On the east side, toward the sunrise, the divisions of Judah are to camp under their standard: The leader of the descendants of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab,
Parallel translations
- WEB Those who encamp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah, according to their divisions: and the prince of the children of Judah shall be Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
- KJV And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah.
- NKJV On the east side, toward the rising of the sun, those of the standard of the forces with Judah shall camp according to their armies; and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be the leader of the children of Judah.”
- NASB Now those who camp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the flag of the camp of Judah, by their armies; and the leader of the sons of Judah: Nahshon the son of Amminadab,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Quick answer
Judah camps on the east, the place of honor, led by Nahshon. The royal tribe takes the foremost position.
Overview
Judah's placement on the east, the direction of the sunrise and the entrance to the tabernacle, marks its leadership among the tribes. This honored position fulfills Jacob's prophecy of Judah's preeminence (Gen. 49:10) and points to the King who would come from Judah, Jesus Christ. Nahshon, named here, stands in the messianic line (Matt. 1:4).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Ruth 4:20Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, Nahshon was the father of Salmon,
- 1 Chr 2:10Ram was the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, a leader of the descendants of Judah.
- Num 10:14–16First, the divisions of the camp of Judah set out under their standard, with Nahshon son of Amminadab in command.
- Num 1:7from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab;
- Luke 3:32–33the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon,
- Matt 1:4Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon.
- Judg 1:1–2After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the LORD, “Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?”
- Gen 49:8–10Judah, your brothers shall praise you. Your hand shall be on the necks of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down to you.
- Num 7:17and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.
- Num 26:19–22The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but they died in the land of Canaan.
- 1 Chr 5:2And though Judah prevailed over his brothers and a ruler came from him, the birthright belonged to Joseph.
- Num 7:12On the first day Nahshon son of Amminadab from the tribe of Judah drew near with his offering.
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Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 2:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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