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Numbers Chapter Two

 

Numbers 2 Outlines

The Tribes and Leaders by Armies (v.1~34)

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 2

This chapter contains the order of the encampment and march of the tribes of Israel in their proper places about the tabernacle; the general direction for the same is in Numbers 1:1; the particulars follow; on the cast of the tabernacle the camp of Judah was to pitch and under his standard the tribes of Issachar and Zebulun Numbers 1:3; on the south side of it the camp of Reuben and under his standard the tribes of Simeon and Gad Numbers 1:10; then the tabernacle with the camp of the Levites round it were next to stand or set forward Numbers 1:17; and on the west side the camp of Ephraim and under his standard the tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin Numbers 1:18; and on the north side the camp of Dan and under his standard the tribes of Asher and Naphtali Numbers 1:25; the sum total of the numbers of which camps are given exclusive of the camp of Levi Numbers 1:32; and the chapter is concluded with observing that all was done according to the commandment of God Numbers 1:34.

 

Numbers 2:1   And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron saying:

   YLT  1And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses and unto Aaron saying

And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron .... Very probably after the number of the children of Israel was taken of which in the preceding chapter and when the congregation of Israel with the tabernacle were about to set forward on their journey; and therefore directions are here given for their orderly and regular proceeding in it in what form and manner they should both encamp and march:

saying: as follows.

 

Numbers 2:2   2 “Everyone of the children of Israel shall camp by his own standard beside the emblems of his father’s house; they shall camp some distance from the tabernacle of meeting.

   YLT  2`Each by his standard with ensigns of the house of their fathers do the sons of Israel encamp; over-against round about the tent of meeting they encamp.'

Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard .... Or banner of which there were four as appears from the following account under each of which were placed three tribes; and so every man of each tribe was to pitch his tent in the tribe he belonged to and by the standard under which his tribe was marshalled and in the rank that he was placed:

with the ensigns of their father's house; which were either lesser standards or banners somewhat different from the great standard or banner which belonged to the camp consisting of three tribes and which were peculiar to their several families and houses and distinguished one from another like flags in different regiments; or these were signsF6באתת "in signis" Pagninus Montanus; "sub signis" Tigurine version; "cum signis" Junius & Tremellius Drusius; "apud signa" Piscator. as the word may be rendered or marks in the standards or banners which distinguished one from another; so the Targum of Jonathan the signs which were marked in their standards: but what they were is not easy to say; Aben Ezra observes and Abendana from him that their ancients were used to say that there was in the standard of Reuben the form of a man on account of the mandrakes Genesis 30:14; and in the standard of Judah the form of a lion because Jacob compared him to one Genesis 49:9; and in the standard of Ephraim the form of an ox from the sense of those words the firstling of his bullock Deuteronomy 33:17; and in the standard of Dan the form of an eagle so that they might be like the cherubim the prophet Ezekiel saw Ezekiel 1:10 which is not very likely such images and representations not being very agreeable yea even detestable to the people of the Jews in later times and can hardly be thought to be in use with their early ancestors: others as Jarchi fancy that those standards were distinguished by their colours as our flags or ensigns are; which if they stopped here would not be much amiss but they go on and say that each was according to the colour of his stone fixed in the breastplate so that there were three colours in every flag or standard; thus for instance in the standard of Judah which is the first were the colours of the three precious stones on which were the names of Judah Issachar and Reuben namely the emerald sapphire and diamond; and so in the rest of the standards; but others say the letters of the names of the patriarchs Abraham Isaac and Jacob differently disposed of were on those standards; but rather one would think the names of the three tribes under every standard were embroidered on them which would sufficiently distinguish one from another and direct where tribe was to pitch; but of those things there is no certainty:

far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch: a mile from it according to Jarchi or two thousand cubits which is supposed to be a sabbath day's journey Acts 1:12; and this distance is gathered from Joshua 3:4 and is not improbable.

