02: The Camp Arrangement (Num 2:1-34)

Their camps surrounded the Tabernacle. This tells the Lord’s abidance among them.

πŸ‘‰ Read Numbers 2:1-34 and answer the following questions

The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Everyone of the Israelites must camp under his (                 ) with the emblems of his (             ). They must camp at some (               ) around the tent of meeting””

When they camped or traveled, there was an order. Fill out the blank according to their camping arrangement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Tent of Meeting

& the Levites’ camp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Answers and Meditation

Standard, family, distance

Tribal identity is emphasized throughout the passage. Their identity as God’s chosen people was based on God’s promise to Jacob.

Though the Lord resides among them, they were not allowed to approach the Lord too close. It was before Christ came.

ESV has a different translation for verse 2. "They shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side." The doors of their tents were toward the tent of meeting. 

Our identity as God’s children stands only when we belong to Jesus Christ. When we devote our lives entirely to Christ, we will experience the presence of God every day, just like they saw the fire and cloud pillars on the Tent of Meeting from their tents morning and evening.

 

East(Judah, Issachar, Zebulun),

South(Reuben, Simeon, Gad),

West(Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin),

North(Dan, Asher, Naphtali)

Judah was assigned as the leader tribe. Reuben was the firstborn, but the affair with his father’s concubine Bilhah made his birthright go on to the fourth son Judah. The second (Simeon) and the third son (Levi) presumptuously sneaked into and slaughtered all the males of Shechem in their pain of circumcision. In this outburst of their rage, they were not qualified as the firstborn heir. Therefore, the birthright of the firstborn came down to Judah. Furthermore, Judah's sacrifice for his brother and father to the family when Benjamin was in danger of custody in Egypt confirmed his qualification to be the covenant heir.

However, Jacob made Joseph his firstborn, and thus Joseph's two sons became two tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh. But God chose Judah as the ancestor of the Messiah.

Dan was the leader tribe of the North side tribes. He was the firstborn among the concubines’ sons.

The West side tribes are the descendants of Rachel, Jacob’s favorite wife.

This was the order they camped and traveled. Whether they stayed or traveled, the Lord’s tent was in their midst. And the Lord specifically ordered this way. It is God’s promise that He will be with them always.

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