Arrangement of the Camps

1The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 2“The sons of Israel shall camp, each by his own standard, with the [a]banners of their fathers’ households; they shall camp around the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), but at a distance. 3Those who camp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the [b]standard of the camp of Judah, by their armies; and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall lead the sons of Judah, 4and his army as numbered totaled 74,600. 5Next to Judah [on the east side] the tribe of Issachar shall encamp; and Nethanel the son of Zuar shall lead the sons of Issachar, 6and his army as numbered totaled 54,400. 7Then [also on the east side] the tribe of Zebulun; and Eliab the son of Helon shall lead the sons of Zebulun, 8and his army as numbered totaled 57,400. 9The total of the numbered men [in the three tribes on the east side] in the camp of Judah was 186,400, by their armies. They shall move out first [on the march].

10“On the south side shall be the [c]standard of the camp of Reuben, by their armies; and Elizur the son of Shedeur shall lead the sons of Reuben, 11and his army as numbered totaled 46,500. 12Those who camp next to Reuben [on the south side] shall be the tribe of Simeon; and Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai shall lead the sons of Simeon, 13and his army as numbered totaled 59,300. 14Then [completing the south side] the tribe of Gad; and Eliasaph the son of Reuel (Deuel) shall lead the sons of Gad, 15and his army as numbered totaled 45,650. 16The total of the numbered men [in the three tribes on the south side] in the camp of Reuben was 151,450, by their armies. They shall move out second [on the march].

17“Then the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) shall move out with the camp of the Levites in the middle of the [other] camps; just as they camp so shall they move out, every man in his place by their standards.

18“On the west side shall be the [d]standard of the camp of Ephraim, by their armies; and Elishama the son of Ammihud shall lead the sons of Ephraim, 19and his army as numbered totaled 40,500. 20Beside Ephraim [on the west side] shall be the tribe of Manasseh; and Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur shall lead the sons of Manasseh, 21and his army as numbered totaled 32,200. 22Then [completing the west side shall be] the tribe of Benjamin; and Abidan the son of Gideoni shall lead the sons of Benjamin, 23and his army as numbered totaled 35,400. 24The total of the numbered men [of the three tribes on the west side] in the camp of Ephraim was 108,100, by their armies. They shall move out in third place.

25“On the north side shall be the [e]standard of the camp of Dan, by their armies; and Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai shall lead the sons of Dan, 26and his army as numbered totaled 62,700. 27Encamped next to Dan [on the north side] shall be the tribe of Asher; and Pagiel the son of Ochran shall lead the sons of Asher, 28and his army as numbered totaled 41,500. 29Then [completing the north side] comes the tribe of Naphtali; and Ahira the son of Enan shall lead the sons of Naphtali, 30and his army as numbered totaled 53,400. 31The total of the numbered men [of the three tribes on the north side] in the camp of Dan was 157,600. They shall move out last, [f]standard after standard.”

32These are the men of the Israelites [twenty years old and upward] as numbered by their fathers’ households. The total of the numbered men of the camps by their armies, 603,550. 33But the Levites were not numbered with the [other] Israelites, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. 34Thus the Israelites did [as ordered]; according to everything the LORD had commanded Moses, so they camped by their standards, and so they moved out, everyone with his family (clan), according to his fathers’ household.

[a] 2 Each of the twelve tribes had a colored banner. The tribes were organized into groups of three. The leading tribe in each triad had a standard representing their group.
[b] 3 The standard of the tribes of Judah contained the picture of a lion.
[c] 10 The standard of the tribes headed by Reuben contained the picture of a man.
[d] 18 The standard of the tribes headed by Ephraim contained the picture of an ox.
[e] 25 The standard of the tribes headed by Dan contained the picture of an eagle.
[f] 31 The symbol on the various tribal standards seems important in view of the cherubim of Ezek 1:10, and in view of the living creatures of Rev 4:7. God was present in each of these settings.