Camp

A dwelling-place in the desert, often linked with the idea of a wandering people.

Camps and the nomadic lifestyle of early Israel

At the time of the patriarchs

Genesis 25:16 See also Genesis 26:17, Genesis 31:25, Genesis 32:21, Genesis 33:18

These were the sons of Ishmael, and these were their names by their villages and encampments — twelve princes of their tribes.

During Israel's wanderings in the wilderness

Numbers 1:52, Numbers 9:17–18 See also Exodus 13:20, Exodus 16:13, Exodus 19:16–17, Exodus 32:26–27

The Israelites are to camp by their divisions, each man in his own camp and under his own standard.

Whenever the cloud was lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites would set out, and wherever the cloud settled, there the Israelites would camp. At the LORD’s command the Israelites set out, and at the LORD’s command they camped. As long as the cloud remained over the tabernacle, they remained encamped.

During the entry into the promised land

Joshua 4:19

On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho.

The camp as a symbol of God's holy presence

All that was unclean was put outside the camp

Leviticus 13:46; Deuteronomy 23:14 See also Exodus 29:14; Leviticus 24:14; Numbers 5:2–4; Hebrews 13:11–13 a picture of Jesus Christ's rejection

As long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp.

For the LORD your God walks throughout your camp to protect you and deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, lest He see anything unclean among you and turn away from you.

The camp and God's protection

Genesis 32:2 See also Psalm 34:7

When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God.” So he named that place Mahanaim.

The camp as a military base

1 Samuel 17:1 See also Judges 7:8–11, Judges 7:13–15; 2 Kings 3:24; Jeremiah 50:29; Ezekiel 4:2

Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war at Socoh in Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim.