Numbers 2:31

The total number of men in the camp of Dan is 157,600; they shall set out last, under their standards.”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The text records a divine directive given to the Israelite tribes regarding the organization of their marching camps. Moses conveys the specific placement and headcount for each division as they prepare to depart Sinai.

The words — The phrase הַפְּקֻדִים ha-peḳuddîm denotes "those enrolled," emphasizing a formal military census rather than a casual gathering. The numeral מְאַת אֶלֶף me'at 'elef ("one hundred thousand") anchors the count to a standardized administrative unit.

The thread — This placement mirrors the rear guard function described in Numbers 10:25, contrasting with Judah’s forward position in Numbers 2:9 and Reuben’s second position in Numbers 2:16. The verse concludes the tribal census that Numbers 2:32 summarizes as a total of 603,550 men.

Why it lands — The text states that Dan’s division marches last under its own standard, establishing a fixed sequence for the entire army. It requires readers to accept assigned positions within a divinely ordered structure without demanding prominence.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

כָּל־kol-all הַפְּקֻדִים֙ha./pe.ku.Dimthose/ enrolled לְמַ֣חֲנֵהle./Ma.cha.nehof/ [the] camp of דָ֔ןDanDan מְאַ֣תme.'At[were] one hundred אֶ֗לֶף'E.lefthousand וְשִׁבְעָ֧הve./shiv.'Ahand/ seven וַחֲמִשִּׁ֛יםva./cha.mi.Shimand/ fifty אֶ֖לֶף'E.lefthousand וְשֵׁ֣שׁve./Sheshand/ six מֵא֑וֹתme.'othundred<s>לָאַחֲרֹנָ֥הla./'a.cha.ro.Nahto the/ last יִסְע֖וּyis.'Uthey will set out לְדִגְלֵיהֶֽם׃ פle./dig.lei./Hemto/ standards/ their

King James Version

All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan were an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred. They shall go hindmost with their standards.

Cross-references

Numbers 10:25 Finally, the divisions of the camp of Dan set out under their standard, serving as the rear guard for all units, with Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai in command.
Numbers 2:16 The total number of men in the divisions of the camp of Reuben is 151,450; they shall set out second.
Numbers 2:9 The total number of men in the divisions of the camp of Judah is 186,400; they shall set out first.
Numbers 2:24 The total number of men in the divisions of the camp of Ephraim is 108,100; they shall set out third.