Instructions for Setting Up Israel's Camp
1 The Lord told Moses and Aaron 2 how the Israelites should arrange their camp:
Each tribe must set up camp under its own banner and under the flags of its ancestral families. These camps will be arranged around the sacred tent, but not close to it.
3-4 Judah and the tribes that march with it must set up camp on the east side of the sacred tent, under their own banner. The 74,600 troops of the tribe of Judah will be arranged by divisions and led by Nahshon son of Amminadab. 5-6 On one side of Judah will be the tribe of Issachar, with Nethanel son of Zuar as the leader of its 54,400 troops. 7-8 On the other side will be the tribe of Zebulun, with Eliab son of Helon as the leader of its 57,400 troops. 9 These 186,400 troops will march into battle first.
10-11 Reuben and the tribes that march with it must set up camp on the south side of the sacred tent, under their own banner. The 46,500 troops of the tribe of Reuben will be arranged by divisions and led by Elizur son of Shedeur. 12-13 On one side of Reuben will be the tribe of Simeon, with Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai as the leader of its 59,300 troops. 14-15 On the other side will be the tribe of Gad, with Eliasaph son of Deuel as the leader of its 45,650 troops. 16 These 151,450 troops will march into battle second.
17 Marching behind Reuben will be the Levites, arranged in groups, just as they are camped. They will carry the sacred tent and their own banners.
18-19 Ephraim and the tribes that march with it must set up camp on the west side of the sacred tent, under their own banner. The 40,500 troops of the tribe of Ephraim will be arranged by divisions and led by Elishama son of Ammihud. 20-21 On one side of Ephraim will be the tribe of Manasseh, with Gamaliel son of Pedahzur as the leader of its 32,200 troops. 22-23 On the other side will be the tribe of Benjamin, with Abidan son of Gideoni as the leader of its 35,400 troops. 24 These 108,100 troops will march into battle third.
25-26 Dan and the tribes that march with it must set up camp on the north side of the sacred tent, under their own banner. The 62,700 troops of the tribe of Dan will be arranged by divisions and led by Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. 27-28 On one side of Dan will be the tribe of Asher, with Pagiel son of Ochran as the leader of its 41,500 troops. 29-30 On the other side will be the tribe of Naphtali with Ahira son of Enan as the leader of its 53,400 troops. 31 These 157,600 troops will march into battle last.
32 So all the Israelites in the camp were counted according to their ancestral families. The troops were arranged by divisions and totaled 603,550. 33 The only Israelites not included were the Levites, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
34 Israel did everything the Lord had told Moses. They arranged their camp according to clans and families, with each tribe under its own banner. And that was the order by which they marched into battle.
The Arrangement of the Tribes in Camp
1 The Lord gave Moses and Aaron the following instructions. 2 When the Israelites set up camp, each man will camp under the banner of his division and the flag of his own clan. The camp is to be set up all around the Tent.
3-9 On the east side, those under the banner of the division of Judah shall camp in their groups, under their leaders, as follows:
Tribe Leader NumberJudah Nahshon son of Amminadab 74,600Issachar Nethanel son of Zuar 54,400Zebulun Eliab son of Helon 57,400Total: 186,400
The division of Judah shall march first.
10-16 On the south, those under the banner of the division of Reuben shall camp in their groups, under their leaders, as follows:
Tribe Leader NumberReuben Elizur son of Shedeur 46,500Simeon Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai 59,300Gad Eliasaph son of Deuel 45,650Total: 151,450
The division of Reuben shall march second.
17 Then, between the first two divisions and the last two the Levites are to march carrying the Tent. Each division shall march in the same order as they camp, each in position under its banner.
18-24 On the west, those under the banner of the division of Ephraim shall camp in their groups, under their leaders, as follows:
Tribe Leader NumberEphraim Elishama son of Ammihud 40,500Manasseh Gamaliel son of Pedahzur 32,200Benjamin Abidan son of Gideoni 35,400Total: 108,100
The division of Ephraim shall march third.
25-31 On the north, those under the banner of the division of Dan shall camp in their groups, under their leaders, as follows:
Tribe Leader NumberDan Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai 62,700Asher Pagiel son of Ochran 41,500Naphtali Ahira son of Enan 53,400Total: 157,600
The division of Dan shall march last.
32 The total number of the people of Israel enrolled in the divisions, group by group, was 603,550. 33 As the Lord had commanded Moses, the Levites were not registered with the rest of the Israelites.
34 So the people of Israel did everything the Lord had commanded Moses. They camped, each under his own banner, and they marched, each with his own clan.