Go and teach all nations
The arrange of the Israelites’ camp
Numbers 2:1-2
The position of the tribes of Israel in the camp
v1 The LORD gave instructions to Moses and Aaron
v2 about how to set up the Israelites’ camp. The LORD said:
‘Each man must camp under his tribe’s flag, and by his own family’s flag, too. God’s Tent will be in the middle of the tribes’ camps. But the tribes must not camp close to it.
Comment:
Verses 1-34 - God told Moses and Aaron how to arrange the Israelites’ camp. So each person knew the exact place where they must put their tent.
The tribes formed a square with God’s Tent in the middle. In the 13th century BC, the army of Egypt camped in a square. (BC is the period of time before Jesus was born.) The king’s tent was in the middle. In the Israelites’ camp, God’s Tent was in the middle, because God was Israel’s king.
Levi’s tribe camped in the space between the other tribes and God’s Tent. They looked after it. They did not allow the other Israelites to come too close to God’s Tent.
The tribes camped in four groups. There were three tribes in each group. The tribes of Judah, Reuben, Ephraim and Dan commanded one group each. Each group had its own flag. They would carry this flag in a battle. Also, each tribe had its own flag. There was a Jewish tradition that the tribes’ flags were the colors of the 12 jewels (precious stones) in the High Priest’s special clothes (Exodus 28:15-24). But there is nothing in the Bible about the colors of the flags.
It seems the tribes had to camp in order of importance. East was the most important position. It was on the same side as the entrance to God’s Tent. So the largest and most important group of tribes (Judah’s group) looked after it. Reuben’s group of tribes camped on the south side. Ephraim’s group camped on the west side. Lastly, Dan’s group camped on the north side.
Whenever the Israelites traveled, the tribes had to walk in this same order. Levi’s tribe carried the parts of God’s Tent. They walked between the other tribes. God’s Tent should have reminded them that God was with them always. When they camped, God was with them. When they traveled, God traveled with them.
God told Moses and Aaron to arrange the camp in a military way. Every time the Israelites set off, they marched as an army. They had to be ready to fight for the Promised Land.
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Text from the EasyEnglish Bible Version and Commentary - used with permission - © 2009, Wycliffe Associates (UK) - For more information about EasyEnglish Publications, visit their website: www.easyenglish.info.
Go and teach all nations