Commentary on Numbers, Book · Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
Chapter II Verſe 1 Ver. 1. AND the LORD ſpake unto Moſes and Aaron, ſaying.] The juſt number of Days that were ſpent, in taking the fore-named Account of the People, is uncertain, (ſee I. 19.) but that being finiſhed, now order is given for their Encamping under their ſeveral Standards. And it is directed to Aaron as well as Moſes; though the Order for numbring them was directed to Moſes only, (Chap. I. 1.) Aaron having by that firſt Order been joined with him, in taking the Account of them.
Verſe 2 Ver. 2. Every Man of the Children of Iſrael ſhall pitch by his own Standard.] By the Banner of that Tribe; to which he was joined by the following Order.
With the Enſign of their Fathers Houſe.] Every Family and Houſhold had their particular Enſigns, beſide that great Banner under which they encamped and marched: it being pitched and carried (as will appear) in the midſt of them. How theſe Banners and Enſigns were diſtinguiſhed one from another, we have no certain Knowledge. The later Jews ſay (particularly Aben Ezra upon this place) that Judah carried in his Standard the Figure of a Lion; and Reuben the Figure of a Man; Ephraim of an Ox; and Dan of an Eagle: for which I can ſee no ground. For though Judah be compared to a Lion; yet the Reaſons he gives for the other are very abſurd: with which I ſhall not trouble the Reader. But only obſerve that there is not one word of any ſuch thing in their ancient Writers; no not in the whole body of the Talmud; as the famous Bochartus aſſures us. And it is not likely that they who ſo lately ſmarted for making the Golden Calf, would adventure to make any other Images, and expoſe them to the Eyes of all the People. Nor is it impertinent to obſerve that when Vitellius in after-ages was to march againſt the Arabians through Judaea, the great Men of the Nation met him, and beſeeched him to march another way: The Law of their Country not allowing Images (ſuch as were in the Roman Enſigns) to be brought into it. So Joſephus relates, L. XVIII. Antiq. cap. 7. for which one can ſee no reaſon, if their Anceſtors in the Wilderneſs, had by the Command or Allowance of Moſes carried an Eagle in any of their Standards. See Bochart in his Hieroz. P. I. L. III. C. V. It is more probable, if there be room for Conjecture in this matter, that the Name of Judah might be embroidered in great Letters, in his Standard, and of Reuben in his; and ſo of the reſt; or they were diſtinguiſhed by their Colours only, as now our Regiments are.
Far off about the Tabernacle of the Congregation ſhall they pitch.] At ſuch a diſtance as might ſhow their Reverence to the Tabernacle; and that there might be another Camp of the Levites within them: who made a nearer Incloſure about it, in the ſame Form with the Camp of Iſrael, which was Quadrangular. This Diſtance of the Camp of Iſrael from the Tabernacle, is reaſonably judged (by III Joſh. 4.) to have been Two thouſand Cubits: That is, a Mile.
Verſe 3 Ver. 3. And on the Eaſt-ſide toward the riſing of the Sun.] Theſe are two Expreſſions (after the manner of the Hebrews) for the ſame thing. Or Kedma, which we here tranſlate on the Eaſt, may be tranſlated on the fore part, viz. of the Tabernacle: Which was towards the Sun's Riſing.
Shall they of the Standard of the Camp of Judah pitch.] Theſe had the moſt honourable Poſt (as we now ſpeak) of all others; pitching before the moſt holy Place; where Moſes and Aaron had their Station in the Camp of the Levites, III. 38. And therefore the LXX tranſlate the firſt Words of this Verſe thus, foreign, &c. they that encamp firſt towards the Eaſt, ſhall be, &c.
Throughout their Armies.] They being, as we read before, (and as the next Verſe tells us again) Threeſcore and fourteen thouſand, and ſix hundred Men, were divided into ſeveral bodies (ſuch as we now call Companies, and Regiments, and Brigades) under their ſeveral Officers: for which the Hebrews have no name but that of Army, or Hoſt.
And Nahſhon the Son of Amminadab. He who was imployed as the principal Perſon in that Tribe, to help to take the number of them, I. 7.
