Bible Commentaries

Verses 1-34

The Disposition of the Tribes in the Camp and on the March

The camp is in the form of a hollow square, each side of which is occupied by three tribes. On the E., the position of honour (cp. Numbers 3:38), is Judah, with whom are associated Issachar and Zebulun; on the S. is Reuben, with Simeon and Gad; on the W. is Ephraim, with Manasseh and Benjamin; on the N. is Dan, with Asher and Naphtali. In this arrangement regard seems to have been paid to family relationship. The priests and Levites form an inner square surrounding the tabernacle, which occupies the centre of the camp.