10 "On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their divisions. The prince of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
On the south side [shall be] the standard of the camp (d) of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben [shall be] Elizur the son of Shedeur.
(d) Reuben and Simeon, the sons of Leah, and Gad, the son of Zilpah her maid, were of the second standard.
On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben, according to their armies,.... This camp consisted of the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad, which was divided into lesser bodies, regiments, or companies, called armies; and this was placed to the south of the tabernacle, or to the right hand, as Aben Ezra interprets it; this was the right wing of the whole army. Reuben's stone, according to the Jewish writers (h), was the "sardius", and his flag was coloured red, and there were figured upon it mandrakes. Simeon's stone was the topaz, and his flag was coloured green, and on it was figured "shechem". Gad's stone was the agate, and his flag was coloured neither black nor white, but mixed, and there was figured upon it a camp or host, on account of what is said, Genesis 49:19,
and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur; see Numbers 1:5.
(h) Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 2. fol. 178. 2.
On the south side the standard of the camp of Reuben--The description given of the position of Reuben and his attendant tribes on the south, of Ephraim and his associates on the west, of Daniel and his confederates on the north, with that of Judah on the east, suggests the idea of a square or quadrangle, which, allowing one square cubit to each soldier while remaining close in the ranks, has been computed to extend over an area of somewhat more than twelve square miles. But into our calculations of the occupied space must be taken not only the fighting men, whose numbers are here given, but also the families, tents, and baggage. The tabernacle or sacred tent of their Divine King, with the camp of the Levites around it (see on Numbers 3:38), formed the center, as does the chief's in the encampment of all nomad people. In marching, this order was adhered to, with some necessary variations. Judah led the way, followed, it is most probable, by Issachar and Zebulun [Numbers 10:14-16]. Reuben, Simeon, and Gad formed the second great division [Numbers 10:18-20]. They were followed by the central company, composed of the Levites, bearing the tabernacle [Numbers 10:21]. Then the third and posterior squadron consisted of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin [Numbers 10:22-24], while the hindmost place was assigned to Daniel, Asher, and Naphtali [Numbers 10:25-27]. Thus Judah's, which was the most numerous, formed the van: and Daniel's, which was the next in force, brought up the rear; while Reuben's and Ephraim's, with the tribes associated with them respectively, being the smallest and weakest, were placed in the center. (See on Numbers 10:13).
*More commentary available at chapter level.