Numbers 2:2
New International Version
“The Israelites are to camp around the tent of meeting some distance from it, each of them under their standard and holding the banners of their family.”

New Living Translation
“When the Israelites set up camp, each tribe will be assigned its own area. The tribal divisions will camp beneath their family banners on all four sides of the Tabernacle, but at some distance from it.

English Standard Version
“The people of Israel shall camp each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ houses. They shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side.

Berean Standard Bible
“The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting at a distance from it, each man under his standard, with the banners of his family.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
“Everyone of the children of Israel shall camp by his own standard, beside the emblems of his father’s house; they shall camp some distance from the tabernacle of meeting.

New American Standard Bible
“The sons of Israel shall camp, each by his own flag, with the banners of their fathers’ households; they shall camp around the tent of meeting at a distance.

NASB 1995
“The sons of Israel shall camp, each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ households; they shall camp around the tent of meeting at a distance.

NASB 1977
“The sons of Israel shall camp, each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ households; they shall camp around the tent of meeting at a distance.

Legacy Standard Bible
“The sons of Israel shall camp, each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ households; they shall camp around the tent of meeting at a distance.

Amplified Bible
“The sons of Israel shall camp, each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ households; they shall camp around the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), but at a distance.

Christian Standard Bible
“The Israelites are to camp under their respective banners beside the flags of their ancestral families. They are to camp around the tent of meeting at a distance from it:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Israelites are to camp under their respective banners beside the flags of their ancestral houses. They are to camp around the tent of meeting at a distance from it:

American Standard Version
The children of Israel shall encamp every man by his own standard, with the ensigns of their fathers' houses: over against the tent of meeting shall they encamp round about.

Contemporary English Version
how the Israelites should arrange their camp: Each tribe must set up camp under its own banner and under the flags of its ancestral families. These camps will be arranged around the sacred tent, but not close to it.

English Revised Version
The children of Israel shall pitch every man by his own standard, with the ensigns of their fathers' houses: over against the tent of meeting shall they pitch round about.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"The Israelites will put up their tents with each family under the flag that symbolizes its household. They will put their tents around the tent of meeting, facing it.

Good News Translation
When the Israelites set up camp, each man will camp under the banner of his division and the flag of his own clan. The camp is to be set up all around the Tent.

International Standard Version
"Every single Israeli is to encamp beneath his standard with the emblem of his ancestral house. The Israelis are to encamp in front of and surrounding the Tent of Meeting."

Majority Standard Bible
?The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting at a distance from it, each man under his standard, with the banners of his family.

NET Bible
"Every one of the Israelites must camp under his standard with the emblems of his family; they must camp at some distance around the tent of meeting.

New Heart English Bible
"The children of Israel shall camp every man by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers' houses: at a distance from the Tent of Meeting shall they camp around it."

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
“The children of Israel shall encamp every man by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ houses. They shall encamp around the Tent of Meeting at a distance from it.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“The sons of Israel encamp, each by his standard, with ensigns of the house of their fathers; they encamp around, from in sight of the Tent of Meeting.”

Young's Literal Translation
'Each by his standard, with ensigns of the house of their fathers, do the sons of Israel encamp; over-against round about the tent of meeting they encamp.'

Smith's Literal Translation
A man by his flag with the ensign according to the house of their fathers, shall the sons of Israel encamp: from over against the tent of appointment round about shall they encamp.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
All the children of Israel shall camp by their troops, ensigns, and standards, and the houses of their kindreds, round about the tabernacle of the covenant.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“Each one shall make camp, by their troops, as well as by their insignia and standards, and by the houses of their kinships, all around the tabernacle of the covenant.”

New American Bible
The Israelites shall camp, each in their own divisions, under the ensigns of their ancestral houses. They shall camp at some distance all around the tent of meeting.

New Revised Standard Version
The Israelites shall camp each in their respective regiments, under ensigns by their ancestral houses; they shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Every man of the children of Israel shall encamp by his own standard, at the places of their father's house; far off round about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they encamp.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
"A man shall camp in his troop in the places of the house of their fathers; the children of Israel shall dwell. opposite and around the Time Tabernacle.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The children of Israel shall pitch by their fathers' houses; every man with his own standard, according to the ensigns; a good way off shall they pitch round about the tent of meeting.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Let the children of Israel encamp fronting each other, every man keeping his own rank, according to their standards, according to the houses of their families; the children of Israel shall encamp round about the tabernacle of witness.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Order of the Camps
1Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron: 2“The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting at a distance from it, each man under his standard, with the banners of his family. 3On the east side, toward the sunrise, the divisions of Judah are to camp under their standard: The leader of the descendants of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab,…

Cross References
Exodus 40:36-38
Whenever the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out through all the stages of their journey. / If the cloud was not lifted, they would not set out until the day it was taken up. / For the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel through all their journeys.

Exodus 13:21-22
And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night, so that they could travel by day or night. / Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place before the people.

Leviticus 1:1
Then the LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying,

Deuteronomy 1:33
who went before you on the journey, in the fire by night and in the cloud by day, to seek out a place for you to camp and to show you the road to travel.

Joshua 3:3-4
and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you are to set out from your positions and follow it. / But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between yourselves and the ark. Do not go near it, so that you can see the way to go, since you have never traveled this way before.”

1 Samuel 4:4
So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

2 Samuel 6:2
And he and all his troops set out for Baale of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name—the name of the LORD of Hosts, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on it.

1 Kings 8:10-11
And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD / so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud. For the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 5:13-14
The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They lifted up their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.” And the temple, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud / so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud. For the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.

