17 " 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 . 18 "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 Elishama the son of Ammihud , 19 and his army , even their numbered men, 40,500 e e e . 20 "Next to him shall be the tribe of Manasseh , and the leader of the sons of Manasseh : Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur , 21 and his army , even their numbered men, 32,200 e e e . 22 "Then comes the tribe of Benjamin , and the leader of the sons of Benjamin : Abidan the son of Gideoni , 23 and his army , even their numbered men, 35,400 e e e e . 24 "The total of the numbered men of the camp of Ephraim : 108,100 e e e e , by their armies . And they shall set out third . 25 "On the north side shall be the standard of the camp of Dan by their armies , and the leader of the sons of Dan : Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai , 26 and his army , even their numbered men, 62,700 e e e e . 27 "Those who camp next to him shall be the tribe of Asher , and the leader of the sons of Asher : Pagiel the son of Ochran , 28 and his army , even their numbered men, 41,500 e e e e . 29 "Then comes the tribe of Naphtali , and the leader of the sons of Naphtali : Ahira the son of Enan , 30 and his army , even their numbered men, 53,400 e e e e . 31 "The total of the numbered men of the camp of Dan was 157,600 e e e e e . They shall set out last by their standards ." 32 These are the numbered men of the sons of Israel by their fathers' households ; the total of the numbered men of the camps by their armies , 603,550 e e e e e .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 2:17-32
Chapter Contents
The order of the tribes in their tents.
The tribes were to encamp about the tabernacle, which was to be in the midst of them. It was a token of God's gracious presence. Yet they were to pitch their tents afar off, in reverence to the sanctuary. The children of Israel put themselves in their posts, without murmuring or disputing; and as it was their safety, so it was their beauty. It is our duty and interest to be contented with the place allotted to us, and to endeavour to occupy it in a proper manner, without envying or murmuring; without ambition or covetousness. Thus the gospel church ought to be compact, according to the Scripture model, every one knowing and keeping his place; and then all that wish well to the church rejoice, beholding their order, Colossians 2:5.