Matthew Poole's Commentary And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, Order for the marches and camping of the tribes, Numbers 2:1,2. Judah on the east side, with Issachar and Zebulun, who led the van, Numbers 2:3-9. Reuben on the south side, with Simeon and Gad; then the tabernacle was to follow, the Levites camping round it, Numbers 2:10-17. Ephraim on the west side, with Manasseh and Benjamin, Numbers 2:18-24. Dan on the north quarter, with Asher and Naphtali, Numbers 2:25-31. No text from Poole on this verse. 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. By his own standard, or ensign, by that to which he is allotted by the following order. It is manifest that there were four great standards or ensigns, which here follow, distinguished by their colours or figures, or otherwise; also that there were other particular ensigns belonging to each of their father’s houses or families, as is here said. Far off; partly out of reverence to God and his worship, and the portion allotted to it, and partly for caution, lest their vicinity to it might tempt them to make too near approaches to it. It is supposed they were at two thousand cubits distance from it, which was the space between the people and the ark, Joshua 3:4, and it is not improbable, because the Levites encamped round about it between them and the tabernacle. 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. No text from Poole on this verse. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred. No text from Poole on this verse. And those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar. Issachar and Zebulun were Leah’s two youngest sons, and therefore would more contentedly submit to Judah. And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred. No text from Poole on this verse. Then the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun. No text from Poole on this verse. And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred. No text from Poole on this verse. All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth. This was the most numerous camp, because they marched first, as being placed on the east and going towards the east, and because they guarded the sanctuary. 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. Reuben being the first-born, was the leader of the second camp. And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hundred. No text from Poole on this verse. And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon: and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. No text from Poole on this verse. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred. No text from Poole on this verse. Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel. Called Deuel, Numbers 1:14, the Hebrew letters daleth and resh being very like, and oft changed, as appears by comparing Genesis 10:3, with 1 Chronicles 1:6 Genesis 36:26,38, with 1 Chronicles 1:41,50. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty. No text from Poole on this verse. All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben were an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies. And they shall set forth in the second rank. No text from Poole on this verse. 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. In the midst of the camp, which is not to be understood strictly or exactly, but largely; for in their march they were divided, and part of that tribe marched next after Judah, Numbers 10:17, and the other part exactly in the midst of the camp. 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. Ephraim is here preferred before his brother, according to the prophecy, Genesis 48:19,20. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty thousand and five hundred. No text from Poole on this verse. And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. No text from Poole on this verse. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred. No text from Poole on this verse. Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni. No text from Poole on this verse. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred. No text from Poole on this verse. All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout their armies. And they shall go forward in the third rank. No text from Poole on this verse. 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. No text from Poole on this verse. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred. No text from Poole on this verse. And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran. No text from Poole on this verse. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred. No text from Poole on this verse. Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan. No text from Poole on this verse. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred. No text from Poole on this verse. All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan were an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred. They shall go hindmost with their standards. The strongest camp next after Judah, and therefore he comes in the rear, as Judah marched in the front, that the tabernacle might be best guarded where there was most danger. These are those which 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 six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty. No text from Poole on this verse. But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses. Because their warfare was of another kind. 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. By their standards, i.e. each of them under his principal standard. |
    |