vv. 18-24; cf. Num. 10:22-24
cf. Num. 10:17, 21
vv. 10-16; cf. Num. 10:18-20
The sequence of the four camps was not according to birth but according to spiritual condition. Reuben was the firstborn (Gen. 29:31-32), but because he committed fornication he lost the birthright (Gen. 49:3-4; 1 Chron. 5:1-2) and here set out second (v. 16). Judah was born fourth (Gen. 29:31-35), but he set out first because he was an overcoming lion among the twelve brothers (Gen. 49:8-9), typifying Christ as the overcoming fighter, the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5), the One who defeated God’s enemy (Heb. 2:14). Ephraim, the son of Joseph, set out third (v. 24) because of Joseph (Gen. 48:8-20). Among the camps, Dan set out last (v. 31), for he was a “serpent” (Gen. 49:17) and was the first to rebel against God’s kingdom and set up a second worship center (1 Kings 12:26-30).
vv. 3-9; cf. Num. 10:14-16
Or, a distance from. That the children of Israel were encamped facing the Tent of Meeting indicates that the testimony of God — the Ark within the tabernacle, which contained the law as God’s testimony (Exo. 25:16) — was their unique center and goal (see note Exo. 20:11 and note Exo. 25:101b). This signifies that Christ, the embodiment of God, is the center and goal of God’s people, who are journeying and fighting for God’s testimony.
The children of Israel encamping around the Tent of Meeting indicates that they were formed into an army to fight for the protection of God’s testimony (the Ark in the tabernacle, typifying Christ and His Body, the church, as the incarnated and embodied God). In the same way, the church today is fighting for the protection of the incarnated God. God in Himself needs no protection, but God in His embodiment needs to be protected by the fighting of the church as a formed, coordinated Body (Matt. 16:18 and note Matt. 16:186e; John 1:14 and note John 1:142a; Eph. 6:10-20 and note Eph. 6:112, par. 2).
Every man encamping by his own standard with the ensign of his father’s house signifies that God’s people were arranged not by their choice according to their preference but according to God’s ordination and arrangement (cf. 1 Cor. 12:18, 28).
The children of Israel encamping in array typifies God’s redeemed people being consummated in the New Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem has twelve gates, three gates on each of the four sides, with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel on them (Rev. 21:12-13). In Numbers the twelve tribes were arranged into an array, in which three tribes, each tribe being an army, were encamped on each of the four sides of the tabernacle (vv. 2-31). Four camps of three armies each yields the number twelve. This number, composed of three multiplied by four, signifies the Triune God (three) mingled with His creatures (four), forming a unit of eternal and perfect government (cf. note Rev. 21:122b).
