And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:
"The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting, each at a distance from it, every man under the banner of his family, with the standard of his tribe."
On the east side, facing the sunrise, the divisions of Judah were to set up their camp, under the banner of their standard. Their leader was Nahshon son of Amminadab, and his division numbered 74,600 men.
Beside them camped the tribe of Issachar, with Nethanel son of Zuar as their leader. His division numbered 54,400. Next to them was the tribe of Zebulun, led by Eliab son of Helon, whose division numbered 57,400. Altogether, the camp of Judah, arranged according to their divisions, numbered 186,400. They were to set out first whenever the people moved forward.
On the south side was the camp of Reuben, under their standard. Their leader was Elizur son of Shedeur, and his division numbered 46,500. Beside them camped the tribe of Simeon, led by Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, numbering 59,300. Next to them was the tribe of Gad, led by Eliasaph son of Deuel, whose division numbered 45,650. Altogether, the camp of Reuben, according to their divisions, numbered 151,450. They were to set out second.
Then, in the center of the great procession, the Tent of Meeting was to move forward with the camp of the Levites. They were to march in the middle of the camps, each tribe moving in order under its own standard, just as they encamped.
On the west side was the camp of Ephraim under their standard. Their leader was Elishama son of Ammihud, and his division numbered 40,500. Beside them was the tribe of Manasseh, led by Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, numbering 32,200. Next to them camped the tribe of Benjamin, with Abidan son of Gideoni as their leader, whose division numbered 35,400. Altogether, the camp of Ephraim numbered 108,100. They were to set out third.
On the north side was the camp of Dan under their standard. Their leader was Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, and his division numbered 62,700. Beside them was the tribe of Asher, led by Pagiel son of Ocran, numbering 41,500. Next to them camped the tribe of Naphtali, led by Ahira son of Enan, whose division numbered 53,400. Altogether, the camp of Dan numbered 157,600. They were to set out last, marching under their standards.
These were the Israelites counted according to their families. The total number of men in the camps, by their divisions, was 603,550.
But the Levites were not numbered among them, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
So the Israelites did all that the LORD instructed Moses. This was how they encamped under their standards, and this was how they set out—each man with his clan and with his family.