Numbers 1:52
And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts. And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts.
Very soon after leaving Egypt Israel was organized and most thoroughly disciplined under Moses, whom God in special providence had qualified by leadership of the armies of Egypt to stand at the head of the armies of Israel. In all their journeyings perfect order was required in encamping and marching. Every man camped by his own camp and under his own tribal standard, with each standard bearing the sign of his father's house upon it. Those standards identified the tribes and kept their distinct places in the organized community, as part of God's directions, with each tribe assigned its place around the tabernacle among the people.
The hosts pitched at a distance from the tabernacle, while the Levites alone were assigned the office of erecting the tabernacle and encamping immediately around about it closest to it. The Levites were given charge of the tabernacle and all pertaining to it both in camp and on the journey, striking the sacred tent when the camp moved and setting it up at each halting place. When journeying they bore the ark with the candlestick and the other sacred articles of furniture, and no person of another tribe was allowed to come near on pain of death. They were separated into divisions from Levi's three sons with assigned position and work: Moses and Aaron in front of the tabernacle and nearest to it, the Kohathites on the south to care for the ark and the other furniture, the Merarites on the north in charge of the pillars, sockets, boards and related parts, and the Gershonites in the rear in charge of the curtains and hangings.
God's will to halt or journey was signified by the pillar of cloud resting directly over the tabernacle until He would have them journey again, and by the moving of the ark. When the ark moved the armies journeyed with the different tribes marching in order under their own standards, with the Levites designated as the tribe in the midst of whom the sacred ark was borne. Moses and Aaron marched just in front of the ark and the sons of Aaron followed near them, each bearing trumpets to receive directions from Moses and signify them to the people by special understood sounds. The head officer of each company gave definite directions, so that none who gave attention was left ignorant.
The Levites were honored with this tabernacle service because they took no part in making and worshiping the golden calf and were faithful in executing God's order upon the idolaters. That honor made them ambitious for still higher office and greater influence with the congregation, leading them to join Korah's demand to obtain the priesthood and the government. Failure to comply with the requirements for encamping and marching was punished with death, for not knowing the will of God was willing ignorance and as great a sin as transgression after hearing, since all had the same opportunities to obtain the knowledge imparted. The order that each man pitch by his own camp and standard means that every worker is to know his place, faithfully perform the special duties committed to him, and leave alone what another worker has been appointed to do.