Chapter 2

1God spoke to Moses and Aaron saying:   אוַיְדַבֵּ֣ר יְהוָֹ֔ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה וְאֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן לֵאמֹֽר:
2The children of Israel shall encamp each man by his division with the flag staffs of their fathers' house; some distance from the Tent of Meeting they shall encamp.   באִ֣ישׁ עַל־דִּגְל֤וֹ בְאֹתֹת֙ לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֔ם יַֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מִנֶּ֕גֶד סָבִ֥יב לְאֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵ֖ד יַֽחֲנֽוּ:
with the flag staffs: Heb. בְאֹתֹת. Every division shall have its own flag staff, with a colored flag hanging on it; the color of one being different from the color of any other. The color of each one was like the hue of its stone, set in the choshen [worn by the Kohen Gadol], and in this way, everyone could recognize his division. Another explanation: “with the signs [the literal translation of בְאֹתֹת] of his fathers’ house”—according to the sign their father Jacob gave them when they carried him out of Egypt, as it says, “His sons did for him just as he had commanded them” (Gen. 50:12), [which was that] Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun should bear him [his body] from the east, Reuben, Simeon, and Gad from the south etc. as it states in the [Midrash] Tanchuma on this section. — [Rashi]   בְאֹתֹת: כָּל דֶּגֶל יִהְיֶה לוֹ אוֹת מַפָּה צְבוּעָה תְלוּיָה בוֹ, צִבְעוֹ שֶׁל זֶה לֹא כְצִבְעוֹ שֶׁל זֶה, צֶבַע כָּל אֶחָד כְּגוֹן אַבְנוֹ הַקְּבוּעָה בַחֹשֶׁן, וּמִתּוֹךְ כָּךְ יַכִּיר כָּל אֶחָד אֶת דִּגְלוֹ; דָּבָר אַחֵר: בְּאוֹתוֹת לְבֵית אֲבוֹתָם, בְּאוֹת שֶׁמָּסַר לָהֶם יַעֲקֹב אֲבִיהֶם כְּשֶׁנְּשָׂאוּהוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית נ') "וַיַּעֲשׂוּ בָנָיו לוֹ כֵּן כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּם, יְהוּדָה וְיִשָּׂשכָר וּזְבוּלוּן יִשָּׂאוּהוּ מִן הַמִּזְרָח, וּרְאוּבֵן וְשִׁמְעוֹן וְגָד מִן הַדָּרוֹם וְכוּ'", כִּדְאִיתָא בְתַנְחוּמָא בְּפַרָשָׁה זוֹ:
some distance: At a distance of a mil, as it is stated in Joshua (3:4),“However, there shall be some distance between you and it; about two thousand cubits.” [The reason for this distance, which is the distance permitted to travel on a Sabbath day, was] so that they would be able to come [to the Mishkan] on the Sabbath, [for] Moses, Aaron and his sons, and the Levites were encamped close to it.   מִנֶּגֶד: מֵרָחוֹק מִיל, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בִּיהוֹשֻׁעַ "אַךְ רָחוֹק יִהְיֶה בֵּינֵיכֶם וּבֵנָיו כְּאַלְפַּיִם אַמָּה" (יהושע ג'), שֶׁיּוּכְלוּ לָבֹא בְּשַׁבָּת; מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו וְהַלְוִיִּם חוֹנִים בְּסָמוּךְ לוֹ:
3Those camping in front, to the east, were the legions under the division of the camp of Judah. The prince of the children of Judah was Nahshon the son of Amminadab.   גוְהַֽחֹנִים֙ קֵ֣דְמָה מִזְרָ֔חָה דֶּ֛גֶל מַֽחֲנֵ֥ה יְהוּדָ֖ה לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה נַחְשׁ֖וֹן בֶּן־עַמִּֽינָדָֽב:
in front: The front side, which is called קֶדֶם, and which is this? The east side. The west is called the rear side [of the world]. — [Rashi]   קֵדְמָה: לְפָנִים הַקְּרוּיָה קֶדֶם: וְאֵיזוֹ זוֹ רוּחַ מִזְרָחִית, וְהַמַּעֲרָב קָרוּי אָחוֹר:
4His legion numbered seventy four thousand, six hundred.   דוּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻֽדֵיהֶ֑ם אַרְבָּעָ֧ה וְשִׁבְעִ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת:
