Chapter Summary

Order of the host and arrangement of the camp.

Discussion Questions for Numbers, Chapter 2

1. Verse 2 says that “everyone of the children of Israel shall camp…beside the emblems of his father’s house.” (Numbers 2:2, NKJV) What was the importance of living among the people of their tribe? Should this apply to how we live among our families or is this simply for this moment in Hebrew history?
2. Why was each camp required to be some distance from the tabernacle? Why were the people not allowed to camp close to it? What was the significance of camping with the banners of their fathers' houses? What would this have done to the community?
3. Where was the tabernacle of meeting located in the camp? (Vs. 17) Why was it located in this place? What does this say about how God might have wanted the people to view His place among them?
4. Which tribe camped around the tabernacle of meeting? (Vs. 17) Why was this tribe specifically chosen for this placement?
5. In this passage, each tribe is required to camp on a specific side around the tabernacle of meeting. Why was this order mandated? Why not allow the people to camp in any fashion?
6. For each tribe, a leader is designated (e.g. Vs. 3, 5, and 6). What is the importance of appointed leadership in this system? What do you think these leaders might have been responsible for? Given that each tribe had tens of thousands of people, do you think they were the only leaders in their tribe?
7. In the context of this moment in Israelite history, the Israelites are leaving from Egypt and heading toward the land of Canaan, which is east of Egypt. Which tribe was responsible for the tribes that faced toward the east? (Vs. 3) What does this signify about this tribe’s status among the other tribes? How might this tribe’s eastern designation be symbolic?
8. How were the sizes of each army distributed around the camp? (Vs. 9, 16, 24, and 31) Draw it if you can. Which two sides have the largest armies? Why did God design it this way?
9. How might the nation of Israel have set up the camp had God not given a commandment of camping order? What is the value of orderliness in their camp at this moment in their history as they prepare to go into the land of Canaan?
10. Before this journey, the people of Israel were slaves and all placed together as one massive group in Egypt. How does this differ from the order that God is bringing here? How would this have impacted their identity and connection to their community? How do you think living upon one's specific tribe would have impacted the way they viewed themselves?

Key Words/Phrase

Camp, v. 3.

Characters

God, Moses, Aaron.

Strong Verse(s)

34