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Numbers Chapter
Two
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)