Shall be the Captain of the Children of Judah.] Their Commander in Chief; or General, as we now ſpeak.
Ver. 4. And his Hoſt, and thoſe that were numbred of Verſe 4 them were threeſcore and fourteen thouſand, &c.] Hitherto Moſes had ſet down the Words that God ſpake to him: But theſe are his own Words, which he intermixes all along with thoſe of God's.
Ver. 5. And thoſe that do pitch next unto him.] Theſe Verſe 5 now are the Words of God; ordering what Tribes ſhould pitch under the Standard of Judah.
Shall be the Tribe of Iſſachar.] He and Zebulun were two of the Sons of Leah, as well as Judah: And therefore their Tribes are fitly placed under the Standard of the Tribe of Judah; as likely to agree well together.
And Nethaneel the Son of Zur ſhall be Captain of the Children of Iſſachar.] It may be noted, once for all, that the Commanders in Chief of the ſeveral Tribes, were thoſe very Perſons who were choſen to take the number of them. Which ſhows they were Men of Eminence among them, as I obſerved, I. 4.
Ver. 6. And his Hoſt, and thoſe that were numbred Verſe 6 thereof, were, &c.] Theſe are the Words of Moſes, which to the end of the Chapter (as I noted before) are interſperſed with the Orders that God gave for the forming of their Camp.
Ver. 9. And all that were numbred in the Camp of Verſe 9 Judah were an hundred thouſand, &c.] This was the greateſt Body of all other; which had the Honour to be placed juſt before the Oracle, as the ſtrongeſt Guard to it: The Tribe of Judah lying in the midſt, and the Tribes of Iſſachar and Zebulun on each ſide of his Standard; unto which all their Enſigns were in ſome ſort of Subjection.
Throughout their Armies.] This great Body, was divided into ſeveral ſmaller Companies; for which they had no other name, (as I obſerved before) but that of Armies.
Theſe ſhall first ſet forth.] When they removed from one Station to another, this Camp marched firſt. For they commonly went Eaſtward; in which Quarter this Camp was pitch'd, v. 3.
Verſe 10 Ver. 10. And on the South ſide ſhall be the Standard of the Camp of Reuben, according to their Armies, &c.] There is nothing to be obſerved concerning this Camp; but that the Tribe of Reuben had the honour to pitch in the midſt of it; and the Tribes of Simeon and Gad lay on either ſide of him under his Standard or Banner: juſt as Iſſachar and Zebulun did on either ſide of Judah. And there was an evident congruity in it, Simeon being his next Brother; and Gad the eldeſt Son of Zilpah, the Hand-maid of their Mother Leah, XXX Gen. 10, 11.
Verſe 14 Ver. 14. Eliaſaph the Son of Reuel. See Note upon I. 14.
Verſe 16 Ver. 16. And they ſhall ſet forth in the ſecond rank.] That is, when they removed, the Three Tribes that were pitch'd on the Eaſt marched firſt, under the Banner of Judah, (as was ſaid before, v. 9.) and then followed theſe Three that lay on the South, under the Banner of Reuben.
Verſe 17 Ver. 17. Then the Tabernacle of the Congregation ſhall ſet forward with the Camp of the Levites.] After the fore-named Camps, the Tabernacle was to follow: between thoſe two that went before; and the Camp of Ephraim, and the Camp of Dan that came after. So they did not march, as they lay pitch'd; for then there was a Camp on each ſide of the Tabernacle: Whereas when they marched there was none on the ſides, but two Camps went before it, and two followed it.
In the midst of the Camp.] Not intirely in the midſt: for it appears by the tenth Chapter of this Book, v. 17. that after the firſt Camp under the Standard of Judah was gone forward, the Tabernacle was taken down and carried by the Sons of Gerſhom and Merari between the Camp of Judah and that of Reuben, which next followed. And then the Sanctuary ſet forward, born by the Kohathites, (v. 21.) who marched exactly in the midſt, between the Standards of Judah and Reuben; and the Standards of Ephraim and Dan.