 

Numbers 2:3   3 On the east side toward the rising of the sun those of the standard of the forces with Judah shall camp according to their armies; and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be the leader of the children of Judah.”

   YLT  3And those encamping eastward towards the sun-rising [are of] the standard of the camp of Judah by their hosts; and the prince of the sons of Judah [is] Nahshon son of Amminadab;

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 saidF7Bemidbar Rabba sect. 2. fol. 178. 2. 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 Chronicles 12:32. Zebulun's was a diamond and his flag was coloured white and there was formed upon it a ship because of what is said Genesis 49:13

and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah; who had been assisting in numbering the people and who afterwards offered to the dedication of the altar Numbers 1:2.

 

Numbers 2:4   4 And his army was numbered at seventy-four thousand six hundred.

   YLT  4and his host and their numbered ones [are] four and seventy thousand and six hundred.

And his host and those that were numbered of them .... As they had been before; and supposing these words to be the words of God there is no necessity of rendering them in the future as some have observed; though they seem rather to be the words of Moses who under every tribe repeats the number which is exactly the same as when taken; and though it was not till twenty days after that they set forward according to their order of encampment not one of them died which Aben Ezra observes as a very wonderful thing:

were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred; the number of the tribe of Judah were 74 600; see Numbers 1:27.

 

Numbers 2:5   5 “Those who camp next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar and Nethanel the son of Zuar shall be the leader of the children of Issachar.”

   YLT  5And those encamping by him [are of] the tribe of Issachar; and the prince of the sons of Issachar [is] Nethaneel son of Zuar;

And those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of Issachar .... Who with Zebulun after mentioned as placed with him under the same standard were the brethren of Judah by the same mother Leah and so fitly put together as most likely to continue in harmony and love; and being the youngest sons of Leah and brethren of Judah would without any reluctance or murmuring pitch under their elder brother's standard:

and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar; see Numbers 1:8.

 

Numbers 2:6   6 And his army was numbered at fifty-four thousand four hundred.

   YLT  6and his host and its numbered ones [are] four and fifty thousand and four hundred.

And his host .... The host of Issachar:

and those that were numbered thereof were fifty and four thousand and four hundred. 54 400 men. Which had been numbered for it does not appear that there was a fresh account taken; see Numbers 1:29.

 

Numbers 2:7   7 “Then comes the tribe of Zebulun and Eliab the son of Helon shall be the leader of the children of Zebulun.”

   YLT  7The tribe of Zebulun; and the prince of the sons of Zebulun [is] Eliab son of Helon;

Then the tribe of Zebulun .... He pitched next; though the order of their encampment was not as it may seem first Judah after him Issachar and below him Zebulun; for Judah lay between these two the one before him and the other behind him; and it was Issachar that was behind and Zebulun before as Aben Ezra observes; they were pitched on each side of the standard of Judah one on one side and the other on the other side:

and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun; see Numbers 1:9; each tribe had its own captain; nor does it appear that there was a general over those captains that had the command of the camp consisting of three tribes but Moses was the generalissimo of all the camps.

 

Numbers 2:8   8 And his army was numbered at fifty-seven thousand four hundred.

   YLT  8and his host and its numbered ones [are] seven and fifty thousand and four hundred;

And his host .... That is the host of Zebulun:

and those that were numbered thereof were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred. 57 400 men; see Numbers 1:31.

 

Numbers 2:9   9 “All who were numbered according to their armies of the forces with Judah one hundred and eighty-six thousand four hundred—these shall break camp first.

   YLT  9all those numbered of the camp of Judah [are] a hundred thousand and eighty thousand and six thousand and four hundred by their hosts; they journey first.

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 .... 186 400 men. The sum total of the three tribes which formed that camp: this was the largest camp of them all being near 30 000 more than Dan's Numbers 2:31 which was the next in number unto it and therefore placed foremost and as the vanguard to the tabernacle:

these shall first set forth; in a march when about to journey; when they saw the cloud remove the priests blew with the trumpets and then the camp of Judah moved first as Jarchi observes and when they went out to fight Judah went up first Judges 1:1.