Psalm 80:1
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm of Asaph. Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, who leads Joseph like a flock; You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth

Isaiah 4:5-6
Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud of smoke by day and a glowing flame of fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a canopy, / a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and the rain.

Ezekiel 10:18-19
Then the glory of the LORD moved away from the threshold of the temple and stood above the cherubim. / As I watched, the cherubim lifted their wings and rose up from the ground, with the wheels beside them as they went. And they stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the LORD, with the glory of the God of Israel above them.

Ezekiel 43:5
Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.

Matthew 17:5
While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

Every man.

shall pitch

Numbers 2:3,10
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…

Numbers 1:52
And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts.

Numbers 10:14,18,22,25
In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab…

the ensign

Isaiah 11:10-12
And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious…

Isaiah 18:3
All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.

Zechariah 9:16
And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.

far off.

Joshua 3:4
Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.

Numbers 1:50,53
But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle…

Psalm 76:11
Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.

Jump to Previous
Afar Banners Children Congregation Distance Encamp Ensign Ensigns Facing Families Family Far Fathers Father's Good House Houses Israel Meeting Order Pitch Round Side Standard Tabernacle Tent Tents Way
Jump to Next
Afar Banners Children Congregation Distance Encamp Ensign Ensigns Facing Families Family Far Fathers Father's Good House Houses Israel Meeting Order Pitch Round Side Standard Tabernacle Tent Tents Way
Numbers 2
1. The order of the tribes in their tents.














The Israelites are to camp
This phrase sets the stage for the organization and order that God desires for His people. The Hebrew root for "camp" is "חָנָה" (chanah), which means to encamp, rest, or lay siege. In the context of the Israelites, it signifies a temporary dwelling place, reflecting their journey through the wilderness. Historically, this was a time of transition and preparation for entering the Promised Land. The act of camping symbolizes a community in motion, yet grounded in divine instruction. It reminds us of the importance of being spiritually prepared and organized in our own lives, as we journey towards God's promises.

around the Tent of Meeting
The "Tent of Meeting" is central to Israelite worship and community life. In Hebrew, it is "אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד" (Ohel Moed), meaning the tent of appointment or meeting. This was the sacred space where God communicated with Moses and, by extension, with His people. Archaeologically, the Tent of Meeting was a portable sanctuary, reflecting the nomadic lifestyle of the Israelites. It underscores the concept that God's presence is not confined to a permanent structure but moves with His people. Spiritually, it calls us to recognize that God desires to dwell among us, guiding and directing our lives.

at a distance
The phrase "at a distance" indicates a respectful separation between the Israelites and the sacred Tent of Meeting. The Hebrew word "מִנֶּגֶד" (minneged) suggests being opposite or in front of, yet not too close. This distance was necessary to maintain the holiness of the Tent and to instill a sense of reverence among the people. Historically, this separation highlights the transcendence of God, who is holy and set apart. It serves as a reminder of the need for reverence and awe in our approach to God, acknowledging His holiness while also appreciating His accessibility through Christ.

under their banners
The term "banners" comes from the Hebrew "דֶּגֶל" (degel), which refers to a standard or flag. Each tribe of Israel had its own banner, symbolizing identity, unity, and purpose. In ancient cultures, banners were used in military and ceremonial contexts to rally and organize groups. For the Israelites, these banners represented their unique identity as God's chosen people and their distinct roles within the community. Spiritually, this calls us to embrace our identity in Christ and to unite under His banner, recognizing our individual and collective roles in His kingdom.

by their divisions
The phrase "by their divisions" reflects the organized structure of the Israelite camp. The Hebrew word "מַחֲנֶה" (machaneh) means camp or division, indicating a well-ordered community. Each tribe had a specific place and role, ensuring efficiency and harmony. Historically, this organization was crucial for the survival and success of the Israelites in the wilderness. It teaches us the value of order and structure in our spiritual lives and communities. By aligning ourselves with God's divine order, we can function effectively and fulfill our God-given purposes.

Verse 2. - Shall pitch by his own standard. We are not told how they had pitched hitherto; the tribal and family order now enforced was the natural order, but in the absence of precise directions would sometimes be departed from. With the ensign. Rather, "ensigns" (othoth in the plural). Each tribe, it would seem (see verse 31), had its standard (degel), and each family in the tribe its ensign (oth). Far off. Rather, "over against," i.e., facing the tabernacle, with a certain space (perhaps 2000 cubits, Joshua 3:4) between.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“The Israelites
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

are to camp
יַחֲנ֖וּ (ya·ḥă·nū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 2583: To incline, to decline, to pitch a, tent, gen, to encamp

under
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

their respective banners
דִּגְל֤וֹ (diḡ·lōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1714: A standard, banner

beside the flags
בְאֹתֹת֙ (ḇə·’ō·ṯōṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - common plural
Strong's 226: A signal, as a, flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence

of their families,
אֲבֹתָ֔ם (’ă·ḇō·ṯām)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father

around
סָבִ֥יב (sā·ḇîḇ)
Adverb
Strong's 5439: A circle, neighbour, environs, around

the Tent
לְאֹֽהֶל־ (lə·’ō·hel-)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 168: A tent

of Meeting
מוֹעֵ֖ד (mō·w·‘êḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4150: Appointed time, place, or meeting

at a distance from it.
מִנֶּ֕גֶד (min·ne·ḡeḏ)
Preposition-m
Strong's 5048: A front, part opposite, a counterpart, mate, over against, before


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OT Law: Numbers 2:2 The children of Israel shall encamp every (Nu Num.)
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