民二3　在东边，向日出之地，按着军队安营的，是属于犹大营的纛；犹大人的首领……。

　　9　凡属犹大营，按着军队被数点的，共有十八万六千四百名；他们要作第一队起行。

　　以色列人对着会幕，在东、南、西、北四个方向安营。这意思是，神的见证是向着四方。东、南、西、北四边各有三营，这样的安营有其数字上的讲究。三乘四等于十二，三是指三一神，四是指受造的人。三乘四，表征神在三一的身位里，与受造的人调和成为一，结果就是十二。十二有永远、完全的意思，还有行政、管理的意思。在以色列人列营的阵势里，从数字看，这个编组表征神在三一的身位里，与受造的人调和为一，形成一个永远完全的行政单位（民数记概论上册，二九至三○页）。

　　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)

　　在东边，向日出之地，是属于犹大营的纛，……他们要作第一队起行（民二3~9）。在南边的，是流便营的纛，……他们要作第二队起行（10~16）。在西边的，是以法莲营的纛，……他们要作第三队起行（18~24）。在北边的，是但营的纛，……他们要作末队起行（25~31）。

　　四营的次序不是照出生，乃是照属灵的情形。流便是长子（创二九31~32），却因犯淫乱，失去了长子名分（四九3~4，代上五1~2）。犹大是第四个出生（创二九31~35），却作第一队起行，因为他在十二兄弟中是得胜的狮子（四九8~9），预表基督是得胜的战士，犹大支派中的狮子（启五5），击败神仇敌的一位。约瑟的儿子以法莲，由于约瑟成了第三队。在诸营中间，但在末后；但也是最坏的，因为他是“蛇”（创四九17），又首先背叛神的国，并设立第二个敬拜中心（王上十二26~30）。

　　四营各有三支军队，产生十二这数字。这数字由三乘四组成，表征三一神（三）与祂的造物（四）调和，形成一个永远并完全行政的单位。十二这数字是神完全并完整之行政的数字。例如，十二使徒是为着神的行政。

　　会幕同着利未营，是在诸营中间，要在四营中间起行（民二17）。利未人围绕帐幕的三边安营：革顺人在西边（三23），哥辖人在南边（29），米拉利的子孙在北边（35），留下东边给摩西、亚伦和亚伦的两个儿子（38）。

　　我们越思想以色列人在帐幕四围部署安营的图画，就越必须为着神的计划、神的主宰和神创造的能力敬拜祂。借着神创造的能力，雅各有十二个儿子，每个儿子成为一个支派。有一个支派，利未，被分别出来成为祭司（利未人），但约瑟的两个儿子补上空缺。利未生了三个儿子，占着帐幕的三边，留下一边给摩西、亚伦和亚伦的儿子。

　　在旧约里有许多图画，但是很少基督徒知道如何将其应用到新约里的记载。我们若细读启示录二十一至二十二章，会发现这两章里有些东西提醒我们旧约的事物。若是没有旧约的图画，我们就很难明白新约里所记关于新耶路撒冷的启示（民数记生命读经，二三至二五页）。

　　参读：民数记生命读经，第三篇。

　　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