Numbers 2 (v1-10), “Decently and in Order”

Here are more introductory thoughts on Numbers before a few notes on Num. 2.

·       Numbers is related to the other books of the Pentateuch.  Exodus contained the journey from Egypt to Mt. Sinai (Ex. 1-19).  They stayed there through the rest of Exodus, Leviticus, to Num. 10.  The journey to the edge of Canaan (Plains of Moab) continues through Numbers and Deuteronomy. Numbers covers about 38 1/2 years.  Much of it is a period of waiting for people to die off.  Numbers begins with Moses in leadership; by the end Joshua has been appointed.

·       Outline of Numbers:

o   Ch. 1-10: Israel at Sinai (the flock of God changed into the army of God).

o   Ch. 11-22:1: Journey between Sinai and Moab (marching in the will of God.)

o   22:2-36:13: Israel in Moab (wandering in the wilderness).

·       You will note that each “company” of three tribes had a lead tribe.  Judah was first in the first company.  Reuben, the son who was born first (but not accounted by Jacob as “the firstborn”) led the second company.  The third company consisted of three tribes descended through Rachel, with Ephraim being first (he was younger than Manasseh but was counted by Jacob as first in Gen. 48).  The rear-guard company was led by Dan.

·       Throughout Numbers there are some actions taken that pertained to the formal religion, somewhat of a “follow-up” to Leviticus.

o   Dedication of the tabernacle (Ch. 7).

o   Separation of the Levites (Ch. 8).

o   Provisions for the Levites (Ch. 18).

o   Directions for the offerings (Ch. 15,28).

o   Directions for the festivals (Ch. 9-10; 28-29).

o   The vow of the Nazarite (Ch. 6).

o   Cleansing (Ch. 19).

Numbers 2 gives the marching order of the nation of Israel.  You may wonder, if you thought about it, how Moses would lead a nation of essentially 600,000 men, perhaps as many as 2 1/2 million nomadic people, on a march through the desert.  This chapter answers that question.  It was extremely orderly, a good illustration for the Church which is to do things decently and in order (1 Cor. 14:26,33).

The men fit for war, counted in Num. 1, were divided into 4 companies, one on each side of the tabernacle complex that sat in the middle of the camp.  The priests (Aaron and his family) and Moses were on the leading (east) side; the other three Levite clans were on the other three sides.  We have given you a drawing of the set-up.  Num. 4 actually details how they broke camp and then made camp upon arrival at the next “resting place.”