Numbers 2:25 kjv
The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
Numbers 2:25 nkjv
"The standard of the forces with Dan shall be on the north side according to their armies, and the leader of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai."
Numbers 2:25 niv
On the north will be the divisions of the camp of Dan under their standard. The leader of the people of Dan is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.
Numbers 2:25 esv
"On the north side shall be the standard of the camp of Dan by their companies, the chief of the people of Dan being Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai,
Numbers 2:25 nlt
[25-26] "The divisions of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali are to camp on the north side of the Tabernacle, beneath their family banners. These are the names of the tribes, their leaders, and the numbers of their registered troops: Tribe ? Leader ? Number
Dan ? Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai ? 62,700
Numbers 2 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 1:52 | The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting, each man under his own standard… | Principle of ordered camping for all tribes. |
| Num 9:17 | Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled… | Divine guidance for camp movement. |
| Num 10:11-14 | On the twentieth day of the second month... the standard of the camp of the sons of Judah, set out first… | Ordered marching confirming the described arrangement. |
| Exod 18:21 | Moreover you shall select from all the people able men who fear God, men of truth… | Principles for choosing effective leaders. |
| Num 1:16 | These were the ones chosen from the congregation, the leaders of their ancestral tribes… | The selection of tribal princes (leaders). |
| Num 7:2 | Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of fathers’ households, the leaders of the tribes… | Acknowledgement of tribal princes’ roles. |
| Num 27:16-17 | "May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community… to lead them out and bring them in." | Importance of God-appointed leadership for the whole assembly. |
| Deut 1:15 | So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and appointed them as your heads… | Moses’ role in appointing leaders based on character. |
| Psa 20:5 | May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God… | Banners/standards as symbols of God-given victory and identity. |
| Song 6:4 | You are beautiful, my love, as Tirzah, lovely as Jerusalem, awesome as an army with banners. | Banners signifying power, distinction, and order. |
| Isa 11:10, 12 | In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him… He will raise a banner for the nations… | Messiah as the ultimate rallying standard for all peoples. |
| Zech 9:16 | The LORD their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people; for they are jewels of a crown, sparkling in his land. | God’s people as His prized possession, implying His ordered care. |
| Gen 49:16-17 | Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way… | Jacob’s prophecy concerning Dan, highlighting their tribal identity and function. |
| Josh 19:47 | Then the sons of Dan went up and fought against Leshem and captured it… and lived there, calling Leshem Dan… | Dan’s tribal inheritance and eventual geographical relocation. |
| 1 Cor 14:33 | For God is not a God of disorder but of peace… | God’s character as a God of order reflected in the camp structure. |
| 1 Cor 14:40 | But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. | New Testament principle echoing the divine order seen in Numbers. |
| Heb 8:5 | They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven… | The earthly Tabernacle and its arrangement as a heavenly pattern. |
| Eph 2:21-22 | In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together… | The church as a structured body, with Christ as the central reference point, echoing the camp. |
| Acts 6:3-4 | "Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men… whom we may appoint over this business…" | New Testament church electing specific individuals for leadership roles. |
| 1 Tim 3:1-7 | Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task… | Qualities for spiritual leaders in the church, emphasizing character and competence. |
| Heb 13:17 | Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority… | Exhortation to acknowledge and submit to appointed leaders. |
| Num 28:1-2 | The Lord said to Moses, "Give this command to the Israelites and say to them: 'Make sure that you present to me at the appointed time my food offerings…'" | The meticulous nature of divine instructions extends to offerings and worship, paralleling the camp's order. |
Numbers 2 verses
Numbers 2 25 Meaning
Numbers 2:25 meticulously describes the specific placement of the tribe of Dan in the Israelite encampment in the wilderness, stating they were to be positioned on the north side. This verse highlights the divine mandate for precise order and organization among God’s people, essential for their communal identity, administrative structure, and journey through the wilderness. It establishes Dan's specific standard and designates Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai, as their princely leader, underscoring the importance of appointed leadership in maintaining this divinely ordained structure.
Numbers 2 25 Context
Numbers chapter 2 details the precise arrangement of the Israelite camp in the wilderness, illustrating God's demand for order and sanctity around His dwelling place, the Tabernacle. Each of the twelve tribes (excluding the Levites who encamped separately around the Tabernacle) was assigned a specific cardinal direction and position, grouped into four camps of three tribes each, with a principal standard-bearer for each grouping. This comprehensive logistical blueprint was critical for both their encampment and their marching order through the vast and often hostile desert, preparing them as a holy assembly. Verse 25 specifically places the camp of Dan, along with Asher and Naphtali (forming the standard of Dan), on the north side, a strategic positioning within the divinely ordered symmetrical array surrounding the Tabernacle. This setup underscored God's centrality to their existence and demonstrated their collective identity as a unified, organized people under His divine leadership.
Numbers 2 25 Word analysis
- On the north side (צָפוֹנָה, tsafonah): The Hebrew word means "northward" or "to the north." In the context of the camp, this refers to a specific geographic cardinal direction. While the east (Judah's side) held primary honor as the entrance to the Tabernacle, each direction was divinely appointed, signifying completeness and covering all aspects of their movement and rest.
