SBC Banner

2BC BIBLE STUDY NOTES

Wednesday in the Word

Second Baptist Church

August 7, 2019

Numbers 2

  1. Verses 1-2. Israel had been on this Exodus journey for more than a year and had assembled just about any way they had pleased. But now, ready to enter into the Promised Land, they had to take the next step in organization: Ordering themselves. At the center of this order was the tabernacle itself. The tribes would arrange themselves to the east, south, west, and north in relation to the tabernacle. Since the tabernacle was symbolically the presence of God with them, this meant all order in Israel began being centered around God Himself. The tribes would encamp on all four sides.

  2. Verses 3-9. On the east side, toward the rising of the sun, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulon would encamp. This group represented Leah’s fourth, fifth, and sixth sons (Gen. 29:35; 30:17-20). Although he was the fourth-born of Jacob’s sons, Judah is listed first and was honored above his older brothers because of their reprehensible actions (Gen. chapter 34; 35:22). The tribe of Judah had the largest army of the l2. Judah was first, and closest to the tabernacle itself. Jesus was to come through the tribe of Judah. The east is the direction of the rising sun. The eastern gate in the wall at Jerusalem is the gate that God entered and left by. It would be appropriate for the tribe of Judah to camp in the east. 2 Peter 1-19 “We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” Jesus is that star. The tribes of Issachar and Zebulun followed in order after Judah. These tribes would order themselves after the standard (the banner or flag) of Judah, which was said to be a lion. Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be the leader of the children of Judah, with Eliab as the leader of Zebulon and Nethanial as the leader of Issachar. God recognized a specifically called leader for the tribe of Judah (and for the other tribes following). The order and organization God called Israel to required leadership, with leaders both recognized by God and respected by the people. The total number of available soldiers among the eastward tribes was 186,400. There was an order to the encampment and the marching for the tribes. They were to move as an orderly army, not as a mob.

  3. Verses 10-16. On the south side of the tabernacle, Reuben was the first tribe and set closest to the tabernacle itself. Then the tribes of Simeon and Gad followed in order. Reuben and Simeon were brothers. Their mother was Leah. It would be a natural thing for their tribes to be camped together. The tribe of Simeon's leader was Shelumiel. The young men of Simeon's tribe were numbered 59,300. Gad was from the handmaid Zilpah, and was a half-brother of Simeon and Reuben. The tribes ordered themselves after the standard of Reuben, which was said to be a man. The total number of available soldiers among the southward tribes was 151,450.

  4. Verse 17. The priestly tribe was in the middle of the camps, closest to the tabernacle and surrounded by the other tribes. The tribes had to be a certain distance from the tabernacle. The tent of meeting is at the center of a rectangular camp. Joshua 3:4 says a distance of 2,000 cubits (900 meters or 1,000 yards) should separate the ark from the non-Levitical tribes. The rabbis (Numbers 2:1) surmised this was the distance because it was the farthest walking distance permitted on the Sabbath, so all Israel could worship at the sanctuary.

  5. Verses 18-24. On the west side shall be the standard of the forces with Ephraim according to their armies: Ephraim was first, and closest to the tabernacle itself on the west side. Following the tribe of Ephraim were the tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin. The tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin were all camped on the west side of the tabernacle. They represented the sons of Rachel, Joseph and Benjamin. The tribes ordered themselves after the standard of Ephraim, which was said to be a calf. The total number of available soldiers among the westward tribes was 108,100.

  6. Verses 25-31. The standard of the forces with Dan shall be on the north side according to their armies: Dan was first, and closest to the tabernacle itself on the north side. Following the tribe of Dan were the tribes of Asher and Naphtali. The tribes ordered themselves after the standard of Dan, which was said to be an eagle. The total number of available soldiers among the northward tribes was 157,600.

  7. On marching forward the tribes were to proceed in the same order with the group from the east belonging to Judah going first; then the group of Reuben came from the south; then the middle section consisting of the Tabernacle and the Levites; then that of the west headed by Ephraim; and then came the threesome connected with Dan from the north, who followed behind at the end. The signals for moving off were relayed by the blowing of silver trumpets. The tribes of Israel camped around four banners, which were said to be a lion, a man, a calf, and an eagle. We find the same four creatures surrounding the throne of God in Revelation. “The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.” (Revelation 4:7) According to rabbinical tradition, the standard of Judah bore the figure of a lion, that of Reuben the likeness of a man or of a man’s head, that of Ephraim the figure of an ox, and that of Dan the figure of an eagle.” (Keil-Delitzsch) God’s order is never arbitrary, or just made up on a whim. It is after His heavenly pattern. We must always accept God’s order and organization, even when we don’t understand it.

click here to select another lesson