Numbers 2

Organization for Israel’s Camp

¹Then the Lord gave these instructions to Moses and Aaron: ²“When the Israelites set up camp, each tribe will be assigned its own area. The tribal divisions will camp beneath their family banners on all four sides of the Tabernacle,^a but at some distance from it.

^3-4“The divisions of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun are to camp toward the sunrise on the east side of the Tabernacle, beneath their family banners. These are the names of the tribes, their leaders, and the numbers of their registered troops:

Tribe Leader Number

Judah Nahshon son of Amminadab 74,600

^5-6Issachar Nethanel son of Zuar 54,400

^7-8Zebulun Eliab son of Helon 57,400

⁹So the total of all the troops on Judah’s side of the camp is 186,400. These three tribes are to lead the way whenever the Israelites travel to a new campsite.

^10-11“The divisions of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad are to camp on the south side of the Tabernacle, beneath their family banners. These are the names of the tribes, their leaders, and the numbers of their registered troops:

Tribe Leader Number

Reuben Elizur son of Shedeur 46,500

^12-13Simeon Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai 59,300

^14-15Gad Eliasaph son of Deuel^b 45,650

¹⁶So the total of all the troops on Reuben’s side of the camp is 151,450. These three tribes will be second in line whenever the Israelites travel.

¹⁷“Then the Tabernacle, carried by the Levites, will set out from the middle of the camp. All the tribes are to travel in the same order that they camp, each in position under the appropriate family banner.

^18-19“The divisions of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin are to camp on the west side of the Tabernacle, beneath their family banners. These are the names of the tribes, their leaders, and the numbers of their registered troops:

Tribe Leader Number

Ephraim Elishama son of Ammihud 40,500

^20-21Manasseh Gamaliel son of Pedahzur 32,200

^22-23Benjamin Abidan son of Gideoni 35,400

²⁴So the total of all the troops on Ephraim’s side of the camp is 108,100. These three tribes will be third in line whenever the Israelites travel.

^25-26“The divisions of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali are to camp on the north side of the Tabernacle, beneath their family banners. These are the names of the tribes, their leaders, and the numbers of their registered troops:

Tribe Leader Number

Dan Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai 62,700

^27-28Asher Pagiel son of Ocran 41,500

^29-30Naphtali Ahira son of Enan 53,400

³¹So the total of all the troops on Dan’s side of the camp is 157,600. These three tribes will be last, marching under their banners whenever the Israelites travel.”

³²In summary, the troops of Israel listed by their families totaled 603,550. ³³But as the Lord had commanded, the Levites were not included in this registration. ³⁴So the people of Israel did everything as the Lord had commanded Moses. Each clan and family set up camp and marched under their banners exactly as the Lord had instructed them.