In which we get a layout of the encampment.

It does other things too, like let you know who was the leader of each tribe at this time.

Also, apparently each tribe had a seal or sign of some kind that they flew on banners. I can’t find any tradition of what those are supposed to be. I wonder if they’re related to the animal imagery that Jacob used when he blessed his sons back at the end of Genesis?

The Levites, as priests, are kept in the safest area, the center around the Tabernacle.

Otherwise, the only thing I noticed is how unprotected they leave their west flank. The other four sides all have over 150,000 men, but the west has only 108,100. Is this a sign that they weren’t anticipating attack from Egypt? Or to represent how they couldn’t turn back, since they’d be facing Egypt with their weakest side?

The Japanese: kyori “distance” (v 2), souzei “…in all,” koushin suru “to march” (v 9), hatashirushi “banner, flag mark” (v 17).