Numbers 2
Numbers 2 presents pivotal events and lessons, emphasizing themes like faith, obedience, and God’s faithful guidance.
Summary
Numbers 2 continues the story of Numbers, revealing key themes of faith, obedience, and God’s promise-keeping. This chapter illustrates the human response to divine commands, showing both trust and failure, and demonstrates God’s mercy and justice. As part of the larger narrative, it lays groundwork for understanding God’s covenant relationship with His people and points forward to the hope of redemption. Readers are encouraged to reflect on their own lives, to trust in God’s plans, and to live in faithful obedience, finding hope in His unchanging character.
Traditionally attributed to Moses (15th–13th century BC). Covers Israel’s wilderness journey.
Numbers 2: KJV Commentary and Summary
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
2 Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.
3 And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab [shall be] captain of the children of Judah.
4 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, [were] threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.
5 And those that do pitch next unto him [shall be] the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar [shall be] captain of the children of Issachar.
6 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, [were] fifty and four thousand and four hundred.
7 [Then] the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon [shall be] captain of the children of Zebulun.
8 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, [were] fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.
9 All that were numbered in the camp of Judah [were] an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth.
10 On the south side [shall be] the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben [shall be] Elizur the son of Shedeur.
11 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, [were] forty and six thousand and five hundred.
12 And those which pitch by him [shall be] the tribe of Simeon: and the captain of the children of Simeon [shall be] Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
13 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, [were] fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.
14 Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad [shall be] Eliasaph the son of Reuel.
15 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, [were] forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty.
16 All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben [were] an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies. And they shall set forth in the second rank.
17 Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards.
18 On the west side [shall be] the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies: and the captain of the sons of Ephraim [shall be] Elishama the son of Ammihud.
19 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, [were] forty thousand and five hundred.
20 And by him [shall be] the tribe of Manasseh: and the captain of the children of Manasseh [shall be] Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
21 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, [were] thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
22 Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the captain of the sons of Benjamin [shall be] Abidan the son of Gideoni.
23 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, [were] thirty and five thousand and four hundred.
24 All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim [were] an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout their armies. And they shall go forward in the third rank.
25 The standard of the camp of Dan [shall be] on the north side by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan [shall be] Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
26 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, [were] threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.
27 And those that encamp by him [shall be] the tribe of Asher: and the captain of the children of Asher [shall be] Pagiel the son of Ocran.
28 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, [were] forty and one thousand and five hundred.
29 Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of the children of Naphtali [shall be] Ahira the son of Enan.
30 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, [were] fifty and three thousand and four hundred.
31 All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan [were] an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred. They shall go hindmost with their standards.
32 These [are] those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts [were] six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.
33 But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.
34 And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.
Faith, Obedience, God’s Promises, Judgment, Mercy, Hope
Numbers 2:1 – Highlights key themes of faith and God’s interaction with His people.; Numbers 2:18 – Highlights key themes of faith and God’s interaction with His people.; Numbers 2:34 – Highlights key themes of faith and God’s interaction with His people.