Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan.
Numbers 2:29 is part of the order God established for Israel's camping and marching, giving Naphtali its designated place under its own standard and naming Ahira son of Enan as its captain. Every tribe bore a standard with the sign of its father's house and was commanded to pitch by its own standard and to march in order under its own standard. When resting from journeying, the tabernacle was erected first, and then the different tribes pitched their tents in order around the tabernacle at a distance from it, in just such a position as God commanded. The Lord directed all their travels through the wilderness by the pillar of cloud resting low directly over the tabernacle to show they should pitch and abide, and being lifted up high above the tabernacle to show they should journey again, with the ark of the covenant borne before them when the people journeyed.
The arrangement placed the tribes in orderly divisions with each tribe in its assigned place and each person assigned a particular duty, and the tribes moved in an appointed order. The orderly arrangement, including the named leader of Naphtali, was meant to show that the Lord governed Israel and to display to surrounding nations His majesty and holiness, His character, the purity He requires of His servants, and that His work is orderly and worthy of respect.
The arrangement is an example of God's careful organization that shows His work is to be carried out in order, not confusion, and from which later generations are to learn obedience.
Numbers 2:29 is part of the order God established for Israel's camping and marching, giving Naphtali its designated place under its own standard and naming Ahira son of Enan as its captain. Every tribe bore a standard with the sign of its father's house and was commanded to pitch by its own standard and to march in order under its own standard. When resting from journeying, the tabernacle was erected first, and then the different tribes pitched their tents in order around the tabernacle at a distance from it, in just such a position as God commanded. The Lord directed all their travels through the wilderness by the pillar of cloud resting low directly over the tabernacle to show they should pitch and abide, and being lifted up high above the tabernacle to show they should journey again, with the ark of the covenant borne before them when the people journeyed.
The arrangement placed the tribes in orderly divisions with each tribe in its assigned place and each person assigned a particular duty, and the tribes moved in an appointed order. The orderly arrangement, including the named leader of Naphtali, was meant to show that the Lord governed Israel and to display to surrounding nations His majesty and holiness, His character, the purity He requires of His servants, and that His work is orderly and worthy of respect.
The arrangement is an example of God's careful organization that shows His work is to be carried out in order, not confusion, and from which later generations are to learn obedience.