Matthew Poole and continuators on Numbers 2:2

2 Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard , with the ensign of their fathers house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.

Or, ensign, by that to which he is allotted by the following order. It is manifest that there were four great Standards or Ensigns, which here follow, distinguished by their colours or figures or otherwise; also that there were other particular Ensigns belonging to each of their Fathers Houses or Families, as is here said.

Partly out of reverence to God and his Worship and the portion allotted to it, and partly for caution, least their vicinity to it might tempt them to make too near approaches to it. It is supposed they were at 2000 cubits distance from it, which was the space between the people and the Ark, Ios. 3. 4. and it is not improbable, because the Levites encamped round about it, between them and the Tabernacle.

Marginal references: Heb. over against.