Bereans Corner
Bereans Corner
Thru the Bible - #116 - Numbers 2 - Arrangement of the Camps
Discover how the ancient Israelites were strategically arranged for their journey to the Promised Land, and what this can teach us about obedience and preparation. Our latest episode breaks down the divine instructions given to Moses and Aaron in Numbers, chapter 2, examining the significant placement of the tribes of Judah, Reuben, Ephraim, and Dan around the tent of meeting. We also explore an intriguing connection to Exodus 28, pondering whether the tribal standards might reflect the high priest's breastplate stones. Learn how this meticulous setup not only prepared the Israelites for war but also reinforced their reverence towards divine guidance, as inspired by Joshua 3:4.
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Welcome back. Thank you for joining me here on Berean's Corner. Open your Bible to Numbers, chapter 2. The title of today's lesson is Arrangement of the Camps. As always, go ahead and grab a glass of water, a cup of coffee, a cup of tea. As we get into today's lesson, numbers chapter 2, and let's read.
Speaker 2:Numbers 2. The Lord said to Moses and Aaron let's read camp under their standard. The leader of the people of Judah is Nashon, son of Amminadab, his division number 74,600. The tribe of Issachar will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel, son of Zuhar, his division number 54,400. The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab, son of Helon, his division numbers 57,400. All the men assigned to the camp of Judah, according to their divisions, number 186,400. They will set out first On the south will be the divisions of the camp of Reuben, under their standard.
Speaker 2:The leader of the people of Reuben is Eliezer, son of Shadur, his division numbers 46,500. The tribe of Simeon will cap next to them. The leader of the people of Simeon is Shalumiel, son of Zerushadai, his division numbers 59,300. The tribe of Gad will be next. The leader of the people of Gad is Eliaseph, son of Duel, his division numbers 45,650. All the men assigned to the camp of Reuben, according to their divisions, number 151,450. They will set out second. Then the tent of meeting and the camp of the Levites will set out in the middle of the camps. They will set out in the same order as they encamp each in his own place under his standard.
Speaker 2:On the west will be the divisions of the camp of Ephraim. Under their standard, the leader of the people of Ephraim is Elishema, son of Amihud. His division numbers 40,500. The tribe of Manasseh will be next to them. The leader of the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel, son of Pedazur. His division numbers 32,200. The tribe of Benjamin will be next. The leader of the people of Benjamin is Abedin, son of Gideoni. His division numbers 35,400. His division number is 35,400. All the men assigned to the camp of Ephraim, according to their divisions, number 108,100. They will set out.
Speaker 2:Third On the north will be the divisions of the camp of Dan. Under their standard. The leader of the people of Dan is Ahasuerus, son of Amishadai. His division number is 62,700. The tribe of Asher will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Asher is Pajiel, son of Okran. His division number is 41,500. The tribe of Naphtali will be next. The leader of the people of Naphtali is Ahira, son of Inan. His division number is 53,400. All the men assigned to the camp of Dan number 157,600. They will set out last under their standards. These are the Israelites, counted according to their families, all those in the camps, by their divisions, number 603, 550 the levites were not counted along with the other israelites, as the lord commanded moses. So the israelites did everything the lord commanded moses. That is the way they encamped, under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each with his clan and family all right now.
Speaker 1:The last time we were together, the census was underway as Israel is getting ready to pursue the promised land. Today we are looking at how the camps were to be set up as they prepare for war. Now I have broken this lesson down into three parts. Part one the Lord tells Moses to have the camp circled around a tent of meeting. We see this in verses one through two of Numbers, chapter two. Now the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying the sons of Israel shall camp, each by his own standard, with the banners of their father's households. They shall keep camp around the tent of meeting at a distance. They shall keep camp around the tent of meeting at a distance. Now, we cannot be sure what was on the batters, but it has been suggested that it could be the color of each of the tribes, according to the breastplate that the priests wore. To see this, let's go back to Exodus. So go on your Bible to the left and go back to Exodus 28. And this, this could give us some idea. Exodus 28, and we are looking at verses 17 through 21. Exodus 28, 17 through 21, and you shall mount on it four rolls of stones. The first row shall be a row of ruby, topaz and emerald, and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and a diamond, and the third row adjacent, and an agate and an amethyst, and the fourth row a burl and an onyx and a jasper. They shall be set in gold filigree and the stones shall be according to the names of the sons of Israel, 12, according to their names. They shall be like the engraving of a seal, each according to his name, for the 12 tribes, so that could be an example of what was on the breastplate. Also, notice that they had to be a distance from the tent of meeting. Let's look at that real quick. Go to your Bible, to the right, and go to the book of joshua, and when you get to joshua, let's look at joshua, chapter 3 to get the distance. Joshua chapter 3, verse 4. However, there shall be between you and it a distance of about 2 000 cubits by measure. Do not come near it that you may know the way by which you shall go, for you have not passed this way before. Now, this is Israel crossing the Jordan, and this is regarding the distance from the 10th meeting. Now, when you calculate this, the distance is about 1,000 yards.
