Numbers 2:1-34

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 2:9

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 ,.... 186,400 men. The sum total of the three tribes, which formed that camp: this was the largest camp of them all, being near 30,000 more than Dan's, Numbers 2:31 , which was the next in number unto it, and therefore placed foremost, and as the vanguard to the tabernacle: these shall first set forth ; in a march, when about to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 2:10

On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben, according to their armies ,.... This camp consisted of the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad, which was divided into lesser bodies, regiments, or companies, called armies; and this was placed to the south of the tabernacle, or to the right hand, as Aben Ezra interprets it; this was the right wing of the whole army. Reuben's stone, according to the Jewish writers F8 Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 2. fol. 178. 2. , was the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 2:11

And his host ,.... That is, the host of Reuben, as distinct from his camp, of which it was only a part, and of which Elizur was captain: and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hundred. 46,500 men; see Numbers 1:21 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 2:12

And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon ,.... Under his standard, and on one side of it; Reuben and Simeon being brothers by the mother as well as the father's side, might well be thought to agree together; and Reuben being the eldest brother, and the eldest of all Jacob's sons, Simeon would not grudge to pitch under him: and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai ; of whom see Numbers 1:6 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 2:13

And his host ,.... That is, the host of Simeon: and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred . 59,300 men; the same as in Numbers 1:23 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 2:14

Then the tribe of Gad ,.... Who was placed on the other side of Reuben's standard, and according to the former direction he must be before, and Simeon behind; and Gad being the eldest son of Leah's handmaid Zilpah, is fitly placed under Leah's firstborn, and being the son of an handmaid, could not object to his situation: and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel : who is called Deuel, Numbers 1:14 . The letters ר , "resh", and ד , "daleth", being... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 2:15

And his host ,.... That is, the host of Gad, as distinct from those of Reuben and Simeon, which together formed the camp: and those that were numbered of them, were forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty. 45,650 men; see Numbers 1:25 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 2:16

And 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 ,.... 151,450 men. Putting Reuben's host, and the hosts of Simeon and Gad together, Numbers 2:13 , which was much lesser than the preceding camp, being 34,500 fewer in number: and they shall set forth in the second rank : they in journeying moving next to the camp of Judah, and before the tabernacle; for though, while encamped,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 2:17

Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites ,.... Which reached four miles, according to the Targum of Jonathan, as did Judah's. Levi's stone, as the Jews say F9 Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 2. fol. 178. 2. , was the carbuncle, and his flag was coloured, a third part white, and a third part black, and a third part red, and on it were formed Urim and Thummim: in the midst of the camp ; or "camps" F11 בתוך המחנה "in medio castrorum",... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 2:18

On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim, according to their armies ,.... It was in the rear or behind, consisting of his tribe, and of the tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin, divided into several companies, and extended four miles, as the above Targum. The Jewish writers say F12 Bemidbar Rabba, ut supra. (sect. 2. fol. 178. 2.) , that Joseph's stone is the onyx or sardonyx, and his flag was coloured very black, and on it were figured for the two princes, Ephraim... read more

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