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Numbers 2 consists entirely of God giving commandments as to how the Israelite camp should be arranged. From the NIV:
On the east, toward the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard. […]
The tribe of Issachar will camp next to them. […]
The tribe of Zebulun will be next. […]
All the men assigned to the camp of Judah, according to their divisions, number 186,400. They will set out first. […]
[The rest of the tribes are described]
So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each of them with their clan and family.
It seems strange to me that God would give explicit instructions as to who should be camped next to whom and the order they should be led, when God seems to be unconcerned with trivial details like that for the rest of the journey. For instance, he doesn't give city planning details for the cities that the Israelites eventually rule.
Considering the narrative of Numbers 2, why did God give instructions about the arrangement of the Israelite tribal camps? What purpose did that serve by having God command this arrangement, rather than leaving it up to the personal preference of the tribes to camp wherever they wanted to?
Militarily, it's not a bad layout assuming they marched as they camped and were generally headed east. Judah, the largest, is in front. Dan, the second largest, is in the rear. The smaller tribes are between them. No idea if that was the point of the organization, but Numbers 1 suggests there was a military reason.
– bradimus
CommentedOct 4, 2017 at 20:26
Just try to imagine the melee which would occur if there were no structure for millions of people to travel across the wilderness. Everything that God has decreed from creation to Armageddon, is not only structured but defined in procedure, so that all things progress God's purposed end. As far as your question the answer to why is in the following books of the Bible. All things progress in accordance with God's plan. Jesus explained that that plan was to increase the Kingdom of God in Heaven.
I would like a community opinion on why a question like this was migrated from a doctrinal site to this site. My (apparently bad) understanding of this site's scope leads me to think that questions like "do commentators attribute significance to the placement of the tribes", "did the cardinal directions hold significance to the Israelites at the time", "does the text give us clues for the purpose of such an organization", "do traditional or historical attributes of the tribes or their eponymous progenitors explain or inform the positioning" are better fits. Not "Why did God do it?"
@CWilson My goal with this question was to understand the narrative, and the reasons that God might act in that way according to the narrative. The comments suggesting that it was for military readiness sound like a plausible explanation and I would consider accepting that if it were turned into an answer.
@Thunderforge No, makes sense. I've been curious myself, and my limited understanding of Christianity.SE makes me think this was a great question. Was there a certain battle or terrain that God foreknew that caused him to place the 'armies' like this, were there certain casualties that needed to be prevented (or occur) that this placement would lead to, did this arrangement lead to certain inheritances being requested (e.g the half tribe of Dan requesting a north eastern location influence Judah's proximity to Jerusalem). It is the migration that is giving me a headache.
If taken literally, that is, the tribes must camp specifically in one direction, when viewed from above, the encampment could be taken as forming a cross as shown in this diagram: 1
However, the individual totals can be depicted as shown, yet the totals along the two axis (see below) do not agree with this picture. The East/West axis (representing the upright) totals 294,500 and the North/South axis (representing the horizontal beam) totals 309,050. The horizontal representation should be longer than the vertical. In addition, if the encampment arrangement is patterned after the order when the people move, the tribe of Judah is misplaced: Judah leads out and should be furthest from the center, not the closest.
More practical would be to take the instructions to mean in the East, in the South, in the West, and in the North. Then the encampment could be pictured like this:
Unlike the "cross" arrangement which places some tribes much further from the center, this arrangement has the benefit of locating everyone closest to the Tent of Meeting. It also fits how some events are described. For example, Aaron ran through the camp with incense (Numbers 16:46-47). Finally, when everyone moved, Judah could lead (Numbers 2:9) and the other tribes could follow in a single column, the most likely way of moving.
When a tribe's mother and birth order is factored, there is a distinct pattern:
The North and South groups are made from only first and second born except Rachel's; the West group is made from Rachel's first and second sons; the East group from Leah's fourth, fifth, and sixth sons. Thus, there are three groups of first and second born sons, and one group of fourth, fifth, and sixth sons which "face" Levi, the only third son.
In what way is the second arrangement more practical? And is there a particular reason that God would want to arrange by birth mother in the third example?
