Numbers Chapter 2

From The Open Bible Project

2:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

2:2 "The children of Israel shall encamp every man by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers' houses: at a distance from the Tent of Meeting shall they encamp around it."

• (a) In the twelve tribes were four principle standards, so that every three tribes had their standard.

2:3 Those who encamp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah, according to their divisions: and the prince of the children of Judah shall be Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

2:4 His division, and those who were numbered of them, were seventy-four thousand six hundred.

2:5 Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and the prince of the children of Issachar shall be Nethanel the son of Zuar.

• (b) Judah, Issachar and Zebulun the sons of Leah were of the first standard.

2:6 His division, and those who were numbered of it, were fifty-four thousand four hundred.

2:7 The tribe of Zebulun: and the prince of the children of Zebulun shall be Eliab the son of Helon.

2:8 His division, and those who were numbered of it, were fifty-seven thousand four hundred.

2:9 All who were numbered of the camp of Judah were one hundred eighty-six thousand four hundred, according to their divisions. They shall set out first.

• (c) Of those who were contained under that name.

2:10 "On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their divisions. The prince of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.

• (d) Reuben and Simeon, the sons of Leah, and Gad, the son of Zilpah her maid, were of the second standard.

2:11 His division, and those who were numbered of it, were forty-six thousand five hundred.

2:12 "Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Simeon. The prince of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

2:13 His division, and those who were numbered of them, were fifty-nine thousand three hundred.

2:14 "The tribe of Gad: and the prince of the children of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel.

2:15 His division, and those who were numbered of them, were forty-five thousand six hundred fifty.

2:16 "All who were numbered of the camp of Reuben were one hundred fifty-one thousand four hundred fifty, according to their armies. They shall set out second.

2:17 "Then the Tent of Meeting shall set out, with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camps. As they encamp, so shall they set out, every man in his place, by their standards.

• (e) Because it might be an equal distance from each one, and all indifferently have recourse to it.

2:18 "On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their divisions: and the prince of the children of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud.

• (f) Because Ephraim and Manasseh took the place of Joseph their father, they are taken as Rachel’s children, so they and Benjamin make the third standard.

2:19 His division, and those who were numbered of them, were forty thousand five hundred.

2:20 "Next to him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the prince of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

2:21 His division, and those who were numbered of them, were thirty-two thousand two hundred.

2:22 "The tribe of Benjamin: and the prince of the children of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni.

2:23 His army, and those who were numbered of them, were thirty-five thousand four hundred.

2:24 "All who were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were one hundred eight thousand one hundred, according to their divisions. They shall set out third.

2:25 "On the north side shall be the standard of the camp of Dan according to their divisions: and the prince of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

• (g) Dan and Naphtali the sons of Bilhah Rachel’s maid with Asher the son of Zilpah make the fourth standard.

2:26 His division, and those who were numbered of them, were sixty-two thousand seven hundred.

2:27 "Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the prince of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ochran.

2:28 His division, and those who were numbered of them, were forty-one thousand and five hundred.

2:29 "The tribe of Naphtali: and the prince of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan.

2:30 His division, and those who were numbered of them, were fifty-three thousand four hundred.

2:31 "All who were numbered of the camp of Dan were one hundred fifty-seven thousand six hundred. They shall set out last by their standards."

2:32 These are those who were numbered of the children of Israel by their fathers' houses. All who were numbered of the camps according to their armies were six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty.

• (h) Which were of twenty years and above.

2:33 But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as Yahweh commanded Moses.

2:34 Thus the children of Israel did. According to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so they encamped by their standards, and so they set out, everyone by their families, according to their fathers' houses.

• (i) For under every one of the four principal standards, were various signs to keep every band.