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SHall encampe] or, as the Greeke translateth, let [unspec 2] them encampe, that is, pitch their tents, as an ar∣my about the Sanctuary of the Lord of hosts. Here God (having in the former chapter given charge to muster his warriers,) commandeth now to set
them in order, and under government: as in the church, all things ought to be done decently and in order, 1 Cor. 14. 40. his standard] or, his banner; which the Greeke translateth his order; and so the Chaldee calleth it Tekes (a word bor∣rowed of the Greeke Taxis.) Order. And this phrase the Apostle useth (from this place) in 1 Cor. 15. 23. every man in his owne order. Here it is properly a standard, banner or flag, such as is used in the warres: which fitly denoteth the state of the Church in her spirituall warfare, said therefore to be terrible as an armie with banners, Song. 6. 4. 10. and it signifieth her victory; whereupon David saith, we will shout, in thy salvation; and in the name of our God, we will set up the banner, Psal. 20. 6. See also Ier. 50. 2. and 51. 27. where the setting up of a standard, is a signe of preparation unto warre a∣gainst Babylon, as here against the Canaanites. with the ensignes] or, with the signes; which were in the standards, for discerning of one from an other. What these were the Scripture sheweth not: it is not unlikely, that they were such colours as the precious stones had on Aarons brestplate, Exod. 28. on which the tribes names were engra∣ved. In the Thargum called Ionathans, upon this place, it is said; The standard of the campe of Iudah, was of linnen of three colours, according to the three precious stones in the Brestplate (of the Chalcedo∣nie, Saphir, and Sardonyx,) and in it were engra∣ved and expressed the names of the three tribes, Iu∣dah, Issachar and Zabulon; and in the midst thereof was written; (from Num. 10. 35.) Rise up Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee, flee before thee; in it also was pourtrayed the forme of a Lion. The standard of the campe of Reuben, was of linnen of three colours, answerable to the three precious stones in the Brestplate, (of the Sardine, Topaz and Amethyst,) and therein were engraved and expressed the names of the three tribes, Reuben, Simeon, God: and in the midst thereof was written, Heare ò Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one: (Deut. 6. 4.) Therein also was pour∣trayed, the forme of an Hart, &c. So he proceedeth for the rest. Howbeit, that proportion will not hold in all, seeing Levi (who is not here among the other tribes) was there one of the twelve; and Ioseph, there graved on the Beryl, hath here two tribes, Ephraim and Manasses; unto whom two colours cannot be allowed from the brestplate, as the Thargum here would. Others therefore ex∣plaine it otherwise, having herein no certainty. Chazkuni (on Num. 3.) bringeth this exposition, The pourtraiture of a man, was on Roubens standard, died after the colour of the Sardine set in the brest-plate for his name, in signe of the Mandrakes which he found (Gen. 30. 14.) which are after the fashion of a man. The pourtraiture of a Lion, was on Iudahs standard, who is called a Lion, (Gen. 49. 9.) and it was dyed into the colour of a Chalcedoni. The figure of a Bullocke (or Oxe) was on Ephraims standard, whose father is likened to a bullocke, (Deut. 33. 17.) It was dyed in colour like a Beryl. The figure of an Eagle was on Dans standard, dyed like an Hyacinth: &c. To this Aben Esra (on Num. 2.) agreeth, saying; There were signes in every stand〈…〉〈…〉 Ancestors have said, that in Re〈…〉〈…〉 was the figure of a Man, &c. in Iu〈…〉〈…〉 figure of a Lion, &c. in Ephraims, th〈…〉〈…〉 locke, &c. and in the standard of Dan, the 〈…〉〈…〉 Eagle: so they were like the Ch〈…〉〈…〉 Prophet Ezekiel saw, (Ezek. 1. 10.) Wha••••••∣ever the signes were, (which the holy Ghost 〈◊〉〈◊〉 concealeth,) this ordering of the people under their standards with ensignes, taught all, to abide in that state wherein God placed them; and not to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from tribe to tribe, or from ensigne to ensigne; but to continue every one under his governour: for to stand for an ensigne of the people (as is prophe∣sied of Iesus the root of lesse, Esai. 11. 10.) is 〈…〉〈…〉∣pounded by the Apostle, to rule over the G〈…〉〈…〉 Rom. 15. 12. house] in Greeke, houses. ouer against] or, from before it: whereby is meant, aloo••e, or a farre off, (as this word is ex∣plained in Psal. 38. 12. they stand from b〈…〉〈…〉 stroke: and my neighbours stand a farre off;) ye〈…〉〈…〉 as they should view it, and have their faces tow〈…〉〈…〉 it; as the like phrase sheweth, in 2 King. 2. 7. De••••. 32. 52. Gen. 21. 16. So that the doores of all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tents were to be inward towards the T〈…〉〈…〉 cle, to shew due respect thereto; and y〈…〉〈…〉, in reverence of the holy place, (as in Exod. 3. 5. And the distance may be guessed to be two 〈…〉〈…〉 sand cubites, that is, an English mile, a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dayes iourney, (whereof see the notes on 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 16. 29.) for such a space was betweene the A〈…〉〈…〉 and the people, in Ios. 3. 4. So R. Solomon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 expoundeth it, Over against, that is, a 〈…〉〈…〉 a mile distance, as it is said in Iosua, yet ther〈…〉〈…〉 a space betweene you and it, about two th〈…〉〈…〉 bits by measure. round about▪ so 〈…〉〈…〉 Lord dwelt in the midst of his people, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tents of the Saints were as a wall round about G〈…〉〈…〉 sanctuarie to guard it. For as in Ier. 50. 2•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 camping against Babylon round about, w•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 none thereof might escape: so here they 〈…〉〈…〉∣ped about Gods sanctuarie, for the safety the〈…〉〈…〉 According to which type, the Christian chu〈…〉〈…〉 described in Reu. 4. 2. 4. &c. where th〈…〉〈…〉 Throne in the middest answerable to the Tab〈…〉〈…〉 cle and Temple called Gods throne, in Ez•••• 〈…〉〈…〉. and round about the throne, are foure 〈…〉〈…〉 thrones; which is double the numb〈…〉〈…〉 twelve tribes here camping, because th〈…〉〈…〉 increased under the gospel, and the pl〈…〉〈…〉 tents enlarged, Esai. 54 2. And be〈…〉〈…〉 throne, and the circuit round about the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are foure liuing creatures full of eyes, &c. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 4. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the watchmen or ministers of the church, 〈…〉〈…〉 betweene the Lords Tent and the tents 〈…〉〈…〉 the Levites camped in foure quarters, wher〈…〉〈…〉 Num. chap. 3. and c. 1. v. 50. Her••upon the c〈…〉〈…〉 is described to be those that are 〈…〉〈…〉 Lord, Psal. 76. 12.
V. 3. foremost] or, on the ••••re part, 〈…〉〈…〉 loweth, eastward, or towards the Sun〈…〉〈…〉 the East is said to be before, and the West 〈…〉〈…〉 Esai. 12. the South is called the 〈…〉〈…〉 world, Psal. 89. 13. and the North the 〈…〉〈…〉
which Iob describeth by these names, in Iob 23. 8, 9. So R. Sol. Iarchi noteth on this place, foremost or before, is the east quarter, and the west is called be∣hinde. the captaine] or, the Prince, ruler; as in Num. 1. 16. so after in this chapter. Iudah] the father of our Lord Christ after the flesh, Luk. 3. he as he was most in number of all the tribes, Num. 1. 27. so as a Lion whom none durst rouse up, Gen. 49. 8, 9. he is the chiefe standard-bearer and chiefe captaine of all the captaines of Israel; camping in the first place; as did Moses and Aaron the chiefest of the Levites, in the same quarter betweene Iudah and the sanctuarie, Numb. 3. 38. Also when they marched, Iudah went foremost, Num. 10. 14. And after Iosuahs death, Iudah went first up to fight against the Canaanites, Iudg. 1. 1, 2. He figured Christ the Lion of the tribe of Iudah, who also is Michael, that with his Angels fighteth against the Dragon, and goeth before his heavenly armies; Rev. 5. 5. and 12. 7. and 19. 11. 14.