5Camping next to him, the tribe of Issachar; the prince of the children of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zu'ar.   הוְהַֽחֹנִ֥ים עָלָ֖יו מַטֵּ֣ה יִשָּׂשכָ֑ר וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י יִשָּׂשכָ֔ר נְתַנְאֵ֖ל בֶּן־צוּעָֽר:
6His legion numbered fifty four thousand, four hundred.   ווּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻדָ֑יו אַרְבָּעָ֧ה וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵאֽוֹת:
7[Then] the tribe of Zebulun, and the prince of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.   זמַטֵּ֖ה זְבוּלֻ֑ן וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י זְבוּלֻ֔ן אֱלִיאָ֖ב בֶּן־חֵלֹֽן:
8His legion numbered fifty seven thousand, four hundred.   חוּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻדָ֑יו שִׁבְעָ֧ה וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵאֽוֹת:
9The total sum for the legions of Judah's camp was one hundred and eighty six thousand, four hundred; these shall journey first.   טכָּל־הַפְּקֻדִ֞ים לְמַֽחֲנֵ֣ה יְהוּדָ֗ה מְאַ֨ת אֶ֜לֶף וּשְׁמֹנִ֥ים אֶ֛לֶף וְשֵֽׁשֶׁת־אֲלָפִ֥ים וְאַרְבַּע־מֵא֖וֹת לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם רִֽאשֹׁנָ֖ה יִסָּֽעוּ:
these shall journey first: When the cloud was seen departing, the kohanim would sound the trumpets, and the camp of Judah would set off first. And when they traveled, they journeyed forward retaining the same positions in which they camped: the Levites and the wagons in the center, the division of Judah to the east, that of Reuben to the south, that of Ephraim to the west, and that of Dan to the north.   רִֽאשֹׁנָה יִסָּֽעוּ: כְּשֶׁרוֹאִין הֶעָנָן מִסְתַּלֵּק, תּוֹקְעִין הַכֹּהֲנִים בַּחֲצוֹצְרוֹת, וְנוֹסֵעַ מַחֲנֵה יְהוּדָה תְחִלָּה, וּכְשֶׁהוֹלְכִין הוֹלְכִין כְּדֶרֶךְ חֲנִיָּתָן — הַלְוִיִּם וְהָעֲגָלוֹת בָּאֶמְצָע, דֶּגֶל יְהוּדָה בַּמִּזְרָח, וְשֶׁל רְאוּבֵן בַּדָּרוֹם, וְשֶׁל אֶפְרַיִם בַּמַּעֲרָב, וְשֶׁל דָּן בַּצָּפוֹן:
10The legions under the division of the camp of Reuben were to the south. The prince of the children of Reuben was Elitzur the son of Shedeur.   ידֶּ֣גֶל מַֽחֲנֵ֧ה רְאוּבֵ֛ן תֵּימָ֖נָה לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י רְאוּבֵ֔ן אֱלִיצ֖וּר בֶּן־שְׁדֵיאֽוּר:
11His legion numbered forty six thousand, five hundred.   יאוּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻדָ֑יו שִׁשָּׁ֧ה וְאַרְבָּעִ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וַֽחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת:
12Camping next to him, the tribe of Simeon. The prince of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.   יבוְהַֽחוֹנִ֥ם עָלָ֖יו מַטֵּ֣ה שִׁמְע֑וֹן וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י שִׁמְע֔וֹן שְׁלֻֽמִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־צוּרִֽישַׁדָּֽי:
13His legion numbered fifty nine thousand, three hundred.   יגוּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻֽדֵיהֶ֑ם תִּשְׁעָ֧ה וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וּשְׁל֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת:
14[Then] the tribe of Gad. The prince of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Re'uel.   ידוּמַטֵּ֖ה גָּ֑ד וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י גָ֔ד אֶלְיָסָ֖ף בֶּן־רְעוּאֵֽל:
15His legion numbered forty five thousand, six hundred and fifty.   טווּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻֽדֵיהֶ֑ם חֲמִשָּׁ֤ה וְאַרְבָּעִים֙ אֶ֔לֶף וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת וַֽחֲמִשִּֽׁים:
16The total sum for the legions of Reuben's camp was one hundred and fifty one thousand, four hundred and fifty; they shall be the second to set out.   טזכָּל־הַפְּקֻדִ֞ים לְמַֽחֲנֵ֣ה רְאוּבֵ֗ן מְאַ֨ת אֶ֜לֶף וְאֶחָ֨ד וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֥ים אֶ֛לֶף וְאַרְבַּע־מֵא֥וֹת וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֖ים לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וּשְׁנִיִּ֖ם יִסָּֽעוּ:
17Then the Tent of Meeting shall set out, [with] the Levite camp, in the center of the other camps. Just as they camp, so shall they travel, each man in his place, by their divisions.   יזוְנָסַ֧ע אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵ֛ד מַֽחֲנֵ֥ה הַֽלְוִיִּ֖ם בְּת֣וֹךְ הַמַּֽחֲנֹ֑ת כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֤ר יַֽחֲנוּ֙ כֵּ֣ן יִסָּ֔עוּ אִ֥ישׁ עַל־יָד֖וֹ לְדִגְלֵיהֶֽם:
Then the Tent of Meeting shall set out: After these two divisions.   וְנָסַע אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵד: לְאַחַר שְׁנֵי דְגָלִים הַלָּלוּ:
just as they camp, so shall they travel: As I explained, they journeyed as they camped; each division marching on its designated side.   כַּֽאֲשֶׁר יַֽחֲנוּ כֵּן יִסָּעוּ: כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי, הֲלִיכָתָן כַּחֲנִיָּתָן, כָּל דֶּגֶל מְהַלֵּךְ לָרוּחַ הַקָּבוּעַ לוֹ:
in his place: Heb. עַל יָדוֹ, lit., on his hand. On his place. The term יָד does not depart from its usual meaning; the direction of his side is called עַל יָדוֹ, that which is by his hand, closest to him and within reach of his hand; en son aise in Old French. [According to Greenberg, on his place, i.e., the place adjacent to him. According to Gukovitski, at his ease (i.e., within easy reach). According to Berliner, on his side.]   עַל־יָדוֹ: עַל מְקוֹמוֹ, וְאֵין לְשׁוֹן יָד זָז מִמַּשְׁמָעוֹ, רוּחַ שֶׁל צִדּוֹ קָרוּי עַל יָדוֹ – הַסְּמוּכָה לוֹ לְכָל הוֹשָׁטַת יָדוֹ, אינשו"ן איש"א בְּלַעַז:
18The legions under the division of the camp of Ephraim were to the west. The prince of the children of Ephraim was Elishama the son of Amihud.   יחדֶּ֣גֶל מַֽחֲנֵ֥ה אֶפְרַ֛יִם לְצִבְאֹתָ֖ם יָ֑מָּה וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י אֶפְרַ֔יִם אֱלִֽישָׁמָ֖ע בֶּן־עַמִּיהֽוּד:
19His legion numbered forty thousand, five hundred.   יטוּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻֽדֵיהֶ֑ם אַרְבָּעִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף וַֽחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת:
20Next to him, the tribe of Manasseh. The prince of the children of Manasseh was Gamliel the son of Pedahzur.   כוְעָלָ֖יו מַטֵּ֣ה מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה גַּמְלִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־פְּדָהצֽוּר:
Next to him: Heb. וְעָלָיו, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders it:“and those closest to him.”   וְעָלָיו: כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ "וְדִסְמִיכִין עֲלוֹהִי":
21His legion numbered thirty two thousand, two hundred.   כאוּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻֽדֵיהֶ֑ם שְׁנַ֧יִם וּשְׁלשִׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וּמָאתָֽיִם:
22[Then] the tribe of Benjamin. The prince of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gid'oni.   כבוּמַטֵּ֖ה בִּנְיָמִ֑ן וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֔ן אֲבִידָ֖ן בֶּן־גִּדְעֹנִֽי:
23His legion numbered thirty five thousand, four hundred.   כגוּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻֽדֵיהֶ֑ם חֲמִשָּׁ֧ה וּשְׁלשִׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵאֽוֹת:
24The total sum for the legions under the division of the camp of Ephraim was one hundred and eight thousand, one hundred; they shall be the third to set out.   כדכָּל־הַפְּקֻדִ֞ים לְמַֽחֲנֵ֣ה אֶפְרַ֗יִם מְאַ֥ת אֶ֛לֶף וּשְׁמֹֽנַת־אֲלָפִ֥ים וּמֵאָ֖ה לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וּשְׁלִשִׁ֖ים יִסָּֽעוּ:
25The legions under the division of the camp of Dan were to the north. The prince of the children of Dan was Ahi'ezer the son of Ammishaddai.   כהדֶּ֣גֶל מַֽחֲנֵ֥ה דָ֛ן צָפֹ֖נָה לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י דָ֔ן אֲחִיעֶ֖זֶר בֶּן־עַמִּֽישַׁדָּֽי:
26His legion numbered sixty two thousand, seven hundred.   כווּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻֽדֵיהֶ֑ם שְׁנַ֧יִם וְשִׁשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וּשְׁבַ֥ע מֵאֽוֹת:
27Camping next to him was the tribe of Asher. The prince of the children of Asher was Pag'iel the son of 'Ocran.   כזוְהַֽחֹנִ֥ים עָלָ֖יו מַטֵּ֣ה אָשֵׁ֑ר וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י אָשֵׁ֔ר פַּגְעִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־עָכְרָֽן:
28His legion numbered forty one thousand, five hundred.   כחוּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻֽדֵיהֶ֑ם אֶחָ֧ד וְאַרְבָּעִ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וַֽחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת:
29[Then] the tribe of Naphtali. The prince of the children of Naphtali was Ahira' the son of 'Enan.   כטוּמַטֵּ֖ה נַפְתָּלִ֑י וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י נַפְתָּלִ֔י אֲחִירַ֖ע בֶּן־עֵינָֽן:
30His legion numbered fifty three thousand, four hundred.   לוּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻֽדֵיהֶ֑ם שְׁלשָׁ֧ה וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵאֽוֹת:
31The total sum for the legions under the division of the camp of Dan was one hundred and fifty seven thousand, six hundred; they shall be the last to set out.   לאכָּל־הַפְּקֻדִים֙ לְמַ֣חֲנֵה דָ֔ן מְאַ֣ת אֶ֗לֶף וְשִׁבְעָ֧ה וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְשֵׁ֣שׁ מֵא֑וֹת לָאַֽחֲרֹנָ֥ה יִסְע֖וּ לְדִגְלֵיהֶֽם:
32These are the numbers of the Israelites according to their fathers' houses. The total number of legions of the camps was six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty.   לבאֵ֛לֶּה פְּקוּדֵ֥י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם כָּל־פְּקוּדֵ֤י הַמַּֽחֲנֹת֙ לְצִבְאֹתָ֔ם שֵׁשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת אֶ֨לֶף֙ וּשְׁל֣שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֔ים וַֽחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת וַֽחֲמִשִּֽׁים:
33However, the Levites were not counted with the rest of the Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses.   לגוְהַ֨לְוִיִּ֔ם לֹ֣א הָתְפָּֽקְד֔וּ בְּת֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָֹ֖ה אֶת־משֶֽׁה:
34The Israelites did all that the Lord had commanded Moses; they encamped by their divisions, and so did they journey each man with his family, according to his father's house.   לדוַיַּֽעֲשׂ֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כְּ֠כֹ֠ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֨ה יְהוָֹ֜ה אֶת־משֶׁ֗ה כֵּן־חָנ֤וּ לְדִגְלֵיהֶם֙ וְכֵ֣ן נָסָ֔עוּ אִ֥ישׁ לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖יו עַל־בֵּ֥ית אֲבֹתָֽיו: