The position of each tribe also was specified. Each was to march and to encamp beside its own standard, as the Lord had commanded: "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." "As they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards." Numbers 2:2, 17. The mixed multitude that had accompanied Israel from Egypt were not permitted to occupy the same quarters with the tribes, but were to abide upon the outskirts of the camp; and their offspring were to be excluded from the community until the third generation. Deuteronomy 23:7, 8.

De enkelte stammers plads var også nøje angivet. Hver stamme skulle marchere og lejre sig under sit felttegn, som Herren havde befalet: "Israelitterne skal lejre sig hver under sit felttegn, under sit fædrenehus' mærke; i en kreds om åbenbaringsteltet skal de lejre sig." "I den rækkefølge, de lejrer sig skal de bryde op, hver på sin plads, felttegn for felttegn." 4. Mos. 2, 2. 17. Den sammenløbne hob, der var fulgt med Israel fra Ægypten, fik ikke lov at bo sammen med Israels stammer, men skulle bo i udkanten af lejren, og deres efterkommere skulle stå uden for menigheden indtil tredje slægtled. 5. Mos. 23, 7-8.