Camp in Biblical History

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Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Definitions in Biblical History
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What is a Camp?
CAMP
This term is frequently used in reference to the movements of the children of Israel, and many CAM CAM passages of the Levitical law relate to things that are to be done within or without the camp. The form of encamping, Ex 16:13, is particularly prescribed in Num 2. The tabernacle occupied the centre, and nearest to this were the tents of the Levites, who were intrusted with the principal care of it. Num 3. The whole body of the people, embracing upward of 600,000 fighting-men, besides women and children, were formed in four divisions, three tribes constituting a division, so that the tabernacle was enclosed in a hollow square. Each of these divisions had a standard, as well as each tribe and each of the large family associations of which the tribes were composed. Each tribe had its captain or commander assigned by God's direction. The view of such a mass of people, maintaining the most perfect order and subordination, might well excite the admiration of the beholder. Num 24:2-5. It is not difficult to imagine the emotions which such a view would awaken in one who, from the summit of Mount Peor, looked down upon the vast congregation of the Lord's people gathered around the sacred symbols of his presence. "How beautiful are thy tents, Jacob! And thy tabernacles, O Israel! As the Valleys are they spread forth; As gardens by the river's side; As the_trees_of_lign_aloes which Jehovah hath planted, As cedars beside the waters." Num 24:5-6. " Outside of the camp " must all defilement and all defiled persons be put. Consequently, lepers, those defiled by contact with the dead, captives taken in war, were kept out for a greater or less period, and the ashes of the sacrifice and all that was not burnt on the altar were carried out. The dead were there buried, and there executions and the burning of the young bullock for the sin-offering took place. See references in order:Lev 13:46; Lev 14:3; Num 12:14-15; Num 31:19; Josh 6:23; Deut 23:10,Jud 4:12; Lev 6:11;Lev 8:17 Lev 10:4-5; Lev 24:14; Lev 4:12. We are not to picture an enormous camp lying foursquare, containing regular streets, like CAM CAN a modern military camp, because in that case these regulations evidently could not be carried out without a great expenditure of time. But the Israelites traversed a country broken up into innumerable little valleys, and oftentimes the host must have stretched along for miles, but so closely hemmed in between mountain-sides that to go without the camp would be but a few steps. In later times, when Israel was settled in the Promised Land, we find scattered references to camps. They appear to have been generally pitched upon high ground. Jud 7:1, 1 Kgs 15:8; 1 Sam 17:4; 1 Sam 28:4. They were sometimes intrenched; at other times a barrier was formed of the baggage-wagons. Jehoshaphat established permanent camps. 2 Chr 17:2. CAM'PHIRE . Song of Solomon 4:13. A shrub, sometimes 10 feet high, growing in Egypt and other Eastern countries, and called henna (Lawsonia alba). The white-and-yellow flowers grow in clusters, like the lilac, and are very fragrant. From the leaves, when dried Camphire. (Lawsonia alba.) and pulverized, is made an orange or reddish dye, with which females stain their hands and feet. Sonnini says that Eastern women "are fond of decorating themselves with the flowers of the henna-plant; that they take them in their hands and perfume their bosoms with them." What we call camphor is an entirely different substance. It is remarkable that camphire is still found growing only at one place in Palestine, and that En-gedi. Song of Solomon 1:14.

Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'camp' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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