Numbers - Chapter 2

In this Chapter, God sets out some precise rules about the arrangement of the Israelite camp for the duration of the wilderness wanderings (40 years).  In the centre there are the Levites (we know from Chapter 3 that there are 22000 males in the Levite camp. Three tribes are camped to the North of the Levites (186,000 families); three to the South (151,000 families); three to the West (108,000 families); and three to the north (157,000).

To see a link to Jesus you need to consider how this would have looked from above.  Draw a plan on squared paper.  In the centre colour in the Levite camp - 15 squares by 15 squares (each square will be 1000 people).  Now fill in the squares to the North (31 x 5); to the East (37 x 5); to the South (30 x 5) and to the West (22 x 5).

This pattern was laid out every day for 40 years, hundreds of years before the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross.