Numbers 10:14-28 meaning

Verses 14 – 28 describe the order by which the tribes were to leave Sinai. It was the same order as described in Numbers 2:2 – 31. It began with the tribe of Judah, then the tearing down of the tabernacle was done. The other tribes followed in the order established by the LORD. The arrangement of the tribes around the tabernacle was discussed in Numbers 3:3 – 31. Also, the leaders of the tribes are named for the fourth time in the book of Numbers in this section. (See Map)

In the order of departure, the standard of the camp of the sons of Judah, according to their armies, set out first (v. 14). Judah would go first, perhaps because it was the prophetic tribe of the future ruler over Israel (Genesis 49:10). The “standard” was a banner on a pole that represented a tribe, or in this case a collection of tribes. What the banner looked like is unknown, but it must have had a design that uniquely identified the tribe of Judah. Given Jacob’s prophecy over Judah, perhaps it was a lion (Genesis 49:9).

When Judah departed, it did so with Nahshon the son of Amminadab, over its army (Numbers 2:3).

Next to leave was the tribe of Issachar with Nethanel the son of Zuar, over the tribal army of the sons of Issachar (v. 15). Following the tribe of Issachar was the tribe of Zebulun with Eliab the son of Helon over the tribal army of the sons of Zebulun (v. 16). These three tribes (Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun) were commanded to camp on the east side of the tabernacle (Numbers 2:3). So the eastern tribes moved out first, in order of north to south.

After the tribes on the east set out, the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who were carrying the tabernacle, set out (v. 17). Gershon and Merari were two sons of Levi (Numbers 3:17), and their families were responsible for carrying the pieces of the tabernacle assigned to them (Numbers 3:25, 36).

Then the southern tribes placed to the south side of the tabernacle departed. First, the standard of the camp of Reuben, according to their armies, set out with Elizur the son of Shedeur, over its army (v. 18). This was specified in Numbers 2:16. Along with the tribe Reuben was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai who was over the tribal army of the sons of Simeon (v. 19). Also on the south side was Eliasaph the son of Deuel who was over the tribal army of the sons of Gad (v. 20).

Following the departure of the tribes on the south side, the Kohathites set out (v. 21). The Kohathites, like Gershon and Merari, were a family in the tribe of Levi (Numbers 3:17) which was set apart for service to the tabernacle. They camped on the south side between the tabernacle and the other three tribes assigned to the south side (Numbers 3:29). Their task was carrying the holy objects; and the tabernacle was set up before their arrival. The task of carrying the holy objects was assigned to them in Numbers 4:15.

On the west side of the tabernacle was the standard of the camp of the sons of Ephraim (v. 22). This standard, arranged according to their armies, was set out. They departed with Elishama the son of Ammihud over its army.

Along with the tribe of Ephraim went Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur over the tribal army of the sons of Manasseh (v. 23), and the third tribe on the west side was led by Abidan the son of Gideoni (v. 24) who was over the tribal army of the sons of Benjamin. These three tribes were assigned to the west side of the tabernacle earlier in Numbers 2:18 – 23.

Finally, on the north side of the tabernacle was the standard of the camp of the sons of Dan (v. 25). They, like the others, broke camp according to their armies. The tribes associated with this standard formed the rear guard for all the camps and thus set out, with Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai over its army.

Setting out with the Danites were the other two tribes on the north side led by Pagiel the son of Ochran over the tribal army of the sons of Asher (v. 26) and Ahira the son of Enan over the tribal army of the sons of Naphtali (v. 27).

Verse 28 provides a summary of this section, saying that this was the order of march of the sons of Israel by their armies as they set out (v. 28). The order of march was given in Numbers 2, and the Israelites implemented it in detail. Their obedience here is in stark contrast to what they do in the next chapter and many other times in Numbers.

Biblical Text

¹⁴The standard of the camp of the sons of Judah, according to their armies, set out first, with Nahshon the son of Amminadab, over its army, ¹⁵and Nethanel the son of Zuar, over the tribal army of the sons of Issachar; ¹⁶and Eliab the son of Helon over the tribal army of the sons of Zebulun. ¹⁷Then the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who were carrying the tabernacle, set out. ¹⁸Next the standard of the camp of Reuben, according to their armies, set out with Elizur the son of Shedeur, over its army, ¹⁹and Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai over the tribal army of the sons of Simeon, ²⁰and Eliasaph the son of Deuel was over the tribal army of the sons of Gad. ²¹Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy objects; and the tabernacle was set up before their arrival. ²²Next the standard of the camp of the sons of Ephraim, according to their armies, was set out, with Elishama the son of Ammihud over its army, ²³and Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur over the tribal army of the sons of Manasseh; ²⁴and Abidan the son of Gideoni over the tribal army of the sons of Benjamin. ²⁵Then the standard of the camp of the sons of Dan, according to their armies, which formed the rear guard for all the camps, set out, with Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai over its army, ²⁶and Pagiel the son of Ochran over the tribal army of the sons of Asher; ²⁷and Ahira the son of Enan over the tribal army of the sons of Naphtali. ²⁸This was the order of march of the sons of Israel by their armies as they set out.

