Here is the general appointment given both for their orderly encampment
where they rested and their orderly march when they moved. Some order,
it is possible, they had observed hitherto; they came out of Egypt in
rank and file (Exod. xiii. 18), but now they were put into a better
model. 1. They all dwelt in tents, and when they marched carried all
their tents along with them, for they found no city to dwell in, Ps.
cvii. 4. This represents to us our state in this world. It is a movable
state (we are here to-day and gone to-morrow); and it is a military
state: is not our life a warfare? We do but pitch our tents in this
world, and have in it no continuing city. Let us, therefore, while we
are pitching in this world, be pressing through it. 2. Those of a tribe
were to pitch together, every man by his own standard. Note, It is the
will of God that mutual love and affection, converse and communion,
should be kept up among relations. Those that are of kin to each other
should, as much as they can, be acquainted with each other; and the
bonds of nature should be improved for the strengthening of the bonds
of Christian communion. 3. Every one must know his place and keep in
it; they were not allowed to fix where they pleased, nor to remove when
they pleased, but God quarters them, with a charge to abide in their
quarters. Note, It is God that appoints us the bounds of our
habitation, and to him we must refer ourselves. He shall choose our
inheritance for us (Ps. xlvii. 4), and in his choice we must acquiesce,
and not love to flit, nor be as the bird that wanders from her nest. 4.
Every tribe had its standard, flag, or ensign, and it should seem every
family had some particular ensign of their father's house, which was
carried as with us the colours of each troop or company in a regiment
are. These were of use for the distinction of tribes and families, and
the gathering and keeping of them together, in allusion to which the
preaching of the gospel is said to lift up an ensign, to which the
Gentiles shall seek, and by which they shall pitch, Isa. xi. 10, 12.
Note, God is the God of order, and not of confusion. These standards
made this mighty army seem more beautiful to its friends and more
formidable to its enemies. The church of Christ is said to be as
terrible as an army with banners, Cant. vi. 10. It is uncertain how
these standards were distinguished: some conjecture that the standard
of each tribe was of the same colour with the precious stone in which
the name of that tribe was written in the high priest's ephod, and that
this was all the difference. Many of the modern Jews think there was
some coat of arms painted in each standard, which had reference to the
blessing of that tribe by Jacob. Judah bore a lion, Dan a serpent,
Naphtali a hind, Benjamin a wolf, &c. Some of them say the four
principal standards were, Judah a lion, Reuben a man, Joseph an ox, and
Dan an eagle, making the appearances in Ezekiel's vision to allude it.
Others say the name of each tribe was written in its standard. Whatever
it was, no doubt it gave a certain direction. 5. They were to pitch
about the tabernacle, which was to be in the midst of them, as the tent
of pavilion of a general in the centre of an army. They must encamp
round the tabernacle, (1.) That it might be equally a comfort and joy
to them all, as it was a token of God's gracious presence with them.
Ps. xlvi. 5, God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved. Their
camp had reason to be hearty, when thus they had God in the heart of
them. To have bread from heaven every day round about their camp, and
fire from heaven, with other tokens of God's favour, in the midst of
their camp, was abundantly sufficient to answer that question, Is the
Lord among us, or is he not? Happy art thou, O Israel! It is probable
that the doors of all their tents were made to look towards the
tabernacle from all sides, for every Israelite should have his eyes
always towards the Lord; therefore they worshipped at the tent-door.
The tabernacle was in the midst of the camp, that it might be near to
them; for it is a very desirable thing to have the solemn
administrations of holy ordinances near us and within our reach. The
kingdom of God is among you. (2.) That they might be a guard and
defence upon the tabernacle and the Levites on every side. No invader
could come near God's tabernacle without first penetrating the thickest
of their squadrons. Note, If God undertake the protection of our
comforts, we ought in our places to undertake the protection of his
institutions, and stand up in defence of his honour, and interest, and
ministers. 6. Yet they were to pitch afar off, in reverence to the
sanctuary, that it might not seem crowded and thrust up among them, and
that the common business of the camp might be no annoyance to it. They
were also taught to keep their distance, lest too much familiarity
should breed contempt. It is supposed (from Joshua iii. 4) that the
distance between the nearest part of the camp and the tabernacle (or
perhaps between them and the camp of the Levites, who pitched near the
tabernacle) was 2000 cubits, that is, 1000 yards, little more than half
a measured mile with us; but the outer parts of the camp must needs be
much further off. Some compute that the extent of their camp could be
no less than twelve miles square; for it was like a movable city, with
streets and lanes, in which perhaps the manna fell, as well as on the
outside of the camp, that they might have it at their doors. In the
Christian church we read of a throne (as in the tabernacle there was a
mercy-seat) which is called a glorious high throne from the beginning
(Jer. xvii. 12), and that throne surrounded by spiritual Israelites,
twenty-four elders, double to the number of the tribes, clothed in
white raiment (Rev. iv. 4), and the banner over them is Love; but we
are not ordered, as they were, to pitch afar off; no, we are invited to
draw near, and come boldly. The saints of the Most High are said to be
round about him, Ps. lxxvi. 11. God by his grace keep us close to him!