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Selected Verse: Numbers 2:10 - King James

Verse	Translation	Text
Nu 2:10	King James	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.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
On the south side the standard of the camp of Reuben--The description given of the position of Reuben and his attendant tribes on the south, of Ephraim and his associates on the west, of Dan and his confederates on the north, with that of Judah on the east, suggests the idea of a square or quadrangle, which, allowing one square cubit to each soldier while remaining close in the ranks, has been computed to extend over an area of somewhat more than twelve square miles. But into our calculations of the occupied space must be taken not only the fighting men, whose numbers are here given, but also the families, tents, and baggage. The tabernacle or sacred tent of their Divine King, with the camp of the Levites around it (see on Num 3:38), formed the center, as does the chief's in the encampment of all nomad people. In marching, this order was adhered to, with some necessary variations. Judah led the way, followed, it is most probable, by Issachar and Zebulun [Num 10:14-16]. Reuben, Simeon, and Gad formed the second great division [Num 10:18-20]. They were followed by the central company, composed of the Levites, bearing the tabernacle [Num 10:21]. Then the third and posterior squadron consisted of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin [Num 10:22-24], while the hindmost place was assigned to Dan, Asher, and Naphtali [Num 10:25-27]. Thus Judah's, which was the most numerous, formed the van: and Dan's, which was the next in force, brought up the rear; while Reuben's and Ephraim's, with the tribes associated with them respectively, being the smallest and weakest, were placed in the center. (See on Num 10:13).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

On the south side the standard of the camp of Reuben--The description given of the position of Reuben and his attendant tribes on the south, of Ephraim and his associates on the west, of Dan and his confederates on the north, with that of Judah on the east, suggests the idea of a square or quadrangle, which, allowing one square cubit to each soldier while remaining close in the ranks, has been computed to extend over an area of somewhat more than twelve square miles. But into our calculations of the occupied space must be taken not only the fighting men, whose numbers are here given, but also the families, tents, and baggage. The tabernacle or sacred tent of their Divine King, with the camp of the Levites around it (see on Num 3:38), formed the center, as does the chief's in the encampment of all nomad people. In marching, this order was adhered to, with some necessary variations. Judah led the way, followed, it is most probable, by Issachar and Zebulun [Num 10:14-16]. Reuben, Simeon, and Gad formed the second great division [Num 10:18-20]. They were followed by the central company, composed of the Levites, bearing the tabernacle [Num 10:21]. Then the third and posterior squadron consisted of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin [Num 10:22-24], while the hindmost place was assigned to Dan, Asher, and Naphtali [Num 10:25-27]. Thus Judah's, which was the most numerous, formed the van: and Dan's, which was the next in force, brought up the rear; while Reuben's and Ephraim's, with the tribes associated with them respectively, being the smallest and weakest, were placed in the center. (See on Num 10:13).

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¹³ And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

²⁵ And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rereward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
²⁶ And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran.
²⁷ And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan.

²² And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud.
²³ And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
²⁴ And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.

²¹ And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came.

¹⁸ And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur.
¹⁹ And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
²⁰ And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

¹⁴ In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
¹⁵ And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar.
¹⁶ And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.

³⁸ But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.