The Twelve Tribes of Israel in the Wilderness.

First posted on 2013.12.31
UPDATED on Thu 2021.07.08

I drew these sketches while reading the book of Numbers 2:1-34, 3:14-39, and 10:1-28 last year, on Sunday 27May2012.

(1) The position of each tribe at camp, with the four clans of Levi around the Tabernacle of the LORD, including the number of males in each tribe.

On the EAST side, The Camp of Judah: Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. These are the sons of Leah, the first wife of Jacob.

On the SOUTH side, The Camp of Reuben: Reuben, Simeon, and Gad. Reuben and Simeon are sons of Leah, while Gad is the eldest son of Leah's maidservant Zilpah.

In the middle, surrounding the Tabernacle: the tribe of Levi who bear the parts of the Tabernacle. Levi is also a son of Leah.

On the WEST side, The Camp of Ephraim: Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin. Ephraim and Manasseh are sons of Joseph who together with his younger brother Benjamin are sons of Rachel, the second wife of Jacob.

And on the NORTH side, The Camp of Dan: Dan, Asher, and Naphtali. Dan and Naphtali are sons of Rachel's maidservant Bilhah, while Asher is the youngest son of Leah's maidservant Zilpah.

(2) The Order of Movement for each tribe when breaking camp, until they set camp at their destination. The roman numerals reference key are as shown in the previous photo. (Numbers 2:9, 16,17,24,31; Num 10:1 - 28)

First to set forth: The Camp of Judah: Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, EAST (Num 2:9)

Second to set forth: The Camp of Reuben: Reuben, Simeon, Gad SOUTH (Num 2:16)

Next to set forth,in the middle: the Levites who bear the parts of the Tabernacle (Num 2:17)

Third to set forth: The Camp of Ephraim: Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin WEST (Num 2:24)

Last to set forth: The Camp of Dan: Dan, Asher, Naphtali NORTH (Num 2: 31)

However a slight variation in the order of breaking camp is given in the account in Numbers chapter 10, where the Levites did not set forth together as one group after the tribes on the EAST and SOUTH have moved.

Instead, only the sons of Gershon and Merari (bearing the equipment from the west and the north of the Tabernacle) set forth after the EAST tribesof Judah, Issachar and Zebulun have moved. (Num 10:17)

It was only after the SOUTH tribes of Reuben, Simeon and Gad have moved that the sons of Kohath would set forth, bearing the Sanctuary. (Num 10:21)

Finally, it was only after the tribes on the WEST and the NORTH have moved that the families of Moses, and presumably those of Aaron and his sons, would set forth last. (Num 10: 29)