@Nu 2:1-34. THE ORDER OF THE TRIBES IN THEIR TENTS.
2. Every man . . . shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of
their father's house--Standards were visible signs of a certain
recognized form for directing the movements of large bodies of people.
As the Israelites were commanded to encamp "each by his own standard,
with the ensign of their father's house," the direction has been
considered as implying that they possessed three varieties: (1) the
great tribal standards, which served as rallying points for the twelve
large clans of the people; (2) the standards of the subdivided
portions; and, (3) those of families or houses. The latter must have
been absolutely necessary, as one ensign only for a tribe would not
have been visible at the extremities of so large a body. We possess no
authentic information as to their forms, material, colors, and devices.
But it is probable that they might bear some resemblance to those of
Egypt, only stripped of any idolatrous symbols. These were of an
umbrella or a fanlike form, made of ostrich feathers, shawls, &c.,
lifted on the points of long poles, which were borne, either like the
sacred central one, on a car, or on men's shoulders, while others might
be like the beacon lights which are set on poles by Eastern pilgrims at
night. Jewish writers say that the standards of the Hebrew tribes were
symbols borrowed from the prophetic blessing of Jacob--Judah's being a
lion, Benjamin's a wolf, &c.
[@Ge 49:3-24]; and that the ensigns
or banners were distinguished by their colors--the colors of each tribe
being the same as that of the precious stone representing that tribe in
the breastplate of the high priest [@Ex 28:17-21].
far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch--that
is, "over against," at a reverential distance. The place of every tribe
is successively and specifically described because each had a certain
part assigned both in the order of march and the disposition of the
encampment.
3. on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the
standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies--Judah,
placed at the head of a camp composed of three tribes rallying under
its standard, was said to have combined the united colors in the high
priest's breastplate, but called by the name of Judah. They were
appointed to occupy the east side and to take the lead in the march,
which, for the most part, was in an easterly direction.
Nahshon--or Naasson (@Mt 1:4 Lu 3:32,33).
shall be captain--It appears that the twelve men who were called to
superintend the census were also appointed to be the captains of their
respective tribes--a dignity which they owed probably to the
circumstances, formerly noticed, of their holding the hereditary office
of head or "prince."
5. those that pitch next unto him--that is, on the one side.
7. Then the tribe of Zebulun--on the other side. While Judah's tribe was the most numerous, those of Issachar and Zebulun were also very numerous; so that the association of those three tribes formed a strong and imposing van.
10-31. On the south side the standard of the camp of Reuben--The description given of the position of Reuben and his attendant tribes on the south, of Ephraim and his associates on the west, of Dan and his confederates on the north, with that of Judah on the east, suggests the idea of a square or quadrangle, which, allowing one square cubit to each soldier while remaining close in the ranks, has been computed to extend over an area of somewhat more than twelve square miles. But into our calculations of the occupied space must be taken not only the fighting men, whose numbers are here given, but also the families, tents, and baggage. The tabernacle or sacred tent of their Divine King, with the camp of the Levites around it [see on Nu 3:38], formed the center, as does the chief's in the encampment of all nomad people. In marching, this order was adhered to, with some necessary variations. Judah led the way, followed, it is most probable, by Issachar and Zebulun [@Nu 10:14-16]. Reuben, Simeon, and Gad formed the second great division [@Nu 10:18-20]. They were followed by the central company, composed of the Levites, bearing the tabernacle [@Nu 10:21]. Then the third and posterior squadron consisted of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin [@Nu 10:22-24], while the hindmost place was assigned to Dan, Asher, and Naphtali [@Nu 10:25-27]. Thus Judah's, which was the most numerous, formed the van: and Dan's, which was the next in force, brought up the rear; while Reuben's and Ephraim's, with the tribes associated with them respectively, being the smallest and weakest, were placed in the center. (See on Nu 10:13).