V. 5. Issachar] and with him Zabulon, vers. 7. [unspec 5] both younger brothers to Iudah, that they might the more willingly be under his regiment: all of them sonnes of Leah the free woman, placed in this first quarter.
V. 7. The tribe of Zabulon] understand from [unspec 7] v. 5. shall encampe next: so the Greeke explaineth it. And they that encampe next, &c. So in vers. 14. 22. 29.
V. 9. an hundred thousand &c.] the greatest [unspec 9] number of warriers, by many, were in this first quarter, where Iudah was standard-bearer; almost thirty thousand moc than in any other quarter. The next in number to him, was the last squadron, where Dan bare the standard: so they that went foremost, and came hindmost, had the greatest ar∣mies, for the more safetie of the Sanctuarie (which matched in the middest) and of all Israel. The number of every one, may be viewed thus:
V. 10. Southward] the order proceedeth from [unspec 10] East to South, and so to the West & North; accor∣ding to the course of the Sun, and climates of the world. And this second place is given to Reuben, because he was the first borne, though he lost his first birth-right, Gen. 49. which Iudas and Ioseph had shared betweene them; and he is put downe to the second place.
V. 12. Simeon] Next brother to Reuben, and of [unspec 12] the same mother: with whom is joyned God the first-borne of that mothers maid Zilpha, (vers 14.) both for to keepe them the more easily in subjecti∣on, and to nourish brotherly love.
V. 14. Reguel] in Greeke Rago〈…〉〈…〉: hee was [unspec 14] before called Deg〈…〉〈…〉, Num. 1 14. because the•••• Hebrew letters are like one another, and often changed; as is noted on Gen. 4. 18.
V. 16. second] in the second place: see Num. [unspec 16] 10. 18.
V. 17. Tent of the congregation] in Greeke, the [unspec 17] Tent of the Testimony; the sanctuarie of God: which was to set forward in the midst of the campes, both to shew Gods presence among them; and the honour againe that they should doe unto him As it is written of the church, God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved, Psal. 64. 5. See also Song. 3. 7, 8. The manner and order of carying the Taberna∣cle, is shewed in Num. 10. 17 &c. the campe] the order of the Levites camping, is shewed in Num. 3. their marching in Num. 10.
V. 18. Ephraim] he the younger brother, is [unspec 18] standard-bearer before his elder, Manasses: as Ia∣kob prophesied his superioritie, Gen. 48. 14. 20. sea-ward] that is, as the Chald•••• expounds it, Westward: see the notes on Gen. 12. 8.
V. 20. Manasses] and next him Berjamin, v. [unspec 20] 22. so all Rachels sonnes encamped together, on the west quarter of the Sanctuarie.
V. 24. an hundred thousand, &c.] this was the [unspec 24] smallest number of all the armie••; almost 80 thou∣sand fewer than in the standard o•• Iudah, v. 9.
V. 25. Dan] He was the first borne of the [unspec 25] handmaids children, and Iakobs fist sonne; Gen. 30. 6. and by prophesie he was to judge his people, as the other tribes, Genes. 49. 16. so God here ap∣pointeth him the standard; and hee hath the grea∣test number of warriers, saving Iudas.
V. 27. Aser] the youngest sonne of the other [unspec 27] handmaid Zilpha; yet set next unto Dan, as is no∣ted on Num. 1. 15. with whom Naphtali Dans brother is joyned, v. 29. so the three handmaids children, were in the Northerne and hindmost quarter: that in Gods ordering of the Tribes, his wisdome might appeare. We may behold the or∣der of the Lords armies, as they encamped, thus: