Numbers 13:8 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Of the tribe of Ephraim. — It has been supposed that there is some displacement of the text in this verse. Thus far the order of the tribes is the same as in Numbers 1:5-8. After Issachar, Zebulun (the sixth son of Leah) would naturally follow, as in Numbers 1:9, and Ephraim and Manasseh would naturally be connected, as in Numbers 1:10. This supposition is supported by the occurrence of the name of Joseph in Numbers 13:7; Numbers 13:11. The order of the remaining four tribes is the same as in Numbers 1, except that the tribe of Naphtali is placed before, instead of after, that of Gad.