Go and teach all nations - Numbers 2:32-34

Go and teach all nations

Numbers 2:32-34

The arrangement of the camp
v32 Moses and his helpers had counted all the Israelite men who were able to fight. They had counted them in groups. The total number of soldiers was 603 550.
v33 But they did not register the men in Levi’s tribe. The LORD had ordered Moses not to do this.
v34 So the Israelites did everything that the LORD had told Moses to do. They arranged their camp in the way that the LORD wanted. Each tribe camped under its own flag. When they set out, each man walked with his own clan and his own family.
Comments:
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 colours 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 colours 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 travelled, 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 travelled, God travelled 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

Go and teach all nations - Numbers 2:25-31

Go and teach all nations

Numbers 2:25-31

The three tribes in Dan’s group; camp by their flag to the north of God’s Tent; with Asher’s tribe on one side and Naphtali’s tribe on the other side
v25 Dan’s tribe must camp by their flag to the north of God’s Tent. The tribes that walk with them must camp there, too. The leader of Dan’s tribe is Ahiezer, Ammishaddai’s son.
v26 There are 62 700 soldiers in his group.
v27 Asher’s tribe must camp on one side of Dan’s tribe. The leader of Asher’s tribe is Pagiel, Ocran’s son.
v28 There are 41 500 soldiers in his group.
v29 Naphtali’s tribe must camp on the other side of Dan’s tribe. The leader of Naphtali’s tribe is Ahira, Enan’s son.
v30 There are 53 400 soldiers in his group.
v31 All three groups in Dan’s camp total 157 600 soldiers. They must set out last with their flags.’
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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