Numbers 2

King James Version

Full text for Numbers Chapter 2

1¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

2Every 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.

4And his host, and those that were numbered of them, [were] threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.

5And 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.

6And 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.

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

9All 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.

10On 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.

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

12And 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.

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

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

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

16All 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.

17Then 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.

18On 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.

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

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

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

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

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

24All 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.

25The 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.

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

27And 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.

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

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

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

31All 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.

32These [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.

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

34And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Numbers chapter two details the divinely ordained encampment order of the Israelite tribes around the Tabernacle. Each of the four cardinal directions was assigned a primary tribe with two supporting tribes, each with their specific captains and numbered hosts. This meticulous arrangement ensured an organized and disciplined formation for both resting and marching, with the Tabernacle at the center.

Medium Summary

Numbers chapter two outlines the precise divine instructions for the arrangement of the Israelite tribes when encamped and during their journeys. The LORD commanded each tribe to pitch by its standard, with the Tabernacle centrally located. The camp of Judah, comprising Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, was positioned on the east, leading the march. On the south, the camp of Reuben, including Simeon and Gad, followed. The Tabernacle and the Levites moved in the middle, maintaining their central position. The camp of Ephraim, consisting of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin, was situated on the west. Finally, the camp of Dan, with Asher and Naphtali, formed the rearguard on the north. Each tribal division had a designated captain and specific population numbers, totaling 603,550 fighting men, excluding the Levites, who were not numbered among them. This detailed order ensured the orderly movement and encampment of the vast Israelite host.

Long Summary

Numbers chapter two provides a detailed account of the LORD's specific instructions to Moses and Aaron regarding the organizational structure of the Israelite encampment and their order of march. The divine command stipulated that each man of the children of Israel should pitch by his own standard, associated with his father's house, maintaining a distance from the central Tabernacle of the congregation. The tribes were divided into four main camps, each assigned to a cardinal direction. On the east side, facing the rising sun, was the camp of Judah, which included the tribes of Issachar and Zebulun, led by their respective captains, Nahshon, Nethaneel, and Eliab. This eastern division, totaling 186,400 men, was designated to set forth first. To the south, the standard of the camp of Reuben was established, encompassing the tribes of Simeon and Gad, under the leadership of Elizur, Shelumiel, and Eliasaph. This southern contingent, numbering 151,450, was appointed to move in the second rank. Crucially, the Tabernacle of the congregation, accompanied by the camp of the Levites, was positioned to set forward in the midst of the entire assembly, maintaining its central significance. On the west side, the camp of Ephraim was situated, comprising the tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin, with Elishama, Gamaliel, and Abidan as their captains. This western division, totaling 108,100 men, was designated to advance in the third rank. Lastly, on the north side, the standard of the camp of Dan was placed, including the tribes of Asher and Naphtali, led by Ahiezer, Pagiel, and Ahira. This northern contingent, numbering 157,600, was appointed to serve as the rearguard, moving hindmost with their standards. The chapter concludes by stating that the total number of numbered men from all these camps was 603,550, explicitly noting that the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel, as the LORD had commanded Moses. The children of Israel faithfully executed all the LORD's commands, pitching and setting forward according to their assigned standards and family divisions, demonstrating their obedience to divine order.

Core Concepts

  • Divine OrderThe chapter meticulously details the precise arrangement of the Israelite tribes for encampment and movement, demonstrating God's command for order and structure within the community. This organization was not arbitrary but divinely ordained for the wilderness journey.
  • Tribal StandardsEach major tribal division was identified by its own "standard" or banner, and individual families pitched by their "ensign of their father's house." These standards served as visual markers for identity, unity, and proper positioning within the larger camp.
  • Centrality of the TabernacleThe Tabernacle of the congregation was positioned at the very center of the encampment, with all tribes pitching "far off about" it. This arrangement emphasized the spiritual and physical centrality of God's presence among His people.
  • Military OrganizationThe detailed numbering of men and the assignment of captains for each tribe and camp highlight the military-like structure of the Israelite host. This organization was crucial for their protection and efficient movement through the wilderness.
  • Sequential Marching OrderThe chapter specifies the order in which the camps were to set forth: Judah first, Reuben second, Ephraim third, and Dan hindmost, with the Tabernacle and Levites in the middle. This established a disciplined and predictable sequence for their journeys.
  • Exclusion of Levites from CensusThe Levites were explicitly not numbered among the fighting men of Israel, as commanded by the LORD. This distinction underscores their unique role and separation for service to the Tabernacle, rather than military duty.
  • Obedience to CommandThe chapter concludes by emphasizing that the children of Israel "did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses." This highlights their faithfulness in adhering to the precise divine instructions for their encampment and movement.