Numbers 2

Nu 2:1-34.

THE

ORDER OF THE

TRIBES IN

THEIR

TENTS.

2. Every man . . . shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of

their father's house--Standards were visible signs of a certain

recognized form for directing the movements of large bodies of people.

As the Israelites were commanded to encamp "each by his own standard,

with the ensign of their father's house," the direction has been

considered as implying that they possessed three varieties: (1) the

great tribal standards, which served as rallying points for the twelve

large clans of the people; (2) the standards of the subdivided

portions; and, (3) those of families or houses. The latter must have

been absolutely necessary, as one ensign only for a tribe would not

have been visible at the extremities of so large a body. We possess no

authentic information as to their forms, material, colors, and devices.

But it is probable that they might bear some resemblance to those of

Egypt, only stripped of any idolatrous symbols. These were of an

umbrella or a fanlike form, made of ostrich feathers, shawls, &c.,

lifted on the points of long poles, which were borne, either like the

sacred central one, on a car, or on men's shoulders, while others might

be like the beacon lights which are set on poles by Eastern pilgrims at

night. Jewish writers say that the standards of the Hebrew tribes were

symbols borrowed from the prophetic blessing of Jacob--Judah's being a

lion, Benjamin's a wolf, &c.

[Ge 49:3-24];

and that the ensigns or banners were distinguished by their colors--the

colors of each tribe being the same as that of the precious stone

representing that tribe in the breastplate of the high priest

[Ex 28:17-21].

far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch--that

is, "over against," at a reverential distance. The place of every tribe

is successively and specifically described because each had a certain

part assigned both in the order of march and the disposition of the

encampment.

3. on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the

standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies--Judah,

placed at the head of a camp composed of three tribes rallying under

its standard, was said to have combined the united colors 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 in an easterly direction.

Nahshon--or Naasson

(Mt 1:4;

Lu 3:32, 33).

shall be captain--It appears that the twelve men who were called to

superintend the census were also appointed to be the captains of their

respective tribes--a dignity which they owed probably to the

circumstances, formerly noticed, of their holding the hereditary office

of head or "prince."

5. those that pitch next unto him--that is, on the one side.

7. Then the tribe of Zebulun--on the other side. While Judah's tribe

was the most numerous, those of Issachar and Zebulun were also very

numerous; so that the association of those three tribes formed a strong

and imposing van.

10-31. 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 twelve 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 on

Nu 3:38),

formed the center, as does the chief's in the encampment of all nomad

people. In marching, this order was adhered to, with some necessary

variations. Judah led the way, followed, it is most probable, by

Issachar and Zebulun

[Nu 10:14-16].

Reuben, Simeon, and Gad formed the second great division

[Nu 10:18-20].

They were followed by the central company, composed of the Levites,

bearing the tabernacle

[Nu 10:21].

Then the third and posterior squadron consisted of Ephraim, Manasseh,

and Benjamin

[Nu 10:22-24],

while the hindmost place was assigned to Dan, Asher, and Naphtali

[Nu 10:25-27].

Thus Judah's, which was the most numerous, formed the van: and Dan's,

which was the next in force, brought up the rear; while Reuben's and

Ephraim's, with the tribes associated with them respectively, being the

smallest and weakest, were placed in the center. (See on

Nu 10:13).