This chapter contains the order of the encampment and march of the tribes of Israel in their proper places about the tabernacle; the general direction for the same is in Nu 1:1; the particulars follow; on the cast of the tabernacle the camp of Judah was to pitch, and under his standard the tribes of Issachar and Zebulun, Nu 1:3; on the south side of it the camp of Reuben, and under his standard the tribes of Simeon and Gad, Nu 1:10; then the tabernacle, with the camp of the Levites round it, were next, to stand or set forward, Nu 1:17; and on the west side the camp of Ephraim, and under his standard the tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin, Nu 1:18; and on the north side the camp of Dan, and under his standard the tribes of Asher and Naphtali, Nu 1:25; the sum total of the numbers of which camps are given, exclusive of the camp of Levi, Nu 1:32; and the chapter is concluded with observing, that all was done according to the commandment of God, Nu 1:34.
Ver. 1. And the Lord spake unto Moses, and unto Aaron,....