The Meaning of Numbers 10:25 Explained

Numbers 10:25

KJV: And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rereward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

YLT: And the standard of the camp of the sons of Dan hath journeyed (rearward to all the camps), by their hosts, and over its host is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

Darby: And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, the rear-guard of all the camps according to their hosts, and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai;

ASV: And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan, which was the rearward of all the camps, set forward according to their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the standard  of the camp  of the children  of Dan  set forward,  [which was] the rereward  of all the camps  throughout their hosts:  and over his host  [was] Ahiezer  the son  of Ammishaddai. 

What does Numbers 10:25 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 10:17-36 - "come Thou With Us"
The invitation of Moses to Hobab is one that we may all give to our friends: "We are journeying to the place of which the Lord hath spoken." "We should always be on the alert for those who are not formally united to the Church, and we can always promise that we can do them good. Only good awaits those who travel with their backs to Egypt and their faces toward the Heavenly City. God has prepared for those who love Him such good things as it is beyond words to declare. See 1 Corinthians 2:9.
And how much we may benefit by such companionships! Hobab was probably Moses' brother-in-law, and Jethro having returned to Midian, he was all the more needed to lead Israel to the best routes and the most suitable halting-places, where shade and water could be found. Such a guide would be invaluable. Ministers are such! For Hobab's reward see Judges 1:16; Judges 4:11. Who would not follow where the Ark of the Covenant leads, and rest where the cloud broods? John 10:4. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 10

1  The use of the silver trumpets
11  The Israelites move from Sinai to Paran
14  The order of their march
29  Hobab is entreated by Moses not to leave them
33  The blessing of Moses at the removing and resting of the ark

What do the individual words in Numbers 10:25 mean?

And set out the standard of the camp of the sons of Dan the rear guard of all the camps according to their armies and over their army [was] Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai
וְנָסַ֗ע דֶּ֚גֶל מַחֲנֵ֣ה בְנֵי־ דָ֔ן מְאַסֵּ֥ף לְכָל־ הַֽמַּחֲנֹ֖ת לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְעַל־ צְבָא֔וֹ אֲחִיעֶ֖זֶר בֶּן־ עַמִּישַׁדָּֽי

וְנָסַ֗ע  And  set  out 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָסַע  
Sense: to pull out, pull up, set out, journey, remove, set forward, depart.
דֶּ֚גֶל  the  standard 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דֶּגֶל  
Sense: banner, standard.
מַחֲנֵ֣ה  of  the  camp 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: מַחֲנֶה  
Sense: encampment, camp.
בְנֵי־  of  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
דָ֔ן  of  Dan 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּן 
Sense: the 5th son of Jacob, the st of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid.
מְאַסֵּ֥ף  the  rear  guard 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: אָסַף 
Sense: to gather, receive, remove, gather in.
לְכָל־  of  all 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הַֽמַּחֲנֹ֖ת  the  camps 
Parse: Article, Noun, common plural
Root: מַחֲנֶה  
Sense: encampment, camp.
לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם  according  to  their  armies 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
וְעַל־  and  over 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
צְבָא֔וֹ  their  army 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
אֲחִיעֶ֖זֶר  [was]  Ahiezer 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲחִיעֶזֶר  
Sense: a Danite chief who assisted Moses.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
עַמִּישַׁדָּֽי  of  Ammishaddai 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַמִּישַׁדָּי  
Sense: father of Ahiezer, prince of the tribe of Dan at the time of the exodus.