Numbers 2
God sets His people in order around Him
1.And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2.Every man of the
children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's
house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch. 3.And on
the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of
Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be
captain of the children of Judah. 4.And his host, and those that were numbered of
them, were 74,600. 5.And those that pitch next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar:
and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar. 6.And
his army, and those that were numbered of it were 54,400. 7.Then the tribe of
Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun.
8.And his host, and those that were numbered of it were 57,400.
The standard was a flag with the symbol of their tribe on it. The flag flew high so
everyone could see it and set up their tents with their own tribe. Judah’s standard was a
green flag with a lion. The book of Matthew pictures Jesus Christ as the lion or ruling
king. God wins the battle against evil. He wins in our hearts if we let Him. He wins in the
world, regardless.
Numbers 1:38 Of the children of Dan, by their generations, after their families, by the
house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and
upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Exodus 15:3 The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.
9.All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were 186,400, throughout their
armies. These shall first set forth. 10.On the south side shall be the standard of the
camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of
Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.
The numbers of fighting men is different because of death. The golden calf incident at
Sinai etc. God assigned the order they marched in. The tribes set forth as they camped. It
was done the same way each time. Reuben was on the south. His flag was red with a man
on it. This is symbolic of the humanity of Jesus Christ. The book of Luke is written to
highlight Jesus, God, as a man.
11.And his host, and those that were numbered of it were 46,500. 12.And those
that pitch beside him shall be the tribe of Simeon: and the captain of the children of
Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 13.And his host, and those that
were numbered of them were 59,300. 14.Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of
the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel. 15.And his host, and those that
were numbered of them were 45,650. 16.All that were numbered in the camp of
Reuben were 151,450, throughout their armies. And they shall set forth in the
second rank. 17.Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the
camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set
forward, every man in his place by their standards.
18.On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their
armies: and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of
Ammihud. 19.And his host, and those that were numbered of them were 40,500.
20.And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the captain of the children of
Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 21.And his army, and those that
were numbered of them were 32,200. 22.Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the
captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni. 23.And his
host, and those that were numbered of them were 35,400. 24.All that were
numbered of the camp of Ephraim were 108,100 throughout their armies. And they
shall go forward in the third rank.
God desires to dwell in the midst of His people. His tabernacle was placed in the center
of His people. On the west side was the tribe of Ephraim. Their flag was gold with a calf
on it symbolizing Messiah the servant as depicted in the book of Mark.
Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and
grounded in love,
Revelation 21:22 And I saw no temple in it: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are
the temple of it.
25.The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies: and
the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
26.And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were 62,700. 27.And those
that camp by him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the captain of the children of
Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran. 28.And his host, and those that were
numbered of them were 41,500. 29.Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of
the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan. 30.And his host, and those
that were numbered of them, were 53,400. 31.All they that were numbered in the
camp of Dan were 157, 600. They shall go behind with their standards. 32.These
are those that were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers:
all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were 603,550.
33.But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD
commanded Moses. 34.And the children of Israel did according to all that the
LORD commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set
forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.
The tribe of Dan camped to the north of the tabernacle. Their flag was red and white with
an eagle on it. Like the book of John it represented Messiah, the Son of God. God’s
leading is perfect.
Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a
God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
Psalm 48:14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto
death.
Psalm 23:2, 3 He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul: he leads me in the
paths of righteousness for his name's sake.