 

Numbers 2:10   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.”

   YLT  10The standard of the camp of Reuben [is] southward by their hosts; and the prince of the sons of Reuben [is] Elizur son of Shedeur;

On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies .... This camp consisted of the tribes of Reuben Simeon and Gad which was divided into lesser bodies regiments or companies called armies; and this was placed to the south of the tabernacle or to the right hand as Aben Ezra interprets it; this was the right wing of the whole army. Reuben's stone according to the Jewish writersF8Bemidbar Rabba sect. 2. fol. 178. 2. was the "sardius" and his flag was coloured red and there were figured upon it mandrakes. Simeon's stone was the topaz and his flag was coloured green and on it was figured "shechem". Gad's stone was the agate and his flag was coloured neither black nor white but mixed and there was figured upon it a camp or host on account of what is said Genesis 49:19

and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur; see Numbers 1:5.

 

Numbers 2:11   11 And his army was numbered at forty-six thousand five hundred.

   YLT  11and his host and its numbered ones [are] six and forty thousand and five hundred.

And his host .... That is the host of Reuben as distinct from his camp of which it was only a part and of which Elizur was captain:

and those that were numbered thereof were forty and six thousand and five hundred. 46 500 men; see Numbers 1:21.

 

Numbers 2:12   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.”

   YLT  12And those encamping by him [are of] the tribe of Simeon; and the prince of the sons of Simeon [is] Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;

And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon .... Under his standard and on one side of it; Reuben and Simeon being brothers by the mother as well as the father's side might well be thought to agree together; and Reuben being the eldest brother and the eldest of all Jacob's sons Simeon would not grudge to pitch under him:

and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai; of whom see Numbers 1:6.

 

Numbers 2:13   13 And his army was numbered at fifty-nine thousand three hundred.

   YLT  13and his host and their numbered ones [are] nine and fifty thousand and three hundred.

And his host .... That is the host of Simeon:

and those that were numbered of them were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred. 59 300 men; the same as in Numbers 1:23.

 

Numbers 2:14   14 “Then comes the tribe of Gad and the leader of the children of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel.”[a]

   YLT  14And the tribe of Gad; and the prince of the sons of Gad [is] Eliasaph son of Reuel;

Then the tribe of Gad .... Who was placed on the other side of Reuben's standard and according to the former direction he must be before and Simeon behind; and Gad being the eldest son of Leah's handmaid Zilpah is fitly placed under Leah's firstborn and being the son of an handmaid could not object to his situation:

and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel: who is called Deuel Numbers 1:14. The letters ר "resh" and ד "daleth" being similar are sometimes put one for the other of which there are other instances as in Genesis 10:3 compared with 1 Chronicles 1:6.

 

Numbers 2:15   15 And his army was numbered at forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty.

   YLT  15and his host and their numbered ones [are] five and forty thousand and six hundred and fifty.

And his host .... That is the host of Gad as distinct from those of Reuben and Simeon which together formed the camp:

and those that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty. 45 650 men; see Numbers 1:25.

 

Numbers 2:16   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.

   YLT  16All those numbered of the camp of Reuben [are] a hundred thousand and one and fifty thousand and four hundred and fifty by their hosts; and they journey second.

And 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 .... 151 450 men. Putting Reuben's host and the hosts of Simeon and Gad together Numbers 2:13 which was much lesser than the preceding camp being 34 500 fewer in number:

and they shall set forth in the second rank: they in journeying moving next to the camp of Judah and before the tabernacle; for though while encamped the camp of Reuben lay on the south or right side of it yet when marching went before it.

 

Numbers 2:17   17 “And 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.

   YLT  17And the tent of meeting -- the camp of the Levites -- hath journeyed in the midst of the camps; as they encamp so they journey each at his station by their standards.

Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites .... Which reached four miles according to the Targum of Jonathan as did Judah's. Levi's stone as the Jews sayF9Bemidbar Rabba sect. 2. fol. 178. 2. was the carbuncle and his flag was coloured a third part white and a third part black and a third part red and on it were formed Urim and Thummim:

in the midst of the camp; or "camps"F11בתוך המחנה "in medio castrorum" Pagninus Montanus Tigurine version; so Ainsworth; "in medio reliquorum castrorum" Junius & Tremellius. ; between the camps of Judah and Reuben before mentioned and those of Ephraim and Dan which are after spoken of: the order in which they moved was this as Aben Ezra observes; the Gershonites and Merarites marched between the standard of Judah and the standard of Reuben; and the Kohathites marched and with them Aaron and his sons between the standard of Reuben and the standard of Ephraim:

as they encamp so shall they set forward; this is to be understood according to Aben Ezra not of the camp of Levi since the standard of Judah was to the east and the Gershonites which were to the west of the sanctuary and the Merarites in the north set forward together; but of the camps of Israel which set forward not as they were encamped about the tabernacle for those that were encamped on the side of it in marching went before and behind but as they were encamped with respect to themselves; first marched the standard of Judah then that of Reuben which went before and then those of Ephraim and Dan which followed; and besides as each camp was pitched so it moved; as the camp of Judah his host marched between those of Issachar and Zebulun and the same order the rest observed:

every man in his place by their standards as every individual person in the several tribes were ranked under their respective banners so they marched.

 

Numbers 2:18   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.”

   YLT  18The standard of the camp of Ephraim by their hosts [is] westward; and the prince of the sons of Ephraim [is] Elishama son of Ammihud;

On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies .... It was in the rear or behind consisting of his tribe and of the tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin divided into several companies and extended four miles as the above Targum. The Jewish writers sayF12Bemidbar Rabba ut supra. (sect. 2. fol. 178. 2.) that Joseph's stone is the onyx or sardonyx and his flag was coloured very black and on it were figured for the two princes Ephraim and Manasseh Egypt because they were born in Egypt; and upon the flag of Ephraim was figured an ox because of what is said in Deuteronomy 33:17; and on the flag of the tribe of Manasseh was figured an unicorn because of what is said in the same place. Benjamin's stone was the jasper and his flag was coloured like to twelve colours and on it was figured a wolf because of what is said Genesis 49:27

and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud; of whom see Numbers 1:10.

 

Numbers 2:19   19 And his army was numbered at forty thousand five hundred.

   YLT  19and his host and their numbered ones [are] forty thousand and five hundred.

And his host .... That is the host of Ephraim:

and those that were numbered of them were forty thousand and five hundred. 40 500 men. Not his camp but his host or the army which consisted only of his own tribe see Numbers 1:33.

 

Numbers 2:20   20 “Next to him comes the tribe of Manasseh and the leader of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.”

   YLT  20And by him [is] the tribe of Manasseh; and the prince of the sons of Manasseh [is] Gamaliel son of Pedahzur;

And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh .... Who though the elder brother to Ephraim yet Ephraim was preferred to him and had a standard given him and his elder brother was directed to pitch by it; and this being agreeably to the prophecy of Jacob could not well be objected to; and Benjamin the younger brother of Joseph being placed under the standard of a son of his that stood in his father's room could not be offended; and these all being the descendants of Rachel might well be thought to agree together and be very well pleased with their situation:

and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur; the same as in Numbers 1:10.

 

Numbers 2:21   21 And his army was numbered at thirty-two thousand two hundred.

   YLT  21and his host and their numbered ones [are] two and thirty thousand and two hundred.

And his host .... That is the host of Manasseh:

and those that were numbered of them were thirty and two thousand and two hundred. 32 200 men; see Numbers 1:35.

 

Numbers 2:22   22 “Then comes the tribe of Benjamin and the leader of the children of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni.”

