Numbers 2 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
the second month of the second year after the exodus, immediately following the census
Location
the Israelite camp in the wilderness of Sinai, arranged as a square around the tent of meeting
Audience
Israelites in the wilderness, being given the fixed layout of their camp and marching order
Situation
Each tribe is assigned a position around the tent of meeting, grouped in four divisions of three tribes on the east, south, west, and north, each under its own banner. The chapter also fixes the order in which the divisions break camp and march.
Key Background
Egyptian military camps of the period were laid out as rectangles with the commander's tent at the centre, and the arrangement here mirrors that pattern with God's dwelling occupying the commander's place. The east side, given to Judah's division, faced the sanctuary entrance and was the position of honour, since orientation to the sunrise ordered ancient sacred space. The Levites camping in the inner ring formed a deliberate buffer, and the whole design makes a theological claim visible from any hilltop, that the nation is arranged around the presence of God rather than around a palace.
spoke to and saying:
"The Israelites are to set up camp, each person under their own identified by the of their ancestral families. They are to camp facing the of surrounding it on all sides."
On the the the division under Judah's banner will set up camp, organized by their The leader of Judah's descendants is son of Amminadab.
His numbers 74,600.
The tribe of will camp next to them. The leader of Issachar's descendants is Nethanel son of Zuar.
His division numbers 54,400.
Then the tribe of The leader of Zebulun's descendants is Eliab son of Helon.
His division numbers 57,400.
The total count for Judah's camp, organized by military units, is 186,400. They will out
On the the division under Reuben's banner will be arranged by their military units. The leader of Reuben's descendants is Elizur son of Shedeur.
His division numbers 46,500.
The tribe of will camp next to them. The leader of Simeon's descendants is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.
His division numbers 59,300.
Then the tribe of The leader of Gad's descendants is Eliasaph son of
His division numbers 45,650.
The total count for Reuben's camp, organized by military units, is 151,450. They will march out second.
"Then the Tent of Meeting will move out with the in the of the other divisions. They will march in the same formation they in — each person in position, under their own banner."
On the the division under Ephraim's banner will be arranged by their military units. The leader of Ephraim's descendants is Elishama son of Ammihud.
His division numbers 40,500.
The tribe of will be next to them. The leader of Manasseh's descendants is Gamaliel son of
His division numbers 32,200.
Then the tribe of The leader of Benjamin's descendants is Abidan son of Gideoni.
His division numbers 35,400.
The total count for Ephraim's camp, organized by military units, is 108,100. They will march out third.
On the the division under Dan's banner will be arranged by their military units. The leader of Dan's descendants is Ahiezer son of
His division numbers 62,700.
The tribe of will camp next to them. The leader of Asher's descendants is Pagiel son of Ochran.
His division numbers 41,500.
Then the tribe of The leader of Naphtali's descendants is Ahira son of Enan.
His division numbers 53,400.
The total count for Dan's camp is 157,600. They will out under their banners.
These are the Israelites as counted by their ancestral families. The total number in the camps, organized by military units, was 603,550.
The however, were not counted along with the other Israelites, just as Yahweh had instructed Moses.
The Israelites did as had Moses. That is how they set up camp under their banners, and that is how they marched out — each person with their belonging to their