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 the camp 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, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.

7 Then the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun.

8 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.

9 All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth.

10 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.

11 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.

12 And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon: and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

13 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.

14 Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel.

15 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty.

16 All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben were an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies. And they shall set forth in the second rank.

17 Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards.

18 On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies: and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud.

19 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty thousand and five hundred.

20 And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

21 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.

22 Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni.

23 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.

24 All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout their armies. And they shall go forward in the third rank.

25 The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

26 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.

27 And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran.

28 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.

29 Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan.

30 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.

31 All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan were an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred. They shall go hindmost with their standards.

32 These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.

33 But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the Lord commanded Moses.

34 And the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.

Commentary

Verse 1

Bible Cross References
Numbers 1:54 Numbers 2:2

Verse 2

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
His own standard - It is manifest there were four great standards or ensigns, which here follow, distinguished by their colours or figures; also there were other particular ensigns belonging to each of their fathers houses or families. Far off - Partly out of reverence to God and his worship, and the portion, allotted to it, and partly for caution, lest their vicinity to it might tempt them to make too near approaches to it. It is supposed they Were at 2000 cubits distance from it, which was the space between the people and the ark; and it is not improbable, because the Levites encamped round about it, between them and the tabernacle. It is observable, those tribes were placed together, that were nearest of kin to each other. Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun were the three youngest sons of Leah, and Issachar and Zebulun would not grudge to be under Judah, their elder brother. Reuben and Simeon would not be content with their place. Therefore Reuben, Jacob's eldest son, is chief of the next squadron. Simeon doubtless is willing to be under him. And Gad, the son of Leah's handmaid, is fitly added to him, in Levi's room. Ephraim Manasseh, and Benjamin are all the posterity of Rachel. Dan the eldest son of Bilhah leads the rest; to them are added the two younger sons of the handmaids. So much of the wisdom of God appears even in these smaller circumstances!
McArther Bible Commentary
standard … emblems. The emblems were flags identifying the individual tribes (probably with some sort of insignia). The standards were flags marking each of the four encampments of three tribes each. tabernacle of meeting. For details, see Exodus 25-30.
Bible Cross References
Numbers 1:52 Numbers 2:1 Numbers 24:2 Psalm 74:4

Verse 3

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Judah - This tribe was in the first post, and in their marches led the van, not only because it was the most numerous, but chiefly because Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, was to descend from it: Yea, from the loins of Nahshon, who is here appointed the chief captain of it.
McArther Bible Commentary
On the east side … Judah. Judah occupied the place of honor to the east. Gen 49:8-12 highlights the role and centrality Judah would have in the defeat of Israel's enemies. Judah was the tribe through which the Messiah would be born. Nahshon. Nahshon appears in the later genealogies of the messianic line (cf. Rth 4:20; Mat 1:4).
Bible Cross References
Luke 3:32 Luke 3:33 Exodus 6:23 Numbers 1:7 Numbers 2:4 Numbers 3:38 Numbers 10:14 Ruth 4:20 1 Chronicles 2:10

Verse 4

Bible Cross References
Numbers 1:27 Numbers 2:3 Numbers 2:5

Verse 5

Bible Cross References
Numbers 1:8 Numbers 2:4 Numbers 2:6 Numbers 7:18 Numbers 7:23

Verse 6

Bible Cross References
Numbers 1:29 Numbers 2:5 Numbers 2:7

Verse 7

Bible Cross References
Numbers 1:9 Numbers 2:6 Numbers 2:8

Verse 8

Bible Cross References
Numbers 1:31 Numbers 2:7 Numbers 2:9

Verse 9

Bible Cross References
Numbers 2:8 Numbers 10:14

Verse 10

Bible Cross References
Numbers 1:5 Numbers 2:11 Numbers 10:18

Verse 11

Bible Cross References
Numbers 2:10 Numbers 2:12

Verse 12

Bible Cross References
Numbers 1:6 Numbers 2:11 Numbers 2:13

Verse 13

Bible Cross References
Numbers 1:23 Numbers 2:12 Numbers 2:14

Verse 14

McArther Bible Commentary
Reuel. In Num 1:14; Num 7:42, this name appears as Deuel. The letters R and D are similar in Hebrew and were easily confused by the scribes who copied the text.
Bible Cross References
Numbers 1:14 Numbers 2:13 Numbers 2:15 Numbers 7:42

Verse 15

Bible Cross References
Numbers 2:14 Numbers 2:16

Verse 16

Bible Cross References
Numbers 2:15 Numbers 2:16 Numbers 10:18

Verse 17

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
In the midst - This is not to be understood strictly, but largely; for in their march they were divided, and part of that tribe marched next after Judah, (Numbers 10:17) , and the other part exactly in the midst of the camp.
McArther Bible Commentary
move out. As the tribes marched, the tabernacle was transported in the middle of the tribes of Israel, six in front and six behind.
Bible Cross References
Numbers 1:53 Numbers 2:18

Verse 18

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Ephraim - Who is here preferred before his brother, according to the prophecy, (Genesis 48:19-20) .
Bible Cross References
Genesis 48:14 Numbers 1:10 Numbers 2:19 Numbers 7:48 Numbers 10:22 Psalm 80:2 Jeremiah 31:9 Jeremiah 31:18

Verse 19

Bible Cross References
Numbers 2:18 Numbers 2:20

Verse 20

Bible Cross References
Numbers 1:10 Numbers 2:19 Numbers 2:21 Numbers 7:54

Verse 21

Bible Cross References
Numbers 2:20 Numbers 2:22

Verse 22

Bible Cross References
Numbers 1:11 Numbers 2:21 Numbers 2:23 Numbers 7:60 Psalm 68:27

Verse 23

Bible Cross References
Numbers 2:22 Numbers 2:24 Judges 20:15

Verse 24

Bible Cross References
Numbers 2:23 Numbers 10:22

Verse 25

Bible Cross References
Numbers 1:12 Numbers 1:38 Numbers 2:26 Numbers 3:35 Numbers 7:66 Numbers 10:25

Verse 26

Bible Cross References
Numbers 2:25 Numbers 2:27

Verse 27

Bible Cross References
Numbers 1:13 Numbers 2:26 Numbers 2:28 Numbers 7:72

Verse 28

Bible Cross References
Numbers 2:27 Numbers 2:29

Verse 29

Bible Cross References
Genesis 30:8 Numbers 1:15 Numbers 2:28 Numbers 2:30 Numbers 7:78

Verse 30

Bible Cross References
Numbers 2:29 Numbers 2:31

Verse 31

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
The Camp of Dan - 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.
Bible Cross References
Numbers 2:30 Numbers 2:31 Numbers 10:25

Verse 32

McArther Bible Commentary
See note on Num 1:46.
Bible Cross References
Exodus 12:37 Exodus 38:26 Numbers 1:46

Verse 33

Bible Cross References
Numbers 1:47 Numbers 2:34 Numbers 26:57

Verse 34

Bible Cross References
Numbers 1:52 Numbers 2:33 Numbers 3:1