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Texts -- Numbers 2:1-33 (NET)

Context
The Arrangement of the Tribes
2:1 The Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron : 2:2 “Every one of the Israelites must camp under his standard with the emblems of his family ; they must camp at some distance around the tent of meeting .
The Tribes on the East
2:3 “Now those who will be camping on the east , toward the sunrise , are the divisions of the camp of Judah under their standard . The leader of the people of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab . 2:4 Those numbered in his division are 74,600 . 2:5 Those who will be camping next to them are the tribe of Issachar . The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar . 2:6 Those numbered in his division are 54,400 . 2:7 Next will be the tribe of Zebulun . The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon . 2:8 Those numbered in his division are 57,400 . 2:9 All those numbered of the camp of Judah , according to their divisions , are 186,400 . They will travel at the front .
The Tribes on the South
2:10 “On the south will be the divisions of the camp of Reuben under their standard . The leader of the people of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur . 2:11 Those numbered in his division are 46,500 . 2:12 Those who will be camping next to them are the tribe of Simeon . The leader of the people of Simeon is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai . 2:13 Those numbered in his division are 59,300 . 2:14 Next will be the tribe of Gad . The leader of the people of Gad is Eliasaph son of Deuel . 2:15 Those numbered in his division are 45,650 . 2:16 All those numbered of the camp of Reuben , according to their divisions , are 151,450 . They will travel second .
The Tribe in the Center
2:17 “Then the tent of meeting with the camp of the Levites will travel in the middle of the camps . They will travel in the same order as they camped , each in his own place under his standard .
The Tribes on the West
2:18 “On the west will be the divisions of the camp of Ephraim under their standard . The leader of the people of Ephraim is Elishama son of Amihud . 2:19 Those numbered in his division are 40,500 . 2:20 Next to them will be the tribe of Manasseh . The leader of the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur . 2:21 Those numbered in his division are 32,200 . 2:22 Next will be the tribe of Benjamin . The leader of the people of Benjamin is Abidan son of Gideoni . 2:23 Those numbered in his division are 35,400 . 2:24 All those numbered of the camp of Ephraim , according to their divisions , are 108,100 . They will travel third .
The Tribes on the North
2:25 “On the north will be the divisions of the camp of Dan , under their standards . The leader of the people of Dan is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai . 2:26 Those numbered in his division are 62,700 . 2:27 Those who will be camping next to them are the tribe of Asher . The leader of the people of Asher is Pagiel son of Ocran . 2:28 Those numbered in his division are 41,500 . 2:29 Next will be the tribe of Naphtali . The leader of the people of Naphtali is Ahira son of Enan . 2:30 Those numbered in his division are 53,400 . 2:31 All those numbered of the camp of Dan are 157,600 . They will travel last , under their standards .”
Summary
2:32 These are the Israelites , numbered according to their families . All those numbered in the camps , by their divisions , are 603,550 . 2:33 But the Levites were not numbered among the other Israelites , as the Lord commanded Moses .

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Captain

    [isbe] CAPTAIN - kap'-tin: In the King James Version there are no fewer than 13 Hebrew words, and 4 different Greek words, which are rendered by this one English word. In the Revised Version (British and American) some of these are...
    [nave] CAPTAIN Commander-in-chief of an army, Deut. 20:9; Judg. 4:2; 1 Sam. 14:50; 1 Kin. 2:35; 16:16; 1 Chr. 27:34. Of the tribes, Num. 2. Of thousands, Num. 31:48; 1 Sam. 17:18; 1 Chr. 28:1. Of hundreds, 2 Kin. 11:15. See: Ce...

  • Tabernacle

    [smith] The tabernacle was the tent of Jehovah, called by the same name as the tents of the people in the midst of which it stood. It was also called the sanctuary and the tabernacle of the congregation. The first ordinance given to ...
    [nave] TABERNACLE One existed before Moses received the pattern authorized on Mount Sinai, Ex. 33:7-11. The one instituted by Moses was called Sanctuary, Ex. 25:8; Tabernacle, Ex. 27:21; 33:7; 2 Chr. 5:5; of Testimony, Ex. 38:21; ...