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Book Theme

The book of Numbers is the fourth of the five books of Moses that comprise the Torah, which means “Law.” It gets its English name from the Greek Old Testament called the Septuagint (or LXX). The LXX named this book, “Arithmoi,” meaning “Numbers.” Its Hebrew name means “in the desert” or “in the wilderness.” Both names are appropriate. The Hebrew name is appropriate because Numbers covers the Israelites’ wanderings in the wilderness (or “desert”) from Sinai to the plains of Moab. The Greek name is also appropriate because of the many lists, and the numbers within those lists.

At the beginning of the book, the Israelites had been camped at Mount Sinai for about a year. The book of Exodus covered their escape from Egypt and their journey to Sinai. The LORD commanded Moses to organize the people in preparation to leave Sinai and go to the Promised Land. The book covers around 38 years of the Israelites’ journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, and describes many of Israel’s failures, including mutinies against Moses and outright disobedience to the word of the LORD. In Numbers, the LORD declares that the generation that left Egypt would die in the wilderness due to their disobedience. Only two, Joshua and Caleb, were allowed to enter the Promised Land, due to their faithfulness. Even Moses died without entering the Land due to disobedience.

The book of Numbers can be outlined in many ways. The most general outline involves the generation that leaves Egypt and the one after it, as seen below:
• Events Involving the Exodus Generation (Num. 1 – 25)
• Events Involving the Second Generation (Num. 26 – 36)

Another outline sees the book having three major divisions based on the major encampments of the Israelites:
• Israel at Sinai (Num. 1:1 – 10:10)
• Israel at Kadesh Barnea (Num. 10:11 – 19:22)
• Israel on the Plains of Moab (Num. 20:1 – 36:13)

Still another outline (the one followed here) is as follows:
• The Exodus Generation in the Wilderness (chaps. 1 – 25)
◦ The Israelites Prepare to Leave Mount Sinai (1:1 – 10:10)
◦ The Israelites Depart to Kadesh Barnea (10:11 – 14:45)
◦ The Israelites Journey to the Plains of Moab (15:1 – 22:1)
◦ The Israelites Are Confronted by Balaam the Prophet (22:2 – 25:18)
• The Second Generation Prepares to Enter the Promised Land (26:1 – 36:13)
◦ The Rules Concerning Inheritance (Num. 26:1 – 27:11)
◦ The Provision for Moses’ Successor (Num. 27:12 – 23)
◦ The Laws Concerning Offerings (Num. 28:1 – 29:40)
◦ The Laws Concerning Vows (Num. 30:1 –16)
◦ The LORD’s Judgment Against the Midianites (Num. 31:1 – 54)
◦ The Inheritance of the Eastern Tribes (Num. 32:1 – 42)
◦ The Review of the Journey to Canaan (Num. 33:1 – 56)
◦ The LORD’s Instructions Before Conquering Canaan (Num. 33:50 – 36:13)

There are two themes that flow from the book of Numbers. The first concerns the LORD’s infinite grace in light of the people’s many failures and transgressions. There is hardly a book in the Bible where the LORD had to exercise His grace to His people more often than this one. The book of Numbers contains a record of Israel’s failure after failure and the LORD’s gracious forgiveness after forgiveness. Even when He judged them, there was grace.

Second, and related to the first, the book stresses the importance of obedience. God chose the Israelites unconditionally; they were the LORD’s chosen people regardless of their behavior. However, He demanded obedience to show His people that their obedience results in blessing. God set forth a way of life for His people in the covenant He and the people entered into at Sinai (Exodus 19:5-8). The Ten Commandments made it clear that God would make the law, and that the pinnacle requirement of His law was for the people to respect and serve one another. The strong were to serve the weak. This was in stark contrast to the surrounding cultures, which centered around the strong exploiting the weak (Leviticus 18). God’s judgment brought discipline upon Israel in order to shepherd them toward living in harmony and service to one another.

Chapter Context

In Numbers 10, the crafting of two silver trumpets was ordered by the LORD. Also, after a year at Mount Sinai, the Israelites depart and make their way through the wilderness to the Promised Land.

Numbers 10 can be outlined as follows:

The Two Silver Trumpets (Numbers 10:1 – 10)
The Israelites Leave Sinai (Numbers 10:11 – 36)
- The Journey Begins (Numbers 10:11 – 13)
- The Tribes March in an Orderly Way (Numbers 10:14 – 28)
- Hobab is Invited to Join the Journey (Numbers 10:29 – 32)
- The Journey Begins with a Three-Day March (Numbers 10:33 – 36)

Numbers 10:14-28 meaning

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Additional Resources

Book Theme

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The Bible Project - Numbers Summary

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