@Thunderforge I added an explanation. I like the cross concept, but the other is better for access to the Tent of Meeting. I'm sure there is a reason for the arrangement, but other than treating all of the first and second born sons "equally" I not sure what that meaning is. I think it is obvious birth order and mother plays a role in how the tribes are grouped. Maybe it is just to highlight the role of the women. While the emphasis is typically on the father (all have Jacob's DNA), the biological factors which distinguish the tribes are maternal.
The cross model is very vital in the arrangement of the camp and the tribes. The reason being that at the center of the cross arrangement( where the Tabernacle/altar was stationed to be administered by the Levi) there was a revelation which foreshadowed the sacrificial offering that will be performed on the the cross of Calvary in which Jesus Christ will be the once and for all ultimate sacrifice. Secondly, the cross model and the pattern was a symbolic guarantee for there security against the attack of the enemies throughout their journey to the promise land. Their failure to maintain that specific pattern will make them vulnerable in my own opinion. Thirdly, the cross model of the pattern of the camp was an indication which foreshadowed that out of the tribes of Israel the sacrificial Lamb of God will come from within the tribes and this was Jesus Christ who came out of the tribe of Judah as the Lamb of God which took away the sin of the world.
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What the above poster that is shooting down the "Cross" theory is forgetting are the tribe of the Levites. They numbered 22,000. We dont find this out in Numbers 2. God keeps it hidden (Numbers 2:33 But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the Lord commanded Moses.). HOWEVER....Numbers 3:40-43 we learn the Levites number...22,000. So now place the Tabernacle in the middle and generate the Levite tribe around that SHAPE....FACING the direction of movement (Judah). This causes the 22k to form a rectangle facing toward Judahs leg. This brings about a 4/5s ratio approximately.
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God gave instructions about the arrangement of the tribal camps to provide for orderliness, access to the tabernacle, and a layer of protection. Regarding the arrangement, the text of Numbers specifies that two tribes are "next to" (i.e., on either side of) the lead tribe in each quadrant. I suggest that the listed order of each of the two tribes should be understood, in each case, as first to the right hand, then to the left hand of the designated lead tribe as they face the tabernacle. Thus, on the East side, Num. 2:5 specifies “Those camping next to Judah shall be the tribe of Issachar;" (to Judah's right side). Num. 2:7 “Also camping next to Judah shall be the tribe of Zebulun;" (i.e., to Judah's left). On the opposite (West) side, with Ephraim as lead, Num. 2:20 specifies, “Those camping next to Ephraim shall be the tribe of Manasseh; (i.e., to Ephraim's right). Then, Num. 2:22 “Also camping next to Ephraim shall be the tribe of Benjamin (on Ephraim's left side, as they face the tabernacle). This same order was confirmed when the twelve tribes brought daily offerings at the dedication of the altar in Numbers 7.
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The reason for this particular layout of the Israelites camp is for astronomical reasons - Abraham was an astronomer from the Sumerian Moon Gods (SIN) city of UR and was even admonished by YHVH for spending time on astrology in GENESIS 15: because Abraham says that he can foresee no children for himself in the stars (Hebrew word MAZAL and meaning "dripping from heaven").
As other people have said, both of the uploaded graphics give the right impression but miss-out various facts within the Hebrew book of numbers eg., they neglect the very concise instructions about the position of the two tribes that are named after the first tribe for each side of the camp - the first named tribe is always positioned at the centre of that side, with each of the other two tribes either side of it. Normally in Hebrew it is the right side that is positioned first with the left side being positioned after it - this is part of the ancient Hebrew QBLH which is attributed to Abraham (the Hebrew writing also reads from right to left). A second thing that is neglected is the tribe of Levi which was the 13th "hidden tribe" that carried the Mishkan Tent.