  • Soldiers

    [nave] SOLDIERS Military enrollment of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai, Num. 1; 2; in the plains of Moab, Num. 26. Levies of, in the ratio of one man to ten subject to duty, Judg. 20:10. Dressed in scarlet, Nah. 2:3. Cowards e...

  • Armies

    [nave] ARMIES Who of the Israelites were subject to service in, Num. 1:2, 3; 26:2; 2 Chr. 25:5; who were exempt from service in, Num. 1:47-50; 2:33; Deut. 20:5-9; Judg. 7:3. Enumeration of Israel's military forces, Num. 1:2, 3; 26...

  • Camp

    [nave] CAMP, of the Israelites about the tabernacle, Num. 2; 3. See: Itinerary.

  • Encamp

    [ebd] An encampment was the resting-place for a longer or shorter period of an army or company of travellers (Ex. 13:20; 14:19; Josh. 10:5; 11:5). The manner in which the Israelites encamped during their march through the wilderne...

  • Israel

    [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...

  • ASTRONOMY, II

    [isbe] ASTRONOMY, II - II. The Constellations. The principal achievement of the science of astronomy in the centuries during which the books of the Old Testament were written was the arrangement and naming of the constellations, an...

  • Camon

    [ebd] full of stalks, a place (Judg. 10:5) where Jair was buried. It has usually been supposed to have been a city of Gilead, on the east of Jordan. It is probably, however, the modern Tell-el-Kaimun, on the southern slopes of Car...

  • Naphtali

    [isbe] NAPHTALI - naf'-ta-li (naphtali; Nephthaleim): I. THE PATRIARCH 1. Name 2. Circumstances of His Birth 3. Historical and Traditional Details II. TRIBE OF NAPHTALI 1. Its Relative Position 2. Its Location in Palestine 3. Physi...
    [smith] (wrestling), the fifth son of Jacob; the second child name to him by Bilhah, Rachel?s slave. His birth and the bestowal of his name are recorded in (Genesis 30:8) When the census was taken at Mount Sinai the tribe of Naphtali...
    [nave] NAPHTALI 1. Son of Jacob and Bilhah, Gen. 30:7, 8; 35:25. Jacob blesses, Gen. 49:21. Sons of, Gen. 46:24; 1 Chr. 7:13. 2. Tribe of. Census of, Num. 1:42, 43; 26:48-50. Position assigned to, in camp and march, Num. 2:25-3...

  • MOSES

    [isbe] MOSES - mo'-zez, mo'-ziz (mosheh; Egyptian mes, "drawn out," "born"; Septuagint Mouse(s)). The great Hebrew national hero, leader, author, law-giver and prophet. I. LIFE 1. Son of Levi 2. Foundling Prince 3. Friend of the Pe...

  • Naphtali, Tribe of

    [ebd] On this tribe Jacob pronounced the patriarchal blessing, "Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words" (Gen. 49:21). It was intended thus to set forth under poetic imagery the future character and history of the tri...

  • Ephraim, The tribe of

    [ebd] took precedence over that of Manasseh by virtue of Jacob's blessing (Gen. 41:52; 48:1). The descendants of Joseph formed two of the tribes of Israel, whereas each of the other sons of Jacob was the founder of only one tribe....

  • BANNER

    [ebd] (1.) The flag or banner of the larger kind, serving for three tribes marching together. These standards, of which there were four, were worked with embroidery and beautifully ornamented (Num. 1:52; 2:2, 3, 10, 18, 25; Cant. ...
    [isbe] BANNER - ban'-er (ENSIGN, STANDARDS): The English word "banner" is from banderia, Low Latin, meaning a banner (compare bandum, Latin, which meant first a "band," an organized military troop, and then a "flag"). It has come t...

  • Judah, Tribe of

    [ebd] Judah and his three surviving sons went down with Jacob into Egypt (Gen. 46:12; Ex. 1:2). At the time of the Exodus, when we meet with the family of Judah again, they have increased to the number of 74,000 males (Num. 1:26, ...

  • Issachar

    [ebd] hired (Gen. 30:18). "God hath given me," said Leah, "my hire (Heb. sekhari)...and she called his name Issachar." He was Jacob's ninth son, and was born in Padan-aram (comp. 28:2). He had four sons at the going down into Egyp...
    [isbe] ISSACHAR - is'-a-kar (yissa(se)khar; Septuagint, Swete Issachar; Tischendorf, Issachar, so also in the New Testament, Tregelles, and Westcott and Hort, The New Testament in Greek): (1) The 9th son of Jacob, the 5th borne to ...
    [nave] ISSACHAR 1. Son of Jacob, Gen. 30:18; Ex. 1:3; 1 Chr. 2:1. Jacob's prophetic benedictions upon, Gen. 49:14, 15. In the time of David, 1 Chr. 7:2, 5. See Tribe of below. Tribe of Military forces of, taken at Sinai, Num. ...

  • Ahiezer

    [ebd] brother of help; i.e., "helpful." (1.) The chief of the tribe of Dan at the time of the Exodus (Num. 1:12; 2:25; 10:25). (2.) The chief of the Benjamite slingers that repaired to David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:3).
    [isbe] AHIEZER - a-hi-e'-zer ('achi`ezer, "brother is help"): (1) A son of Ammishaddai, a Danite prince, who acted as representative of his tribe on several occasions. (See Nu 1:12; 2:25; 7:66,71; 10:25.) (2) One of the mighty men ...
    [smith] (brother of help). Son of Ammishaddai, hereditary chieftain of the tribe of Dan. (Numbers 1:12; 2:25; 7:66) (B.C. 1490). The Benjamite chief of a body of archers in the time of David. (1 Chronicles 12:3) (B.C. 1050.)
    [nave] AHIEZER 1. Captain of the tribe of Dan, Num. 1:12; 2:25, 26. Contributes to the tabernacle, Num. 7:66-71. 2. One of David's valiant men, 1 Chr. 12:3.

  • Reuel

    [ebd] friend of God. (1.) A son of Esau and Bashemath (Gen. 36:4, 10; 1 Chr. 1:35). (2.) "The priest of Midian," Moses' father-in-law (Ex. 2:18)=Raguel (Num. 10:29). If he be identified with Jethro (q.v.), then this may be regarde...
    [isbe] REUEL - roo'-el (re`u'el, "God is his friend"; the Septuagint Rhagouel): (1) In the genealogical system Reuel is both a son of Esau by Basemath (Gen 36:4,10,13,17; 1 Ch 1:35,37) and the father of the father-in-law of Moses, ...
    [smith] (friend of God) One of the sons of Esau, by his wife Bashemath, sister of Ishmael. (Genesis 36:4,10,13,17; 1 Chronicles 1:36,37) (B.C. about 1790.) One of the names of Moses? father-in-law. (Exodus 2:18) (B.C. 1530.) Fath...
    [nave] REUEL 1. Son of Esau, Gen. 36:4, 10, 13, 17; 1 Chr. 1:35, 37. 2. Father-in-law of Moses, Ex. 2:18. Called also Jethro and Raguel. See: Jethro. 3. Father of Eliasaph, Num. 2:14. Called Deuel, Num. 1:14; 7:42, 47; 10:20. ...

  • Abidan

    [ebd] father of judgment; judge, head of the tribe of Benjamin at the Exodus (Num. 1:11; 2:22).
    [isbe] ABIDAN - a-bi'-dan ('abhidhan, "father is judge"): Abidan, son of Gideoni, was a "prince" of the children of Benjamin (Nu 2:22; 10:24). He was chosen to represent his tribe at the census in the wilderness of Sinai (Nu 1:11)....
    [smith] (father of the judge), chief of the tribe of Benjamin at the time of the Exodus. (B.C. 1491.) (Numbers 1:11; 2:22; 7:60,65; 10:24)
    [nave] ABIDAN Num. 1:11; 2:22; 7:60, 65; 10:24

  • Zurishaddai

    [ebd] rock of the Almighty, the father of Shelumiel, who was chief of the tribe of Simeon when Israel was encamped at Sinai (Num. 1:6; 2:12).
    [isbe] ZURISHADDAI - zu-ri-shad'-a-i, zu-ri-shad'-i (tsurishadday, "my rock is Shadday"): Father of Shelumiel the head of the tribe of Simeon (Nu 1:6; 2:12; 7:36,41; 10:19). See GOD, NAMES OF, II, 8; ZURIEL.
    [smith] (my rock is the Almighty), father of Shelumiel, the chief of the tribe of Simeon at the time of the exodus. (Numbers 1:6; 2:12; 7:36,41; 10:19)
    [nave] ZURISHADDAI, father of Shelumiel, Num. 1:6; 2:12; 7:36, 41; 10:19.
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Arts

Questions

  • The number of adults over twenty years of age who left Egypt is stated in Exodus 12:37, at about six hundred thousand. Allowing the normal proportion of children to such a host we may infer that the total number was probably ...

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • Jacob blessed all 12 of his sons and foretold what would become of each of them and their descendants. He disqualified Reuben, Simeon, and Levi from leadership and gave that blessing to Judah. He granted the double portion to...
  • The title the Jews used in their Hebrew Old Testament for this book comes from the fifth word in the book in the Hebrew text, bemidbar: "in the wilderness."This is, of course, appropriate since the Israelites spent most of th...
  • To formulate a statement that summarizes the teaching of this book it will be helpful to identify some of the major revelations in Numbers. These constitute the unique values of the book.The first major value of Numbers is th...
  • I. Experiences of the older generation in the wilderness chs. 1-25A. Preparations for entering the Promised Land from the south chs. 1-101. The first census and the organization of the people chs. 1-42. Commands and rituals t...
  • The first 10 chapters in Numbers describe Israel's preparation for entering the land.". . . just as the way from Goshen to Sinai was a preparation of the chosen people for their reception into the covenant with God, so the wa...
  • The twelve tribes excluding the Levites camped in four groups of three tribes each on the tabernacle's four sides. The Levites camped on all four sides of the tabernacle but closer to the sanctuary than the other tribes (v. 1...
  • Moses did not arrange the three Levitical families in the text here in the order of the ages of their founders. He arranged them in the order of the holiness of the articles that they managed.The Kohathites--who included Mose...
  • The Israelites had been at Mt. Sinai for almost one year (Exod. 19:1; Num. 10:11). All that Moses recorded as occurring between Exodus 19:1 and Numbers 10:11 took place during those twelve months.Even though this region conta...
  • Before going into battle against the Midianites as God commanded (25:18), the Lord directed Moses to take another census of the Israelites. Evidently the 24,000 who died in the recent plague (25:9) were the last of the genera...
  • The previous chapter dealt with the general borders of the land and its tribal boundaries. This one gives regulations concerning special towns in the land.285According to the plan of revelation established previously in Numbe...
  • "From chapters 13 to 18, the author concentrates on the tribe of Dan, which had been one of the largest and most prominent tribes during the wilderness march (Num 2:25-31). In the period of the judges, however, Dan seemed hel...
  • Verses 1 and 2 of chapter 23 provide an outline for what follows in chapters 23-27 but in reverse order. After David appointed Solomon as his coregent in 973 B.C., he began the preparations the writer described here.David ada...
  • 20:1-4 The people lifted their voices to God concerning their king (v. 6) and prayed God would give him success in this royal psalm (cf. 21:2). Meal and burnt offerings of worship often accompanied prayers for God's help in I...
  • 4:2 As soon as John heard this invitation, he entered another ecstatic state (cf. 1:10). His body remained on the earth, but he saw a throne and someone sitting on it in heaven (cf. Ezek. 11:1, 5). "Throne"occurs 45 times in ...
  • The scene continues to be on earth.7:1 The phrase "after this"(Gr. meta touto) indicates that what follows is a new vision (cf. 4:1). The general chronological progression of the visions suggests that the events John saw now ...
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