Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.
Ver. 2. Far off about the tabernacle.] About it: the emperor's tent is among his soldiers. Xerxes pitched his tent not only among, but above his soldiers, that he might look on them, when in fight, for their encouragement. So the Lord, who, as he "is round about his people": Psa 125:2 so they are "round about the Lord." Psa 76:12 "A people near unto him." Psa 148:14 Yet not so near, but they must know, and keep their just distance; as here they pitched far off, about the tabernacle, a mile off, as is gathered from Joshua 3:4. God, though he loves to be acquainted with men in the walks of their obedience, yet he takes state upon him in his ordinances, and will be trembled at in our addresses to his Majesty.