The layout of the Mishkan Tent is the very basis of the Hebrew QBLH secrets, every item has architectural QBLH secret meanings within it (EXODUS 31:1-6 YHVH says to Moses about the 2 people he has selected to fabricate the items of the Mishkan Tent "I have filled them with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship" alluding to secret knowledge), in fact the word QBLH comes from the name of the fasteners that held the 4 veils that covered the Holy of Holies part of the Mishkan Tent. These 4 veils represent the 4 levels of meaning that are hidden within certain parts of the Hebrew Bible words and this description of the camp is one of those sections. The QBLH is not usually contained all in one section, thats part of the reason why the Hebrew Bible appears disjointed at times, if it were a strictly theological book, this kind of anomaly would not occur, the primary reason for the Hebrew Bible is to carry the hidden laws of Hebrew astronomy as QBLH - thats why its called the Book of the Law.(see Jewish Sage - RAMBAM MAIMONIDES "The Guide For The Perplexed")
From the book of GENESIS 1:1-15 we know that the Hebrews were measuring time (their calendar initially) using the moon, stars and planets, it was a Lunar system which is why the days started when the moon rose and not the sun in Genesis. This is important because the lunar year is shorter than the solar year by 11 days (the time it takes for the earth to rotate around the sun) and in order to keep this system synchronized, every 2-3 years an extra month was added to the usual 12 lunar months (MOLADS). This was the purpose of the 13th "hidden" tribe, they are a reminder of this accounting or atonement day that needed to happen in order to keep the seasons and the procession of the equinoxes aligned, the tribe of LEVI supplied the High Priest who performed this task on the day of atonement. It is stated in EXODUS 13:10 "Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year" Exodus happened on the spring equinox as stated in EXODUS:13 which the author tells us is an ordinance that is to be kept for all time and more importantly the key astronomical proof that these people understood the procession of the equinoxes in 1445 BCE (and before).
It states that this day was to be kept within its season. You cannot miss-understand this statement or give it any other meaning than what it says. This astronomical concept is extremely difficult to master and probably the reason the author wrote a book about marking it, it was a change from the previous day of atonement which had always been the autumnal equinox marked by the Israelites as ROSH HOSHANNA (2 CHRONICLES 5:3) on the first day of the 7th month and YOM KIPPUR on the 10th day of the 7th month based on the astronomy of GENESIS and Abraham (also known as the Mesopotamian AKITU festival - Mark Cohen, Cultic Calendars, studies of Mesopotamian Akitu). The fact that EXODUS happened on the 15th day of the spring equinox is another proof of Lunar astronomy (and the existence of a zodiac to map the lunar movements across the sky and the earths ecliptic line) as the 15th day of the lunar month is ordinarily the day of a full moon but on special days it is also the day of lunar eclipses such as the 1446 BCE Eclipse of saros series 44 (NASA eclipse catalog Fred-Espinak 2024) that started on the same year as the EXODUS and was also the same saros eclipse series that JONAH prophesied about in Nineveh 762 BCE June 15th.BOOK OF JONAH 1-4:.
The tribe of Levi also supplied the 24 families that were responsible for the Mishkan Tent "watches" and the Temple "watches", that were based on the original 24 different "hour" stars of their Temple cosmic clock and why their Book of the Laws (the TANAKH) is made up of 24 Books or sections to symbolize this. Moses inaugurates this custom in EXODUS and it was only disbanded after the destruction of the Temple and the move away from an observation based lunar calendar in around 400 CE.
You will notice that the tribes are all described by their patriarchs JACOB in GENESIS 48-49 and MOSES in DEUTERONOMY 33: both given blessings, each tribe is given characteristics, a destiny of sorts but in fact this is their Hebrew QBLH zodiac signs which they make into ensigns for each family (flags or logos).
In Jewish thought, each individual is believed to be born under a unique constellation, influencing their personality traits, talents, and even life events. The concept of “mazal” embodies the idea that certain moments in life align with the constellations, bringing about auspicious outcomes. Initially these constellations were set by Abraham in Genesis 15 when he is asked to "number the stars" by YHVH, but here we see them applied by Jacob and Moses to the 12-13 Israelite tribes.
These Tribal ensigns are really just symbolic of the star constellations that they represent and also why its really important to get their position correct about the camp. The Hebrew Bible is the only source for these constellations as there are no other records that have survived since the Roman destruction of LOD and Jerusalem Temple records in 70CE. The tribes are all different sizes but they are all "spaced" evenly about the camp around a rectangle (in the same orientation as the rectangular Mishkan Tents 100 x 50 cubit enclosure). This ratio of 2:1 rectangle will always have its corners perfectly touching the perimeter of a circumscribed circle about its center. Why is this important?