- shall be the standard (דֶּגֶל, degel): A degel refers to a banner, standard, or flag, acting as a visible marker and rallying point. It was more than just a decorative flag; it symbolized tribal identity, served as a point of assembly, and signified the divine presence and power among God's people (Psa 20:5). Each major camp (Judah, Reuben, Ephraim, Dan) had a degel. The actual emblems on these banners are not specified in the biblical text, though Jewish tradition later assigned specific symbols (e.g., a snake or eagle for Dan).
- of the camp (מַחֲנֶה, machaneh): This term means an encampment or military camp. It conveys the sense of a temporary, organized dwelling place, indicating preparedness for both rest and movement. The detailed structure of the machaneh emphasized order, defense, and the segregation of holy (Tabernacle, Levites) from common (tribes).
- of Dan (דָּן, Dan): "Dan" means "he judged" or "judgment." As one of the twelve tribes, Dan held a distinct identity stemming from Jacob's son. Its placement was divinely ordained, showing each tribe's unique but equally vital role within the larger Israelite body. Despite its later apostasy mentioned elsewhere (Judg 18, 1 Kgs 12), at this stage, Dan held its place as part of the covenant people.
- according to their companies (צְבָאוֹת, tseva'ot): The literal meaning is "armies" or "hosts." Here, it refers to the organized divisions or regiments within the tribe. It signifies the military-like structure and discipline expected of God's people, prepared to march or defend. It also highlights that the tribe wasn't a loose collection of families but a highly organized unit, broken down into smaller, manageable "companies."
- and the captain (נָשִׂיא, nasi): The nasi was a prince or chief, a respected leader chosen from the tribe, often hereditary. They held significant authority in administering tribal affairs, justice, and representing the tribe before Moses and God (Num 1:16, Num 7:2). Their appointment was crucial for the implementation and maintenance of divine order within their respective camps.
- of the children of Dan (בְּנֵי־דָן, b'nei-Dan): "Children of Dan" refers to the descendants of the tribal progenitor, indicating the entire collective membership of the tribe of Dan. The captain was leader over this entire lineage group.
- shall be Ahiezer (אֲחִיעֶזֶר, Achiezer): The name means "my brother is help" or "brother of help." Names in ancient Israel often held prophetic or descriptive significance. Ahiezer's name suggests a leader whose role was to provide assistance and support to his people, aligning with the responsibilities of a tribal chief.
- the son of Ammishaddai (עַמִּישַׁדָּי, Ammishaddai): This name means "my kinsman is the Almighty" or "my people is the Almighty." This powerful name, particularly the component "Shaddai" (a name for God, usually translated "Almighty"), strongly associates the family with God's omnipotence and covenant faithfulness. It underscores that leadership was seen as divinely sanctioned and tied to a reverence for God, indicating a family likely prominent in faith and status within the tribe.
- "On the north side shall be the standard of the camp of Dan": This phrase precisely defines the spatial positioning. The use of "standard" implies not just a physical marker but the identity and organized presence of the entire tripartite camp associated with Dan (Dan, Asher, and Naphtali) under a singular, overarching symbol on that specific side.
- "according to their companies": This emphasizes internal structure. It’s not a disorganized mass, but a military-style, systematically arranged body. This level of detail highlights the precision of the divine command and the practical logistics of moving such a vast population.
- "and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai": This directly names the specific individual responsible for leading and administering the tribe of Dan. It underscores the importance of specific, appointed human leadership in conjunction with divine instruction. The prominent names "Ahiezer" and "Ammishaddai" signify a lineage that implies "help from God" or "kinship with the Almighty," linking their leadership role to divine providence and strength.
Numbers 2 25 Bonus section
The arrangement of the Israelite camp in Numbers, including Dan's position, provides a foundational understanding of "camp" in biblical theology. It's not just a transient settlement but a divinely structured community, symbolizing God's active presence and meticulous care among His people. The inclusion of tribal leaders (like Ahiezer) within this detailed framework emphasizes the concept of delegated authority; human leaders are instruments for God's divine order. Furthermore, the meticulous blueprint of the camp structure serves as a tangible, earthly "pattern" of heavenly realities, foreshadowing the organized nature of the heavenly assembly or the spiritual order found within the body of Christ, where each member has a place and purpose.
Numbers 2 25 Commentary
Numbers 2:25 serves as a microcosm of God's overarching principle of order within His chosen people. The placement of Dan on the north, with its specific standard and leader, illustrates the divine hand in every detail of the community's life, from spatial organization to the appointment of leadership. This intricate arrangement around the Tabernacle—the dwelling place of God—was not arbitrary. It graphically represented God's centrality and holiness, fostering a sense of collective identity and discipline crucial for the Israelites' challenging wilderness journey and future as a holy nation. The roles of the standard and the princely captain were vital for maintaining cohesion, distinguishing tribal identities, and ensuring faithful obedience to God's commands, preparing them both for peaceful encampment and decisive movement. It echoes the New Testament's call for believers to be orderly, functioning as a unified body under divine headship.