«　WEEK 2　DAY 2　»

　　Num. 2:3 And those who encamp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah, according to their companies; and the leader of the children of Judah...

　　9 All who were numbered of the camp of Judah: one hundred eighty-six thousand four hundred, according to their companies. They shall set out first.

　　The Israelites encamped facing the Tent of Meeting in four directions: the east, the south, the west, and the north. This means that the testimony of God faced all sides. There were three camps in each of the four sides. The numbers in such an encampment have a particular significance. Three denotes the Triune God, and four denotes the created man. Three times four signifies God in His Trinity being mingled with the created man as one. Three times four equals twelve, which also denotes eternity and completion as well as administration and government. Thus, according to the numbers in the Israelites' encamping in array, their formation signifies God in His Trinity being mingled with the created man, forming a unit of eternal and perfect government. (CWWL, 1960, vol. 1, "Synopsis of Numbers," p. 76)

　　On the east side, toward the sunrising, was the standard of the camp of Judah...; these were to set out first (Num. 2:3-9). On the south side was the standard of the camp of Reuben...; these were to set out second (vv. 10-16). On the west side was the standard of the camp of Ephraim...; these were to set out third (vv. 18-24). On the north side was the standard of the camp of Dan...; these were to set out last (vv. 25-31).

　　The sequence of the four camps was not according to birth but according to spiritual condition. Although Reuben was the firstborn (Gen. 29:31-32), because he committed fornication he lost the birthright (Gen. 49:3-4; 1 Chron. 5:1-2). 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. Ephraim, the son of Joseph, was third because of Joseph. Among the camps, Dan was the last. Dan was also the worst, for he was a "serpent" (Gen 49:17), and he was the first to rebel against God's kingdom and set up a second worship center (1 Kings 12:26-30).

　　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. The number twelve is the number of God's perfect and complete government. The twelve apostles, for example, are for God's government.

　　In the midst of the camps was the Tent of Meeting, with the camp of the Levites, which was to set out in the middle of the four camps (Num. 2:17). The Levites were encamped around the tabernacle on three sides...[3:23, 29, 35], leaving the east side for Moses, Aaron, and Aaron's two sons (3:38).

　　The more we consider the picture of the children of Israel encamping in array around the tabernacle, the more we must adore God for His plan, His sovereignty, and His creating ability. By God's creating ability, Jacob had twelve sons, each of whom became a tribe. One tribe, Levi, was set aside to become the priests (Levites), but Joseph's two sons filled the gap. Levi begot three sons, who occupied three sides of the tabernacle, leaving one side for Moses, Aaron, and Aaron's sons.

　　Although there are many pictures in the Old Testament, few Christians know how to apply them to what is recorded in the New Testament. If we read Revelation 21 and 22 carefully, we will find in these chapters certain reminders referring us to the Old Testament. Without the pictures in the Old Testament, it is difficult to understand the revelation concerning the New Jerusalem given in the New Testament. (Life-study of Numbers, pp. 20-22)

　　Further Reading: Life-study of Numbers, msg. 3