Numbers 2 (résumé): The arrangements of the Tribal Camps

This chapter shows how God is a God of organization. The things of God can't be done any old how. People can't just do their own thing. This chapter also clearly shows that God must be at the centre of all that his people live and do.

The camp of Israel was organized by God as follows: At the centre was God and his Tabernacle surrounded by the Levites who were responsible for caring for, protecting and carrying the Tabernacle as the Israelites travelled. On the north side were the tribes of Naphtali, Asher and Dan totaling 157,600 fighting men. On the south side were the tribes of Gad, Simeon and Reuben totalling 151,450 fighting men. On the east side were the tribes of Judah, Issachar and Zebulun totalling 186,400 fighting men. On the west side were the tribes of Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh totalling 108,100 fighting men. 

This was the formation of the Israelites as God had commanded, with 3 tribes on each side, ready to march to Canaan's Land, with God, the Tabernacle and the Levites at the centre. When the Israelites moved it was the eastern tribes that moved first and the southern tribes that moved second. Then came the Levites with the Tabernacle followed by the western tribes and then the northern tribes.