Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 2:10

On the south side [shall be] the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben [shall be] Elizur the son of Shedeur.

Reuben being the first-born, was the leader of the second camp.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

10-31. On the south side thestandard of the camp of ReubenThe description given of theposition of Reuben and his attendant tribes on the south, of Ephraimand his associates on the west, of Dan and his confederates on thenorth, with that of Judah on the east, suggests the idea of a squareor quadrangle, which, allowing one square cubit to each soldier whileremaining close in the ranks, has been computed to extend over anarea of somewhat more than twelve square miles. But into ourcalculations of the occupied space must be taken not only thefighting men, whose numbers are here given, but also the families,tents, and baggage. The tabernacle or sacred tent of their DivineKing, with the camp of the Levites around it (see on Nu3:38), formed the center, as does the chief’s in the encampmentof all nomad people. In marching, this order was adhered to, withsome necessary variations. Judah led the way, followed, it is mostprobable, by Issachar and Zebulun [Nu10:14-16]. Reuben, Simeon, and Gad formed the second greatdivision [Nu 10:18-20].They were followed by the central company, composed of the Levites,bearing the tabernacle [Nu 10:21].Then the third and posterior squadron consisted of Ephraim, Manasseh,and Benjamin [Nu 10:22-24],while the hindmost place was assigned to Dan, Asher, and Naphtali [Nu10:25-27]. Thus Judah’s, which was the most numerous, formed thevan: and Dan’s, which was the next in force, brought up the rear;while Reuben’s and Ephraim’s, with the tribes associated with themrespectively, being the smallest and weakest, were placed in thecenter. (See on Nu 10:13).

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

On the south side [shall be] the standard of the camp of Reuben, according to their armies,…. This camp consisted of the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad, which was divided into lesser bodies, regiments, or companies, called armies; and this was placed to the south of the tabernacle, or to the right hand, as Aben Ezra interprets it; this was the right wing of the whole army. Reuben’s stone, according to the Jewish writers h, was the “sardius”, and his flag was coloured red, and there were figured upon it mandrakes. Simeon’s stone was the topaz, and his flag was coloured green, and on it was figured “shechem”. Gad’s stone was the agate, and his flag was coloured neither black nor white, but mixed, and there was figured upon it a camp or host, on account of what is said, Ge 49:19;

and the captain of the children of Reuben [shall be] Elizur the son of Shedeur; see Nu 1:5.

h Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 2. fol. 178. 2.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

Verses 10-16:

To the south of the Tabernacle were camped three tribes: Reuben, Gad, and Simeon, with Reuben being the leader of this group, which numbered 151,450 men. In the order of Israel’s march, this group moved second.

Simeon and Reuben were Jacob’s sons by Leah, and Gad was his son by Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid.

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

10. Camp of Reuben Or, host of Reuben. This tribe was the head of the second army corps, situated on the south of the tabernacle. Simeon, his own brother, son of Leah, and Gad, son of Zilpah, her handmaid, are members of this division. Reference to relationship was had in the entire arrangement of the camp, and finally, in some degree, in the allotment of the Promised Land.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Num 2:10 On the south side [shall be] the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben [shall be] Elizur the son of Shedeur.

Ver. 10. And on the south side. ] The order proceeded from east to south, and so to the west and north; according to the course of the sun, and climates of the world, saith one. I may add, according to the course and progress of the gospel; which went out of Judea, lying east, into Greece, which lieth south; and from thence passed to the western parts, the Latin Church, and so to us of the north: and because

“ Vespera nunc venit, nobiscum Christe maneto:

Extingui lucem nec patiare tuam. ”

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)