Numbers 2:17

Verse

In 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.

American Standard Version (1901)

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.

Bible in Basic English

Then the Tent of meeting is to go forward, with the tents of the Levites, in the middle of the armies; in the same order as their tents are placed, they are to go forward, every man under his flag.

Free Bible Version

The Tent of Meeting which is stands at the center of the camp is to accompany the Levites. They are to march out in the same order as they set up camp, each in their rightful place under their flag.

King James (Authorized) Version

¶ 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.

One Unity Resource Bible

“Then the Tent of Meeting shall set out, with the camp of the Levites [Descendants of United with] in the middle of the camps. As they encamp, so shall they set out, every man in his place, by their standards.

Translation for Translators

Behind that group will walk the descendants of Levi, who will carry the Sacred Tent. The Israelis will march in the same order that they always set up their tents. Each tribe will carry its own flag.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Next, the tent of meeting must go out from the camp with the Levites in the middle of all the camps. They must go out from the camp in the same order as they come into the camp. Every man must be in his place, by his banner.

Noah Webster Bible

Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall move forward with the camp of the Levites, in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they move forward, every man in his place by their standards.

World English Bible

“Then the Tent of Meeting shall set out, with the camp of the Levites in the middle of the camps. As they encamp, so shall they set out, every man in his place, by their standards.

Young's Literal Translation

And the tent of meeting — the camp of the Levites — hath journeyed in the midst of the camps; as they encamp so they journey, each at his station by their standards.

Context

The Order of the Camps

¹⁶The total number of men in the divisions of the camp of Reuben is 151,450; they shall set out second.¹⁷In 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.

Sermons

Examples of Circumspect Behaviour

Clement of Rome

Summary

In Numbers 2:17, the verse describes the arrangement of the camp of the tribe of Gad during the Israelites' journey in the wilderness. The tribe of Gad, along with the tribes of Reuben and Simeon, camped on the south side of the tabernacle under the leadership of Elizur, son of Shedeur. This organization of the tribes around the tabernacle symbolizes the unity and orderliness of God's people as they followed His guidance and instructions. It also reflects the importance of structure and obedience in the community of believers, each tribe having a designated position and role to fulfill in service to God.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

Then 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. Levi's stone, as the Jews say (i), was the carbuncle, and his flag was coloured, a third part white, and a third part black, and a third part red, and on it were formed Urim and Thummim: in the midst of the camp; or "camps" (k); between the camps of Judah and Reuben, before mentioned, and those of Ephraim and Dan, which are after spoken of: the order in which they moved was this, as Aben Ezra observes; the Gershonites and Merarites marched between the standard of Judah and the standard of Reuben; and the Kohathites marched, and with them Aaron and his sons, between the standard of Reuben and the standard of Ephraim: as they encamp, so shall they set forward; this is to be understood, according to Aben Ezra, not of the camp of Levi, since the standard of Judah was to the east, and the Gershonites, which were to the west of the sanctuary, and the Merarites in the north, set forward together; but of the camps of Israel, which set forward, not as they were encamped about the tabernacle, for those that were encamped on the side of it, in marching went before and behind, but as they were encamped with respect to themselves; first marched the standard of Judah, then that of Reuben, which went before, and then those of Ephraim and Dan, which followed; and besides, as each camp was pitched, so it moved; as the camp of Judah, his host marched between those of Issachar and Zebulun, and the same order the rest observed: every man in his place by their standards, as every individual person in the several tribes were ranked under their respective banners, so they marched. (i) Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 2. fol. 178. 2. (k) "in medio castrorum", Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version; so Ainsworth; "in medio reliquorum castrorum", Junius & Tremellius.