   YLT  22And the tribe of Benjamin; and the prince of the sons of Benjamin [is] Abidan son of Gideoni;

Then the tribe of Benjamin .... He was to pitch under the same standard of Ephraim and the other side of it from that of Manasseh; the one being before and the other behind and the standard in the middle; See Gill on Numbers 2:7

and the captains of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni; of whom see Numbers 1:11.

 

Numbers 2:23   23 And his army was numbered at thirty-five thousand four hundred.

   YLT  23and his host and their numbered ones [are] five and thirty thousand and four hundred.

And his host &c. That is the host of Benjamin:

and those that were numbered of them were thirty and five thousand and four hundred. 35 400 men. The least number of all the tribes excepting the tribe of Manasseh Numbers 2:21; see Numbers 1:37.

 

Numbers 2:24   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.

   YLT  24All those numbered of the camp of Ephraim [are] a hundred thousand and eight thousand and a hundred by their hosts; and they journey third.

All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred throughout their armies .... 108 100 men. Which was the smallest of all the camps and near eighty thousand fewer than the camp of Judah Numbers 2:9

and they shall go forward in the third rank; and which was the first following the tabernacle.

 

Numbers 2:25   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.”

   YLT  25The standard of the camp of Dan [is] northward by their hosts; and the prince of the sons of Dan [is] Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai;

The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies .... To the left of the tabernacle as encamped and so was the left wing of the grand army; it consisted of the tribes of Dan Asher and Naphtali in which were several divisions and companies whose camp also the Targum of Jonathan says reached four miles. According to the Jewish writersF13Bemidbar Rabba ut supra. (sect. 2. fol. 178. 2.) Dan's stone was the "ligure" and his flag was coloured like to a sapphire and there was figured upon it a serpent on account of what is said Genesis 49:17; Asher's stone was the "tarshish" or beryl and his flag was coloured like to a precious stone with which women adorn themselves and on it was figured an olive tree on account of what is said Genesis 49:20. Naphtali's stone was the amethyst and his flag was coloured like to clear wine whose redness is not strong and on it was figured an hind on account of what is said of him Genesis 49:21

and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai; who made mention of in Numbers 1:10.

 

Numbers 2:26   26 And his army was numbered at sixty-two thousand seven hundred.

   YLT  26and his host and their numbered ones [are] two and sixty thousand and seven hundred.

And his host .... That is the host of Dan:

and those that were numbered of them were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred. 62 700 men which agrees with the account of this tribe in Numbers 1:39.

 

Numbers 2:27   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.”

   YLT  27And those encamping by him [are of] the tribe of Asher; and the prince of the sons of Asher [is] Pagiel son of Ocran;

And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher .... Dan had a standard given him though the son of an handmaid being the firstborn of the sons of the handmaids and his tribe being a warlike tribe and very numerous; and Asher and Naphtali are placed by him being the sons of handmaids also and could not but contentedly pitch by him who was the eldest of the sons of the handmaids Naphtali being his younger brother by mother's as well as father's side and Asher the second son of Zilpah Leah's maid:

and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran; the same as in Numbers 1:13.

 

Numbers 2:28   28 And his army was numbered at forty-one thousand five hundred.

   YLT  28and his host and their numbered ones [are] one and forty thousand and five hundred.

And his host .... That is the host of Asher:

and those that were numbered of them were forty and one thousand and five hundred. 41 500 men; as they were numbered Numbers 1:41.

 

Numbers 2:29   29 “Then comes the tribe of Naphtali and the leader of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan.”

   YLT  29And the tribe of Naphtali; and the prince of the sons of Naphtali [is] Ahira son of Enan;

Then the tribe of Naphtali .... That was to pitch by the same standard of Dan on the other side of it:

and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan; who is mentioned Numbers 1:15.

 

Numbers 2:30   30 And his army was numbered at fifty-three thousand four hundred.

   YLT  30and his host and their numbered ones [are] three and fifty thousand and four hundred.

