Topical Bible: Camps

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In the biblical context, "camps" refer to temporary settlements or encampments, often used by the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings and military campaigns. The concept of camps is significant in understanding the organization, movement, and spiritual life of the Israelites as depicted in the Old Testament.

1. The Israelite Encampment in the Wilderness:

The most notable example of camps in the Bible is the encampment of the Israelites during their 40-year journey through the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt. The Book of Numbers provides detailed descriptions of how the tribes of Israel were organized around the Tabernacle, which was at the center of the camp. Numbers 2:2 states, "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."

The arrangement of the camp was divinely ordained, with the Levites encamped closest to the Tabernacle, serving as its guardians and ministers. The other tribes were positioned in a specific order around them, signifying both their unity and their distinct roles within the community.

2. Military Camps:

Camps also played a crucial role in the military endeavors of the Israelites. Before engaging in battle, the Israelites would set up camps, which served as bases of operation. In 1 Samuel 17:1, the Philistines and Israelites are described as setting up camps on opposite sides of the Valley of Elah, preparing for the confrontation between David and Goliath.

The organization and sanctity of military camps were important, as seen in Deuteronomy 23:9-14, which outlines the need for cleanliness and holiness within the camp. Verse 14 emphasizes, "For the LORD your God walks throughout your camp to protect you and deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, so that He will not see anything indecent among you and turn away from you."

3. Spiritual Significance:

Camps were not merely logistical necessities; they held spiritual significance as well. The presence of the Tabernacle in the center of the Israelite camp symbolized God's dwelling among His people. This centrality underscored the importance of divine guidance and worship in the daily life of the Israelites.

Moreover, the camp was a place of divine encounters and revelations. For instance, in Exodus 33:7-11, Moses would pitch a tent outside the camp, where he would meet with God, and the pillar of cloud would descend, signifying God's presence.

4. New Testament References:

While the New Testament does not focus on physical camps in the same way as the Old Testament, the concept is used metaphorically. Hebrews 13:13 encourages believers to "go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore." This passage calls Christians to identify with Christ's suffering and rejection, symbolically leaving behind the security and conformity of the "camp" to follow Him.

5. Symbolism and Typology:

In a broader theological sense, the camp can be seen as a symbol of the community of God's people, set apart from the world. The order and holiness required within the camp reflect the call for believers to live lives that are distinct and consecrated to God.

Overall, the concept of camps in the Bible provides insight into the communal, military, and spiritual life of the Israelites, while also offering rich symbolism for understanding the nature of God's people throughout biblical history.

Strong's Hebrew

4266. Machanayim -- "two camps," a place East of the Jordan
... Machanayim. 4267 . "two camps," a place East of the Jordan. Transliteration:
Machanayim Phonetic Spelling: (makh-an-ah'-yim) Short Definition: Mahanaim. ...
/hebrew/4266.htm - 6k

2918. tirah -- encampment, battlement
... 2917, 2918. tirah. 2919 . encampment, battlement. Transliteration: tirah
Phonetic Spelling: (tee-raw') Short Definition: camps. ...
/hebrew/2918.htm - 6k

4264. machaneh -- an encampment, camp
... Word Origin from chanah Definition an encampment, camp NASB Word Usage armies (6),
army (27), army camp (1), camp (158), camps (12), companies (3), company (5 ...
/hebrew/4264.htm - 6k

Library

Mahanaim: the Two Camps
... GENESIS MAHANAIM: THE TWO CAMPS. 'And Jacob went on his way, and the angels
of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, This ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/mahanaim the two camps.htm

Does Venus Militaris, Also, Preside Over the Evil-Doing of Camps.. ...
... Book IV. 7 Does Venus Militaris, also, preside over the evil-doing of
camps? Does Venus Militaris, also, preside over the evil ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/7 does venus militaris also.htm

A Description of the Roman Armies and Roman Camps and of Other ...
... CHAPTER 5. A Description Of The Roman Armies And Roman Camps And Of Other
Particulars For Which The Romans Are Commended. 1. Now ...
/.../chapter 5 a description of.htm

Verse 1. What Will Ye See in the Shulamite, but the Companies of ...
... CHAPTER VII. VERSE 1. What will ye see in the Shulamite, but the companies of camps?
How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/verse 1 what will ye.htm

