Numbers 2

“And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,” Naming Aaron and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father’s house: far off…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.” The number thousand makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.” The number fifty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Then the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.” The number fifty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon: and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.” The number fifty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty.” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben were an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies: and the captain of the sons…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty thousand and five hundred.” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.” The number thirty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.” The number thirty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.” The number fifty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan were an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were…” The number six makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.