Organization of the Camps
1The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron:
2“The Israelites are to camp under their respective banners beside the flags of their ancestral families.2:2 Lit the house of their fathers, also in v. 32 They are to camp around the tent of meeting at a distance from it:
3Judah’s military divisions2:3 Nm 1:3,52; 2:9–10; 10:14; 33:1; Jdg 8:6 will camp on the east side toward the sunrise under their banner. The leader of the descendants of Judah is Nahshon2:3 Ex 6:23; Nm 1:7; 7:12,17; 10:14; 1Ch 2:10–11; Mt 1:4; Lk 3:32 son of Amminadab.
4His military division numbers 74,600.
5The tribe of Issachar will camp next to it. The leader of the Issacharites is Nethanel son of Zuar.
6His military division numbers 54,400.
7The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the Zebulunites is Eliab son of Helon.
8His military division numbers 57,400.
9The total number in their military divisions who belong to Judah’s encampment is 186,400; they will move out first.
10Reuben’s military divisions will camp on the south side under their banner. The leader of the Reubenites is Elizur son of Shedeur.
11His military division numbers 46,500.
12The tribe of Simeon will camp next to it. The leader of the Simeonites is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.
13His military division numbers 59,300.
14The tribe of Gad will be next. The leader of the Gadites is Eliasaph son of Deuel.2:14 Some Hb mss, Sam, Vg; other Hb mss read Reuel
15His military division numbers 45,650.
16The total number in their military divisions who belong to Reuben’s encampment is 151,450; they will move out second.
17The tent of meeting is to move out with the Levites’ camp, which is in the middle of the camps. They are to move out just as they camp, each in his place,2:17 Lit each on his hand with their banners.
18Ephraim’s military divisions will camp on the west side under their banner. The leader of the Ephraimites is Elishama son of Ammihud.
19His military division numbers 40,500.
20The tribe of Manasseh will be next to it. The leader of the Manassites is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.
21His military division numbers 32,200.
22The tribe of Benjamin will be next. The leader of the Benjaminites is Abidan son of Gideoni.
23His military division numbers 35,400.
24The total in their military divisions who belong to Ephraim’s encampment number 108,100; they will move out third.
25Dan’s military divisions will camp on the north side under their banner. The leader of the Danites is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.
26His military division numbers 62,700.
27The tribe of Asher will camp next to it. The leader of the Asherites is Pagiel son of Ochran.
28His military division numbers 41,500.
29The tribe of Naphtali will be next. The leader of the Naphtalites is Ahira son of Enan.
30His military division numbers 53,400.
31The total number who belong to Dan’s encampment is 157,600; they are to move out last, with their banners.”
32These are the Israelites registered by their ancestral families. The total number in the camps by their military divisions is 603,550.
33But the Levites were not registered among the Israelites, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.2:33 Nm 1:47–49
34The Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; they camped by their banners in this way and moved out the same way, each man by his clan and by his ancestral family.2:34 Lit the house of his fathers2:34 Nm 10:10–28
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