Numbers 2:1-34 Tribal Encampment around the Tabernacle
1 And the
LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: 2
"Everyone of the children of
East – Camp of
3 On the east side, toward the rising of the sun, those of the
standard of the forces with
South – Camp of Reuben with Simeon and Gad 151,450
10 "On the south side shall be the standard of the forces with Reuben according to their armies, and the leader of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur." 11 And his army was numbered at forty-six thousand five hundred. 12 Those who camp next to him shall be the tribe of Simeon, and the leader of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai." 13 And his army was numbered at fifty-nine thousand three hundred. 14 Then comes the tribe of Gad, and the leader of the children of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel." 15 And his army was numbered at forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty. 16 All who were numbered according to their armies of the forces with Reuben, one hundred and fifty-one thousand four hundred and fifty--they shall be the second to break camp.
Tabernacle in Center
17 Then the tabernacle of meeting shall move out with the camp of the Levites in the middle of the camps; as they camp, so they shall move out, everyone in his place, by their standards.
West – Camp of Ephraim With
Manasseh and Benjamin
108,100
18 "On the west side shall be the standard of the forces with Ephraim according to their armies, and the leader of the children of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud." 19 And his army was numbered at forty thousand five hundred. 20 Next to him comes the tribe of Manasseh, and the leader of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur." 21 And his army was numbered at thirty-two thousand two hundred. 22 Then shall come the tribe of Benjamin, and the leader of the children of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni." 23 And his army was numbered at thirty-five thousand four hundred. 24 All who were numbered according to their armies of the forces with Ephraim, one hundred and eight thousand one hundred--they shall be the third to break camp.
North – Camp of Dan With Asher and
Naphtali 157,600
25 "The standard of the forces with Dan shall be on the north side according to their armies, and the leader of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai." 26 And his army was numbered at sixty-two thousand seven hundred. 27 Those who camp next to him shall be the tribe of Asher, and the leader of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran." 28 And his army was numbered at forty-one thousand five hundred. 29 Then comes the tribe of Naphtali, and the leader of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan." 30 And his army was numbered at fifty-three thousand four hundred. 31 All who were numbered of the forces with Dan, one hundred and fifty-seven thousand six hundred--they shall break camp last, with their standards."
32 These
are the ones who were numbered of the children of
Facts Revealed:
Y The camps of the Tribes of Israel were to encamp around the Tabernacle but spaced away from it enough to allow the camps of the Levites to encamp near the Tabernacle.
Y Everyone was to camp by his tribal Standard.
Y The twelve tribes were divided into four groups with one group on each side of the Tabernacle.
Y
East
of the Tabernacle was the camp of
² Judah and his army numbering 74,600, Nahshon son of Amminadab their leader.
² Issachar and his army numbering 54,400, Nethanel son of Zuar their leader.
² Zebulun and his army numbering 57,400, Eliab the son of Helon their leader.
²
Total forces in the camp of
² First to start out when the Children of Israel journeyed.
Y South of the Tabernacle was the camp of Reuben, which included:
² Reuben and his army numbering 46,500, Elizur son of Shedeur their leader.
² Simeon and his army numbering 59,300, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai their leader.
² Gad and his army numbering 45,650, Eliasaph son of Reuel their leader.
² Total forces in the Camp of Reuben was 151,450
² Second to start out when the Children of Israel journeyed.
Y The Tabernacle was located in the center of the camp and traveled in the center of the tribes, with the Tribe of the Levites.
Y West of the Tabernacle was the camp of Ephraim, which included:
² Ephraim with his armies numbering 40,500, Elishama son of Ammihud their leader.
² Manasseh with his armies numbering 32,200, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur their leader.
² Benjamin with his armies numbering 35,400, Abidan son of Gideoni their leader.
² Total forces in the camp of Ephraim was 108,100
² Third to start out when the Children of Israel journeyed
Y North of the Tabernacle was the camp of Dan, which included:
² Dan and his armies numbering 62,700, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai their leader.
² Asher and his armies numbering 41,500, Pagiel son of Ocran their leader.
² Naphtali and his armies numbering 53,400, Ahira son of Enan their leader.
² Total forces in the camp of Dan was 157,600
² Last to start out when the Children of Israel journeyed.
The Children of Israel obeyed
God’s command.
Y
Total of
the forces of the armies of the Children of
Y The Levites were not numbered among the men of war, as commanded by God.
Y The Children of Israel did according to the command of God.
Y The Children of Israel camped by the standard of their own tribe according to the command of God.