An encampment was the resting-place for a longer or shorter period of an army or company of travellers ( Exodus 13:20 ; 14:19 ; Joshua 10:5 ; 11:5 ). The manner in which the Israelites encamped during their march through the wilderness is described in Numbers 2,3 . The order of the encampment (see Numbers 2:17 ), the signal for which was the blast of two silver trumpets. Detailed regulations affecting the camp for sanitary purposes are given ( Leviticus 4:11,12 ; 6:11 ; 8:17 ; 10:4,5 ; 13:46 ; 14:3 ; Numbers 12:14,15 ; 31:19 ; Deuteronomy 23:10,12 ). Criminals were executed without the camp ( Leviticus 4:12 ; Compare John 19:17,20 ), and there also the young bullock for a sin-offering was burnt ( Leviticus 24:14 ; Compare Hebrews 13:12 ). In the subsequent history of Israel frequent mention is made of their encampments in the time of war ( Judges 7:18 ; 1 Samuel 13:2,3,16,23 ; 17:3 ; 29:1 ; 30:9,24 ). The temple was sometimes called "the camp of the Lord" ( 2 Chronicles 31:2 , RSV; Compare Psalm 78:28 ). The multitudes who flocked to David are styled "a great host (i.e., "camp;" Heb. mahaneh), like the host of God" ( 1 Chronicles 12:22 ).
Source
- part_of
source-manifest/easton— Easton's Bible Dictionary (PD)