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1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron:
2 "The Israelites should make their camps around the Meeting Tent, but they should not camp too close to it. They should camp under their family flag and banners."
3 The camp of Judah will be on the east side, where the sun rises, and they will camp by divisions there under their flag. The leader of the people of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab.
4 There are 74,600 men in his division.
5 Next to them the tribe of Issachar will camp. The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar.
6 There are 54,400 men in his division.
7 Next is the tribe of Zebulun. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon.
8 There are 57,400 men in his division.
9 There are a total of 186,400 men in the camps of Judah and its neighbors, in all their divisions. They will be the first to march out of camp.
10 The divisions of the camp of Reuben will be on the south side, where they will camp under their flag. The leader of the people of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur.
11 There are 46,500 men in his division.
12 Next to them the tribe of Simeon will camp. The leader of the people of Simeon is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.
13 There are 59,300 men in his division.
14 Next is the tribe of Gad. The leader of the people of Gad is Eliasaph son of Deuel.
15 There are 45,650 men in his division.
16 There are a total of 151,450 men in the camps of Reuben and its neighbors, in all their divisions. They will be the second group to march out of camp.
17 When the Levites march out with the Meeting Tent, they will be in the middle of the other camps. The tribes will march out in the same order as they camp, each in its place under its flag.
18 The divisions of the camp of Ephraim will be on the west side, where they will camp under their flag. The leader of the people of Ephraim is Elishama son of Ammihud.
19 There are 40,500 men in his division.
20 Next to them the tribe of Manasseh will camp. The leader of the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.
21 There are 32,200 men in his division.
22 Next is the tribe of Benjamin. The leader of the people of Benjamin is Abidan son of Gideoni.
23 There are 35,400 men in his division.
24 There are a total of 108,100 men in the camps of Ephraim and its neighbors, in all their divisions. They will be the third group to march out of camp.
25 The divisions of the camp of Dan will be on the north side, where they will camp under their flag. The leader of the people of Dan is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.
26 There are 62,700 men in his division.
27 Next to them the tribe of Asher will camp. The leader of the people of Asher is Pagiel son of Ocran.
28 There are 41,500 men in his division.
29 Next is the tribe of Naphtali. The leader of the people of Naphtali is Ahira son of Enan.
30 There are 53,400 men in his division.
31 There are 157,600 men in the camps of Dan and its neighbors. They will be the last to march out of camp, and they will travel under their own flag.
32 These are the Israelites who were counted by fam-ilies. The total number of Israelites in the camps, counted by divisions, is 603,550.
33 Moses obeyed the Lord and did not count the Levites among the other people of Israel.
34 So the Israelites obeyed everything the Lord commanded Moses. They camped under their flags and marched out by families and family groups. Aaron's Family, the Priests
The New Century Version (NCV)
The New Century Version (NCV) is a contemporary English translation of the Bible designed to be easily understandable and accessible to a broad audience. First published in 1987 by Thomas Nelson, the NCV originated from a project aimed at creating a simplified English translation for children. Over time, the scope of the translation expanded to cater to readers of all ages, including those with limited English proficiency and those new to the Bible. The NCV’s primary goal is to communicate the truths of Scripture in clear, everyday language that resonates with modern readers.
A notable feature of the NCV is its use of dynamic equivalence, or thought-for-thought translation philosophy. This approach prioritizes conveying the meaning and intent of the original texts over maintaining a strict word-for-word correspondence. By doing so, the NCV aims to make the Bible’s messages more relatable and easier to understand, especially for those who may find traditional translations challenging. The translation team worked diligently to balance accuracy with readability, ensuring that the essence of the biblical texts is preserved while making them more accessible to contemporary audiences.
The NCV also includes various study aids and features designed to enhance comprehension and engagement with the biblical text. These include introductions to each book of the Bible, footnotes that provide historical and cultural context, and cross-references that help readers see connections between different parts of Scripture. Additionally, the NCV often employs gender-neutral language where appropriate, aiming to be inclusive and respectful of modern sensibilities while remaining faithful to the original texts.
Despite its strengths, the New Century Version has faced some criticism from those who prefer more traditional or literal translations. Critics argue that the dynamic equivalence approach can sometimes result in a loss of nuance and depth found in the original languages. Additionally, some theologians express concern that the simplified language may not fully capture the richness and complexity of certain theological concepts. Nonetheless, the NCV remains a valuable resource for many readers, particularly those seeking a clear and approachable version of the Bible that helps them connect with and understand its timeless messages.