And his host .... That is the host of Naphtali:

and those that were numbered of them; not that some part of the tribe of Naphtali was numbered which made up the host Ahira was captain of but the whole of it who were all numbered that were of twenty years of age and upwards; and the same is to be observed in all the above places where this phrase is used:

were fifty and three thousand and four hundred. 53 400 men; see Numbers 1:43.

 

Numbers 2:31   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.”

   YLT  31All those numbered of the camp of Dan [are] a hundred thousand and seven and fifty thousand and six hundred; at the rear they journey by their standards.

All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan were an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred .... 157 600 men. Consisting of his own tribe and those of Asher and Naphtali which make the largest camp next to Judah:

they shall go hindmost with their standards; for though while encamped they lay to the north or the left side of the tabernacle yet when marching they brought up the rear and were the rear guard to the tabernacle; so that it had in its van and rear the two largest camps which were wisely ordered for its safety: "standards" is put for "standard" the plural for the singular; for there was but one standard to a camp unless this takes in their ensigns of which they had many.

 

Numbers 2:32   32 These are the ones who were numbered of the children of Israel by their fathers’ houses. All who were numbered according to their armies of the forces were six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty.

   YLT  32These [are] those numbered of the sons of Israel by the house of their fathers; all those numbered of the camps by their hosts [are] six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.

These are those that were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers .... As the number was taken by Moses and Aaron assisted by twelve princes of the tribe who were now constituted captains over them as so many hosts or armies:

all those that were numbered of the camp throughout their hosts: of the four camps of Judah Reuben Ephraim and Dan throughout the respective tribes or hosts that belonged to each of them:

were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty; 603 550 men which is exactly the sum total of them as taken Numbers 1:46. It is a large number considering in how short a time and that great part of it a state of bondage from seventy persons they rose unto it; but the spiritual Israel of God consisting of his people of all nations is a number which no man can number Revelation 7:9; besides the number of the sealed ones of every tribe Numbers 2:4; Now this encampment of the people of Israel was an emblem of the form and order of the spiritual Israel or church of God under the Gospel dispensation. Christ in human nature is the tabernacle who is in the midst of his people by his gracious presence; as the heart and life of the congregation of his saints in whom they all centre and terminate and where he sits enthroned as King of saints; and as the Levites encamped in four squadrons next unto the tabernacle all around it to these answer the living creatures in Ezekiel 1:5; which design the ministers of the word who are in the highest place in the church between Christ and the congregation and are near to him to be supplied by him; then encamped the whole body of the people of Israel by their standards with their ensigns to whom answer the wheels in Ezekiel 1:15; and the twenty four elders in Revelation 4:4; all which show the church to be militant and that there is an order in Gospel churches which makes them both comely and terrible Song of Solomon 6:4; and may teach every member to abide by his standard and follow his ensign and ensign bearer Isaiah 11:10.

 

Numbers 2:33   33 But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel just as the Lord commanded Moses.

   YLT  33And the Levites have not numbered themselves in the midst of the sons of Israel as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel .... At this time not among the Israelites but by themselves they being a camp of themselves:

as the Lord commanded Moses; Numbers 1:48.

 

Numbers 2:34   34 Thus the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses; so they camped by their standards and so they broke camp each one by his family according to their fathers’ houses.

   YLT  34And the sons of Israel do according to all that Jehovah hath commanded Moses; so they have encamped by their standards and so they have journeyed; each by his families by the house of his fathers.

And the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses .... Formed themselves into camps so many tribes to a camp and over each tribe or host appointed a captain and erected a standard to each camp by which they pitched as directed which is next particularly observed:

so they pitched by their standards; every tribe and every person in the tribe as they were ranked pitched by the standard to which they belonged:

and so they set forward after their families according to the house of their fathers; the camps and the tribes in them the families in those tribes and the houses or lesser families under them when they marched proceeded in this regular order as they did on the twentieth of this month; see Numbers 10:11.

 

──John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

 

New King James Version (NKJV)

Footnotes:

  1. Numbers 2:14 Spelled Deuel in 1:14 and 7:42