Numbers 10:11-28
“And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony. And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran. And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.” (Numbers 10:11-13)
Thirteen months after crossing the Red Sea, Israel finally moved away from mount Sinai into the wilderness of Paran, a desert area on the north and east sides of Midian on the east coast of the Gulf of Aqaba. That it is on the east side of Jordan and not in the modern Sinai Peninsula is pretty clear from Deuteronomy 1:1. They followed the cloud exactly as it led them.
“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. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.” (Numbers 10:14-16)
As God had specified in Numbers 2, the tribe of Judah led the march, followed by Issachar and Zebulon.
“And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle.” (Numbers 10:17)
Immediately after the tribe of Zebulon, came the men of the family of Gershon with the wagons carrying the coverings for the Tabernacle, and the men of Merari’s family with the wagons carrying the framework. Once they had moved out, the second alarm would be sounded to signal the camp of Reuben to fall into line. This detail was not given in Numbers 2.
“And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.” (Numbers 10:18-20)
The tribe of Reuben was followed by the tribe s of Simeon and Gad. Each group had their own leader to maintain order similar to the old wagon masters of wagon train fame.
“And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came.” (Numbers 10:21)
The Kohath Levites would follow the tribe of Gad, carrying the furniture and implements of worship. They were accompanied by the priests and the families of the Levites. By the time they arrived at their destination, the Gershonites and Merarites would have the Tabernacle set up and ready for the furnishings to be placed in it. The others could then concentrate on setting up their family’s camps without delay.
“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. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.
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. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan.” (Numbers 10:22-27)
The tribe of Ephraim followed the Levites followed by Manasseh and Benjamin. Finally the group camped to the north swung into line, led by the tribe of Dan. Such careful planning the order of march would make for efficient movement similar to the movement of modern military forces. It would be essential to move such a large group very far.
“Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward.” (Numbers 10:28)
“And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony. And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran. And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.” (Numbers 10:11-13)
Thirteen months after crossing the Red Sea, Israel finally moved away from mount Sinai into the wilderness of Paran, a desert area on the north and east sides of Midian on the east coast of the Gulf of Aqaba. That it is on the east side of Jordan and not in the modern Sinai Peninsula is pretty clear from Deuteronomy 1:1. They followed the cloud exactly as it led them.
“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. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.” (Numbers 10:14-16)
As God had specified in Numbers 2, the tribe of Judah led the march, followed by Issachar and Zebulon.
“And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle.” (Numbers 10:17)
Immediately after the tribe of Zebulon, came the men of the family of Gershon with the wagons carrying the coverings for the Tabernacle, and the men of Merari’s family with the wagons carrying the framework. Once they had moved out, the second alarm would be sounded to signal the camp of Reuben to fall into line. This detail was not given in Numbers 2.
“And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.” (Numbers 10:18-20)
The tribe of Reuben was followed by the tribe s of Simeon and Gad. Each group had their own leader to maintain order similar to the old wagon masters of wagon train fame.
“And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came.” (Numbers 10:21)
The Kohath Levites would follow the tribe of Gad, carrying the furniture and implements of worship. They were accompanied by the priests and the families of the Levites. By the time they arrived at their destination, the Gershonites and Merarites would have the Tabernacle set up and ready for the furnishings to be placed in it. The others could then concentrate on setting up their family’s camps without delay.
“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. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.
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. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan.” (Numbers 10:22-27)
The tribe of Ephraim followed the Levites followed by Manasseh and Benjamin. Finally the group camped to the north swung into line, led by the tribe of Dan. Such careful planning the order of march would make for efficient movement similar to the movement of modern military forces. It would be essential to move such a large group very far.
“Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward.” (Numbers 10:28)
No comments:
Post a Comment