Numbers 2:17
in Numbers 2In the middle of the camps, the Tent of Meeting is to travel with the camp of the Levites. They are to set out in the order they encamped, each in his own place under his standard.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Then the tent of meeting shall set forward, with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camps: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place, by their standards.
KJV
Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards.
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This verse in Numbers 2
Commentary
5 notes on this verseThen the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites,.... Which reached four miles, according to the Targum of Jonathan, as did Judah's.
This site's exposition
In the middle of the camps, the Tent of Meeting
The tent stands in the middle, and the rule of the whole chapter follows, “They are to set out in the order they encamped”. Numbers 10:17 to 10:21 sends the frame ahead of the holy objects, so that “the tabernacle was to be set up before their arrival”.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
In the midst - This is not to be understood strictly, but largely; for in their march they were divided, and part of that tribe marched next after Judah, chap. x, 17, and the other part exactly in the midst of the camp.
Thus, in the vision which John saw of the glory of heaven, between the elders and the throne were four living creatures full of eyes, Rev. iv. Civil powers should protect the religious interests of a nation, and be a defence upon that glory. The camp of Dan (and so that tribe is called long after their settlement in Canaan ( Judg. xiii.
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The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The tabernacle or sacred tent of their Divine King, with the camp of the Levites around it (see on Nu 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 [Nu 10:14-16].
The words behind it
15 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְנָסַ֧ע | venasa' | and it will set out | H5265 → | 146 times |
| אֹֽהֶל־ | ʾohel- | [the] tent of | H168 → | 345 times |
| מוֹעֵ֛ד | moed | meeting | H4150 → | 223 times |
| מַחֲנֵ֥ה | machaneh | [the] camp of | H4264 → | 215 times |
| הַלְוִיִּ֖ם | halviyim | the Levites | H3881 → | 291 times |
| בְּת֣וֹךְ | betokh | [will be] in [the] middle of | H8432 → | 418 times |
| הַֽמַּחֲנֹ֑ת | hamachanot | the camps | H4264 → | 215 times |
| כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר | kaasher | just as | H834 → | 5497 times |
| יַחֲנוּ֙ | yachanu | they will encamp | H2583 → | 143 times |
| כֵּ֣ן | ken | so | H3651 → | 771 times |
| יִסָּ֔עוּ | yisau | they will set out | H5265 → | 146 times |
| אִ֥ישׁ | ʾish | each | H376 → | 1663 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| יָד֖וֹ | yado | hand his | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| לְדִגְלֵיהֶֽם׃ ס | ledigleihem | to standards their | H1714 → | 14 times |
וְנָסַ֧עand it will set out
venasa'H5265 →146 times
אֹֽהֶל־[the] tent of
ʾohel-H168 →345 times
מוֹעֵ֛דmeeting
moedH4150 →223 times
מַחֲנֵ֥ה[the] camp of
machanehH4264 →215 times
הַלְוִיִּ֖םthe Levites
halviyimH3881 →291 times
בְּת֣וֹךְ[will be] in [the] middle of
betokhH8432 →418 times
הַֽמַּחֲנֹ֑תthe camps
hamachanotH4264 →215 times
כַּאֲשֶׁ֤רjust as
kaasherH834 →5497 times
יַחֲנוּ֙they will encamp
yachanuH2583 →143 times
כֵּ֣ןso
kenH3651 →771 times
יִסָּ֔עוּthey will set out
yisauH5265 →146 times
אִ֥ישׁeach
ʾishH376 →1663 times
עַל־on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
יָד֖וֹhand his
yadoH3027 →1618 times
לְדִגְלֵיהֶֽם׃ סto standards their
ledigleihemH1714 →14 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Corinthians 14:40But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.
it leads to
- Colossians 2:5
For although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ.
- Titus 1:5
The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.
- 1 Corinthians 14:26–33
What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the…
- Romans 13:13
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
- 1 Corinthians 11:34
If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you come together it will not result in judgment. And when I come, I will give instructions about the remaining matters.
- Colossians 2:5
Through
Colossians 2:5For although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 5:3–4
Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:17
Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense.
- 1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
- 1 Corinthians 5:3–4
Where this verse is studied
On this page
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About Numbers

This page draws on Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: The Pentateuch and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.
