sign,. lion (Genesis 49:9; Ezekiel 1:10;...

_Judah_ The most important tribe in each group of three is mentioned first, and the numbers of all the three together are reckoned under its name (Numbers 2:9_; Numbers 2:16; Numbers 2:24; Numbers 2:31_)....

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,

THE DISPOSITION OF THE TRIBES IN THE CAMP AND ON THE MARCH The camp is in the form of a hollow square, each side of which is occupied by three tribes. On the E., the position of honour (cp. Numbers 3:38), is Judah, with whom are associated Issachar and Zebulun; on the S. is Reuben, with Simeon and Gad; on the W. is Ephraim, with Manasseh and Benjamin; on the N. is Dan, with Asher and Naphtali. In this arrangement regard seems to have been paid to family relationship. The priests and Levites form an inner square surrounding the tabernacle, which occupies the centre of the camp....