As they encamp ſo ſhall they ſet forward.] This may refer either to the Levites, the Sons of Kohath; that as they lay encamped on the ſame ſide of the Tabernacle, that the Standard of Reuben did, ſo they ſhould immediately march after them. Compare v. 10. of this Chapter with III. 29. Or to the two Camps forenamed; that they ſhould march in the ſame order wherein they lay encamped: Judah, for inſtance, in the midſt of Iſſachar and Zebulun; before and behind him; or on each ſide of him.
Every Man in his place by their Standards.] Every Man keeping his place which was aſſigned him, under the Standard to which he belong'd; that there might be no diſorder among them.
Ver. 18. And on the Weſt ſide ſhall be the Standard of the Camp of Ephraim, &c.] There is little to be noted here, but that Ephraim is plainly preferred before Verſe 18 his Brother, as he was in Jacob's Bleſſing, (XLVIII Gen. 19, 20.) and that the two Tribes which encamped under his Standard, viz. Manaſſeh, v. 20. and Benjamin, v. 22. are fitly joyned with him: they being all deſcended from Rachel.
Verſe 24 Ver. 24. All that were numbred of the Camp of Ephraim were an hundred and eight thouſand, &c.] This was the ſmalleſt Body of all the Four.
And they ſhall go forward in the third rank.] And therefore, though they lay on the Weſt ſide, in their Encampment, yet when they marched, they did not go in the Rear of all; but immediately behind the Tabernacle.
Verſe 25 Ver. 25. The Standard of the Camp of Dan ſhall be on the North ſide, &c.] This Tribe, we may reaſonably think, was advanced to this Dignity, of bearing one of the four Standards, though they deſcended from an Hand-maid: becauſe Dan was the eldeſt of Jacob's Sons of that ſort, XXX Gen. 6. and this Tribe was the moſt numerous of all others, except Judah, as the fore-going Chapter ſhows, v. 39. With whom the Tribes of Aſher and Naphtali are fitly joyned; being deſcended from Hand-maids alſo.
Verſe 31 Ver. 31. All that were numbred in the Camp of Dan were an hundred and fifty ſeven thouſand, &c.] This was the greateſt Body of Men, except that under the Standard of Judah, who marched in the Front: and is the reaſon perhaps why theſe are ordered here, in the next words, to bring up the Rear.
They ſhall go hindmost with their Standards.] Here the Standard comprehends Enſigns: for there was but one Standard for this Camp, as there were no more for the other three. Therefore the meaning is, they ſhall march hindermoſt under their ſeveral Colours, as we now ſpeak. Which was ordered for the greater Security of the Sanctuary; by the two ſtrongeſt Bodies marching before and behind: where there was the greateſt danger.
Ver. 32. Theſe are thoſe which were numbred of the Verſe 32 Children of Iſrael by the Houſe of their Fathers, &c.] That is, Thus were all theſe Perſons diſpoſed under their ſeveral Standards; whoſe Number was taken by Moſes and Aaron, with their Aſſociates, I. 44, 45.
Ver. 33. But the Levites were not numbred among Verſe 33 the Children of Iſrael, as the LORD commanded Moſes.] And conſequently did not belong to any of theſe Standards; being to make another Camp by themſelves, I. 47, &c.
Ver. 34. And the Children of Iſrael did according to Verſe 34 all that the LORD commanded Moſes.] As they gave in their Names when they were to be numbred, I. 54. ſo they now joyned together under ſuch Standards, as God appointed.
So they pitched by their Standards, and ſo they ſet forward, &c.] Each Tribe encamped under the Standard that was aſſigned to them; and they alſo marched, when they ſet forward, in ſuch order as is here directed. Some order, no doubt, had been obſerved before, both when they reſted, and when they marched, (See XIII Exod. 18.) but it was not ſo exact and regular as this form, into which they were now caſt by God himſelf: nor can we think it was ſo ſtrictly obſerved.
The Jews ſay that this Camp made a Square of Twelve Miles in compaſs about the Tabernacle; as Dr. Lightfoot hath obſerved in his Centur. Chorogr. CXLVIII. and J. Wagenſeil more lately in his Annotations upon the Gemara of Sota, Cap. 1. Sect. 51. where ſeveral of them ſay, that the Camp was three Paraſots in compaſs: and a Paraſot was four Miles.