Israelite Orderly Ranks Document

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Orderly Ranks of the Israelites

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While studying the Exodus, it became important to determine a reasonable estimate of how far the Israelites traveled during a day's journey. Originally, I didn't have the slightest idea of what numbers to plug in for this. So I decided to develop my own models for the purpose of testing. I took a number of measurements of people walking at various speeds. Next, I compared the measurements with the terrain in Egypt. After analyzing the data, the final conclusion was about 8 to 12 miles per day. Unfortunately, the Bible doesn't specify any distance or hours traveled per day. To make things even more complex, we don't know the locations of most of the places mentioned in the Bible. I concluded that eight miles would be the lower limit (their haste to get out of Egypt may have been a factor in their travel speed) and perhaps even as much as 15 miles could have been covered as a maximum limit.

I continued to study this issue and even resurched data sources that included military troop movement logistics of pre-mechanized infantry. A marching day over flat terrain was typically about 10 miles. For example, the Roman Legion typically marched about 10 miles per day. Also, during the US Civil War, Union and Confederate troops typically marched about 10 miles per day on foot (assuming over average terrain and not a forced march - although armies have marched further than 10 miles per day when they needed to do so).

I gave considerable thought to what would constitute a reasonable travel period per day and think 8 to 12 hours would be a good assumption (I don't know whether or not they stopped to rest during a days journey or if perhaps they walked 4 hours and rested a few hours). I think it is reasonable to conclude that the Israelites were able to cover an average of 10 miles per day.

There is another important factor to consider. The Bible states they traveled both day and night. Since they were probably not seasoned marchers (likely that many of them didn't even have sandals at the time) it would be unfair to assume that they went for 3 days without rest. However, because the scriptures say this, it becomes an important factor and perhaps even a clue as to how the Israelites traveled.

21And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.

The final outcome of the model was to divide them into two major groups, we can have one group move while the other rested (this seems to be the best fit for Scripture). The Israelite model was based on information provided in Numbers chapter two.

The illustration below depicts a model of the Israelites. For modeling purposes, each person is given 1 meter of "People Space". This is used to represent the minimum space that one person would occupy. Also, 1 meter of space is placed on both sides of each person including both forward and rear. Therefore, each person occupies one meter and has 1 meter space between them. The extra space is utilized for their personal property that must also be transported with them. The ranks are defined in Numbers chapter 2. This consist of:

The Bible lists the sizes of the tribes of Israel in Numbers chapter 2. For Judah and Ruben:

Judah total was 186,400 (Num 2:3-9)
Judah 74,600
Also Issachar and Nethanel 54,400
Zebulun and Eliab 57,400
Judah is to break camp first.

Important Note: For modeling purposes, an assumption is made that each family consist of the one male, one wife and one child that is, 3 people per family unit.

Reuben total of 151,450
Reuben 46,500
Simeon 59,300
Gad 45,650
Reuben is to break camp second

In the model, the tribes are placed in to columns. Each row consists of 100 people, which would be 200 meters wide (see model below)

Ephraim total was 108,100 (Num 2:19-34)
Ephraim 40,500
Also Manasseh 32,200
Benjamin 35,400
Ephraim is to break camp third
The total for Dan was157,600
Dan 62,700
Asher 41,500
Naphtali 53,400
Dan is to break camp last

As depicted in this model, when the groups assembled into orderly ranks, there are two columns separated by about 100 meters. The combined length of the two groups is 24 kilometers long (when not moving). In this scenario, group 1 (Judah and Reuben) would move out first. By the time group 2 (Ephraim and Dan) move out, the top half of group one is stopping to rest for the night. When on the move, the models indicate that the length would increase to perhaps as much as 50 kilometers. One way to imagine this would be like an accordion, always expanding and contracting (as they stop to rest and the other group begins to catch up).

To account for the herds mentioned in Exodus 12:38, they are put at the tail end of each column. Whether or not the herds were actually located at the rear is unknown. They could have been located on the flank of each column or could have been dispersed among the Israelites. Since the number and types of all of the animals composing the herd size is not given, I assumed that each family in Judah had two sheep (for modeling purposes - in reality not everyone would have had sheep and most people who had them would have had more than two,- I assume their donkeys and oxen would have been dispersed among the people to carry their supplies). Each sheep occupies one meter of space, with no space in between each animal. After rounding the numbers, I assumed a herd size of about 300,000 sheep (per column) occupying 200 meters by 1.5 kms long. I don't think this is too large a number and would most likely have been larger (hopefully there were no stampedes).