The Arrangement of the Tribes in the Wilderness
1. The Structure of the Encampment in the Midbar
We are continuing our study of Parshas BaMidbar, focusing on how the shevatim—the tribes—were organized and traveled in the desert. At the center of the camp was the Mishkan—the Tabernacle—surrounded by the Leviim—Levites. Around them, on four sides, were four camps, each made up of three tribes, forming a square-like arrangement as they journeyed together.
This organization was not arbitrary. Rashi explains that it mirrored the way Yaakov instructed his sons to carry his coffin when they brought him from Mitzrayim to Eretz Canaan. The order of the shevatim during this procession set a precedent for their arrangement in the wilderness.
The rationale behind this order is rooted in family structure. Yaakov’s children came from four wives: Leah and Rachel (the primary wives), and Bilhah and Zilpah (the pilagshim—concubines). This distinction influenced how their descendants were grouped both in Yaakov’s lifetime and later in the desert.
2. Family Groupings and Maintaining Tribal Integrity
Yaakov treated his wives’ children differently at various points, such as when he prepared to meet Esav. He placed Yosef with Rachel at the back, Leah’s children before them, and those of Bilhah and Zilpah at the front. This hierarchy was also reflected in how Yosef felt about his brothers calling others bnei ha-shfachot—children of maidservants.
The Torah’s arrangement aimed to keep each family unit as intact as possible within the constraints of twelve tribes. Since Levi was assigned a unique role around the Mishkan and not counted among these outer camps, Yosef’s tribe was split into Menashe and Ephraim to maintain twelve groups.
This led to three main groupings: Rachel’s children (Menashe, Ephraim, Binyamin), Bilhah and Zilpah’s children (Dan, Naftali, Gad, Asher), and Leah’s children (Reuven, Shimon, Yehudah, Yissachar, Zevulun). However, since there were four sons from Bilhah and Zilpah but only space for three per camp, one had to be reassigned to balance out the numbers.
3. Assigning Tribes to Camps: Balancing Numbers
The division required some adjustment because there were four sons from Bilhah and Zilpah but only three spots per camp. The solution was to place Dan, Naftali, and Asher together as one group from Bilhah/Zilpah, while Gad was assigned elsewhere—specifically with Reuven and Shimon.
The reason Gad was chosen for this placement is discussed by various commentators. For example, some suggest it was due to their prowess as warriors. Regardless of specific reasons for each tribe’s placement, this system allowed for three groups of three tribes each around the Mishkan: Rachel’s children together; most of Bilhah/Zilpah’s together with one reassigned; Leah’s children forming two groups (since she had six sons but Levi was removed).
This structure ensured that each camp had three tribes while preserving family integrity as much as possible given these constraints.
4. Differences Between Counting Order and Traveling Order
The Torah presents two different orders for listing the tribes: one when counting them by number (sipur) and another when describing their travel formation (masa). When counting by number earlier in BaMidbar, it starts with Reuven (as firstborn), followed by Shimon and Gad—reflecting birth order rather than travel position.
However, when describing their journeying order during travel in this section (masa’ot), Yehudah is listed first because his camp was positioned on the east side—the front when traveling. Rashi notes that Yehudah led because they were at the head of the line whenever Bnei Yisrael moved out after hearing the shofar signal.
This distinction highlights that while tribal grouping remained consistent between census and travel arrangements, their sequence depended on context: birth order for counting versus geographic position for traveling.
5. The Role of Levi and Substitution Among Tribes
The tribe of Levi played a unique role by encamping around the Mishkan itself rather than being part of any outer camp or counted among those twelve tribes for these purposes. To maintain twelve outer groups after removing Levi from this count, Yosef’s tribe was split into Menashe and Ephraim.
This substitution allowed each camp to have three tribes despite Leah originally having six sons (with Levi removed) and Bilhah/Zilpah having four sons (with one reassigned). Thus we see Reuven-Shimon-Gad forming one group where Gad fills an open spot left by Levi's absence among Leah's descendants.
6. Nuances in Tribal Listing: Deviations from Strict Order
If we examine closely how Torah lists these tribes during counting versus encampment or travel descriptions, we notice some deviations from strict chronological or maternal order—especially among Bilhah/Zilphah's descendants at the end of these lists.
For example: after listing all Leah's children (excluding Levi), then Rachel's children (Yosef split into Menashe/Ephraim plus Binyamin), we would expect Dan-Naftali-Gad-Asher among Bilhah/Zilphah's sons if following age or maternal sequence strictly. Instead we find Don-Asher-Gad-Naftali—a different arrangement that seems out of expected order.
The Rebbe suggests that perhaps this reflects an order based on importance or other considerations relevant at that moment—such as military strength or leadership roles—rather than purely genealogy or age sequence. Still, despite these nuances or deviations at certain points in listing or function, overall structure remains consistent: sons of Leah first due to seniority; then Rachel's sons; then those from Bilhah/Zilphah—with some necessary adjustments for numbers or roles within Bnei Yisrael's journey through the Midbar.