Through-The-Week Activities for Boys' Organized Classes
... Shacks Grass Mat Weaving Map Making Knot Tying Fire Lighting Boat Management Boat
and Canoe Building Canoeing Fishing Camp Cooking Week-end Camps Indian Camps ...
/.../the boy and the sunday school/x through-the-week activities for boys.htm

Inter-Sunday School Effort for Boys
... Common town-wide activity, such as outings, athletics, camps, entertainments,
lectures, campaigns, etc., must be promoted jointly. ...
/.../alexander/the boy and the sunday school/xii inter-sunday school effort for.htm

What the Ruler's Discrimination Should be Between Correction and ...
... city Jerusalem (Ezekiel 4:1). And immediately it is subjoined, And thou shalt lay
siege against it, and build forts, and cast a mount, and set camps against it ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter x what the rulers.htm

The First Part
... do not imagine there were so many heads,) by which was signified, that he who was
carried by them was the Lord and King of the four cohorts, or camps of Israel ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the first part .htm

Chapter xxxii
... And Jacob was very much afraid and distressed, and he divided the people that were
with him and the flocks and the herds and the camels into two camps; and he ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxii.htm

The Story of David, the Shepherd Boy
... At one time, when David was still with his sheep, a few years after he had been
anointed by Samuel, the camps of the Philistines and the Israelites were set ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of david the.htm

Thesaurus

Camps (33 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Camps (33 Occurrences). ... Numbers 2:17 "Then the Tent of
Meeting shall set out, with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camps. ...
/c/camps.htm - 16k

Camping (7 Occurrences)
... (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS). Numbers 10:5 And ye have blown -- a shout,
and the camps which are encamping eastward have journeyed. (Root in YLT NIV). ...
/c/camping.htm - 8k

Encamping (24 Occurrences)
... death. (YLT). Numbers 10:5 And ye have blown -- a shout, and the camps which
are encamping eastward have journeyed. (YLT). Numbers ...
/e/encamping.htm - 14k

Journeyed (111 Occurrences)
... Numbers 2:17 And the tent of meeting -- the camp of the Levites -- hath journeyed
in the midst of the camps; as they encamp so they journey, each at his ...
/j/journeyed.htm - 33k

Goats'
... Goats' hair was probably used in the Midianite and Israelite camps in much the
same way as in the Bedouin camps today (compare Numbers 31:20). ...
/g/goats'.htm - 7k

Pitched (101 Occurrences)
... their tents. (KJV). Numbers 10:5 When you blow an alarm, the camps that
lie on the east side shall go forward. (See NAS). Numbers ...
/p/pitched.htm - 33k

Blown (30 Occurrences)
... thee. (See NAS). Numbers 10:5 And ye have blown -- a shout, and the camps
which are encamping eastward have journeyed. (YLT). Numbers ...
/b/blown.htm - 16k

Companies (38 Occurrences)
... houses. All who were numbered of the camps according to their armies were
six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty. (See RSV). ...
/c/companies.htm - 18k

Alarm (26 Occurrences)
... (WEY RSV NIV). Numbers 10:5 When you blow an alarm, the camps that lie on the
east side shall go forward. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV). ...
/a/alarm.htm - 16k

Shout (114 Occurrences)
... DBY WBS RSV). Numbers 10:5 And ye have blown -- a shout, and the camps which
are encamping eastward have journeyed. (YLT). Numbers 10 ...
/s/shout.htm - 35k

Resources

What is the value in attending a Christian camp? Is the concept of Christian camping biblical? | GotQuestions.org

What is existential therapy, and is it biblical? | GotQuestions.org

What is Awana? | GotQuestions.org

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Concordance

Camps (33 Occurrences)

Hebrews 11:34
quenched the power of fire, escaped the mouth of the sword, were made powerful out of infirmities, became strong in battle, caused to give way camps of the aliens.
(YLT)

Genesis 25:16
these are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their villages, and by their encampments; twelve princes according to their nations.
(See NAS NIV)

Genesis 32:2
and Jacob saith, when he hath seen them, 'This 'is' the camp of God;' and he calleth the name of that place 'Two Camps.'
(YLT)

Genesis 32:7
Then Jacob was greatly afraid and was distressed: and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks, and the herds, and the camels, into two companies;
(See JPS YLT)