Speaker 1:Part two there were three camps per each of the four sides of the camp. First, the east side. We see this in verses three through nine. Now, those who camp on the east side, the towards the sunset shall be of the standard of the camp of judah, by their armies and the leaders of the sons of judah nation, the son of aminadab and the leaders of the sons of Judah nation, the son of Amenadab and his army, even their number or men of 74, 600 and those who camp next to him, shall be the tribe of Issachar and the leader of the sons of Issachar, nethael, the son of Zuar and his army, even their numbered men, 54 400. Then comes the tribe of Zebulun and the leader of the sons of Zebulun, eliab, the son of Hulan and his army, even his numbered men, 57,400. The total of the numbered men of the camp of Judah, 186,400, by their armies. They shall set out first.
Speaker 1:Next, we are looking at the south side. We see this in verses 10 through 17. On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben, by their armies and the leader of the sons of Reuben, eleazar, the son of Shador and his army, even their numbered men, 46,500. And those who camp next to him shall be the son of Shador and his army, even their numbered men forty six thousand five hundred. And those who camp next to him shall be the tribe of Simeon and the leader of the sons of Simeon, shalumiel. The son of Zerushadai and his army, even their numbered men, fifty nine thousand three hundred. Then comes the tribe of Gad and the leader of the sons of gad, eliphaz, the son of deuel and his army, even their numbered men 45, 650. The total of the numbered men of the camp of ruben 151, 450 by their armies, and they shall set out.
Speaker 1:Second then the tent of meeting. Excuse me, then the tent of meeting shall set out with the camp of the Levites, in the midst of the camps, just as they camp. So they shall set out every man in his place, by their standards. Next, we will look at the west side. We see this in verses 18 through 24. On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim, by their armies, and the leader of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishema, the son of Amenahud, and his army, even their numbered men 40,500. And next to him shall be the tribe of Manasseh and the leader of the sons of Manasseh, gamaliel, the son of Pedahuzur and his army, even their numbered men 32,200. Then comes the tribe of Benjamin and the leader of the sons of Benjamin, abaddon, the son of Gideonai and his army, even their numbered men 35, 400. The total of the numbered men of the camp of ephraim 108, 108, 100 by their armies, and they shall set out.
Speaker 1:Third. Then we get to the north side. We see this in verses 25 through 31. On the north side shall be the standard of the camp of Dan, by their armies and the leader of the sons of Dan, uh Ahazur, the son of Amish, hadai and his armies, even their numbered men, 62,700. And those who camp next to him shall be the tribe of Asher and the leader of the sons of Asher, pajael, the son of Akran and his army, even their numbered men, 41,500. Then comes the tribe of Naphtali and the leader of the sons of naphtali, ahara, the son of inan and his army, even their numbered men 53,400. The total of the numbered men of the camp of dan was 157,600. They shall set out last. By their standards now, the east, south, west and north sides total 603 550 men.
Speaker 1:Third, all, all israel did as the lord commanded and we will see, we see this in verses 32 through 34. These are the numbered men of the sons of Israel by their father's households. The total of the numbered men of the camps of their armies 603,550. The Levites, however, were not numbered among the sons of Israel, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. You know, you all remember, the Levites did not have a portion to the land, so they were not numbered in this because they had priestly duties, verse 34. Thus, the sons of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses. So they camped by their standards, and so they set out everyone by his family, according to his father's household. And just to remind you of how they were to go out, the east side went out first, the south side went out second, the west side went out third, and then the north side went out last. All right, that brings us to the end of Numbers, chapter two arrangement of the camps. As we mentioned, they are gearing up and getting ready for war and that's the reason why this census took place and they are doing everything according to the Lord, according to how the Lord commanded them to do. Remember, like I always say, not as they wanted to do, but as the Lord commanded them to do.
Speaker 1:All right, I thank you very much for joining me on this lesson. Remember, wherever you are hearing this podcast, give it a follow, give it a like, a comment, whatever you have to do over there, and tell your family. There's a brother out here who goes through books of the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, so we can get every word of the, every word out of this book, the word of God. Remember Bereans, corner dot Buzzsprout dot com. If you go there and listen to the podcast, I have a full transcript over there if you want to follow along with the lesson. As always, I am praying for you and you do the same for me, that we finish the Lord's work and see this thing all the way through. That's all for now. God bless, thank you.