In Exodus 16 we are told about God feeding the Israelites with MANNA FROM HEAVEN and that it always fell AROUND the camp. The Hebrew word “MA`N HU?” (English word MANNA) has two meanings, one is as an Egyptian origin word meaning “WHAT IS IT?” and the second as a Hebrew origin word meaning STATUS or IMPORTANCE, so by stringing all of these meanings together we have a QBLH meaning of “IMPORTANT PORTIONS OF HEAVEN FALLING TO EARTH - WHAT IS IT?”. This is where it becomes easy to see an allegory between the HEAVENLY BREAD that lay around the Israelite camp and the 12-13 star MAZAL constellations of the ancient Hebrew Zodiac as they fell to earth each night in the western desert sky or rose each morning in the eastern desert sky. Look at the next biblical description of manna bread from heaven…
“This is what the YHVH has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an Omer (a specific size PORTION), according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.” And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. But when they measured it with an Omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat.” (EXODUS 16:16-19)
The above description about the gathering of MANNAH gives the impression that it had a magical quality of always being the correct amount for each of the Israelite Tents, no matter whether the gatherer collected more or less, it was always perfect when they measured it out afterwards. Therefore, if we continue to apply our previous analogy of the MANNAH OF HEAVEN symbolically representing the 12-13 star constellations that symbolized the Hebrew Zodiac, we can understand that when YHVH talks about the Israelite Tents, he is actually meaning the 12-13 TRIBES/HOUSES/ENSIGN/SYMBOLS that he commanded the Israelite Tents to be organized in and that surrounded the Mishkan Tent containing the Ark of the Covenant. The TORAH gives the specific area where the HEAVENLY MANNAH will fall – AROUND THE ISRAELITE CAMP, it also gives the specific compliment for each tribe within the book of NUMBERS, where it shows that they were all different sizes, some were more and some were less.
The key takeaway from all of this would be that the 12-13 star constellations of the Hebrew Zodiac, were also all of different sizes and shapes - just like each of the 12-13 Israelite Tribes were, each having its own unique symbol or ensign flag, that they were gathered round about within the Israelite camp and yet they all covered the same area when they were measured i.e., each of the 12-13 Hebrew Zodiac constellations spanned the same angular distance along the LUNAR ECLIPTIC PATH, in the same way that each of the 12-13 Israelite Tribes were evenly spaced around the Mishkan Tent, even though some tribes/constellations were more numerous than others.
To say that the primary reason that the 12 tribes were configured as they were in the Hebrew Bible was for military reasons is only a surface reading of the text (the first veil of QBLH) and it does not account for the anomalies within the words used to describe the camp, the Mishkan Tent dimensions, the fact that the tribe of LEVI numbers are not present in the original configuration, nor the fact that this configuration of the tribes only happens once (despite the many wars that the Israelites fought, where the relative strength of the tribes may change) meaning that its military usefulness would be lost unless it were changed regularly to reflect those losses.
Hi Rob, welcome to the Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange - thanks for contributing! Don't forget to take our Site Tour to learn how everything works here. This is a great quality first answer, thanks for taking the time to write this. It can/should be improved by providing a few more references so that readers can understand where to go to check your sources or learn more - I think I only spotted one reference, amidst a good number of claims.
Thanks Steve have added some references to specific sections of the Bible. I cant really give a citation because this is all my own research, I`m open to criticism!
Beyond the rather cool pictorial representations though, this layout brings to fore the discourse around God's desire for structure and order within the ranks the NT Church and the centrality of the Presence and Spirit of the God as symbolised by the Tabernacle to the daily existence and culture of the church, as symbolised by Isreal in this case. This is an issue we still struggle with in our worship services and church organisations today. How much say so do we give the leading and manisfestation of the Spirit relative to our own pre-conceived 'order of service'. Who is at the centre of our local Church structure, the ego and whims of the Senior Pastor or the Holy Spirit? With all the denominations and sects, where is the overarching governance Structure like in the early NT Church?
Even if this is a reasonable conclusion, this post is not sufficient to show us how you got there. You start off with some flying leaps and don't include any hermeneutical evidence for why this OT passage is the way it is.