Genesis 32:10
I am not worthy of the least of all the lovingkindnesses, and of all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two companies.
(See JPS YLT)

Numbers 2:17
"Then the Tent of Meeting shall set out, with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camps. As they encamp, so shall they set out, every man in his place, by their standards.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 2:32
These are those who were numbered of the children of Israel by their fathers' houses. All who were numbered of the camps according to their armies were six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 5:3
Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Numbers 10:2
"Make two trumpets of silver. You shall make them of beaten work. You shall use them for the calling of the congregation, and for the journeying of the camps.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Numbers 10:5
When you blow an alarm, the camps that lie on the east side shall go forward.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Numbers 10:6
When you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that lie on the south side shall go forward. They shall blow an alarm for their journeys.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 10:25
The standard of the camp of the children of Dan, which was the rearward of all the camps, set forward according to their armies. Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai was over his army.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Numbers 13:19
and what the land is that they dwell in, whether it is good or bad; and what cities they are that they dwell in, whether in camps, or in strongholds;
(WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV)

Numbers 31:10
And all their cities in the places wherein they dwelt, and all their encampments, they burnt with fire.
(See NAS NIV)

Deuteronomy 29:11
your little ones, your wives, and your foreigner who is in the midst of your camps, from the one who cuts your wood to the one who draws your water;
(WEB ASV YLT NAS NIV)

Joshua 10:5
And five kings of the Amorite (the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon) are gathered together, and go up, they and all their camps, and encamp against Gibeon, and fight against it.
(YLT)

Joshua 11:4
and they go out, they and all their camps with them, a people numerous, as the sand which 'is' on the sea-shore for multitude, and horse and charioteer very many;
(YLT)

Judges 8:10
And Zebah and Zalmunna 'are' in Karkor, and their camps with them, about fifteen thousand, all who are left of all the camp of the sons of the east; and those falling 'are' a hundred and twenty thousand men, drawing sword.
(YLT)

1 Samuel 17:1
And the Philistines gather their camps to battle, and are gathered to Shochoh, which 'is' to Judah, and encamp between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephes-Dammim;
(YLT)

1 Samuel 17:4
And there goeth out a man of the duellists from the camps of the Philistines, Goliath 'is' his name, from Gath; his height 'is' six cubits and a span,
(YLT)

1 Samuel 17:53
And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they pillaged their camps.
(DBY YLT NAS)

1 Samuel 28:1
And it cometh to pass in those days, that the Philistines gather their camps for the war, to fight against Israel, and Achish saith unto David, 'Thou dost certainly know that with me thou dost go out into the camp, thou and thy men.'
(YLT NAS)

1 Samuel 29:1
And the Philistines gather all their camps to Aphek, and the Israelites are encamping at a fountain which 'is' in Jezreel,
(YLT)

1 Chronicles 6:54
Now these are their dwelling-places according to their encampments in their borders: to the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, for theirs was the first lot,
(See NAS)

1 Chronicles 9:18
And they have been hitherto in the king's gate eastward: they were the doorkeepers in the camps of the children of Levi.
(DBY)

2 Chronicles 14:15
They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep in abundance and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 31:2
And Hezekiah appointeth the courses of the priests, and of the Levites, by their courses, each according to his service, of the priests and of the Levites, for burnt-offering, and for peace-offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to give praise in the gates of the camps of Jehovah.
(YLT)

Psalms 68:12
"Kings of armies flee! They flee!" She who waits at home divides the spoil,
(See NIV)

Song of Songs 6:13
Return, return, O Shulamite; Return, return, that we may look upon thee. What would ye look upon in the Shulamite? As it were the dance of two camps.
(DBY)

Ezekiel 4:2
and lay siege against it, and build forts against it, and cast up a mound against it; set camps also against it, and plant battering rams against it all around.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 25:4
therefore, behold, I will deliver thee to the children of the east for a possession, and they shall set their encampments in thee, and make their dwellings in thee; they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk.
(See NIV)

Amos 4:10
I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT NIV)

Zechariah 14:15
So will be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the donkey, and of all the animals that will be in those camps, as that plague.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Camps

Related Terms

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Galilee (73 Occurrences)

Camps (33 Occurrences)

Zabdi (17 Occurrences)