What’s happening? We have two related problems: the ordering of the tribes and the spelling of the tribe that appears out of order in 1:14. Internal MT evidence suggests 2:14 with ר instead of ד is scribal error. LXX always reflecting ר might indicate this is a later amendment, but not sure. /5

There’s also a text critical element at play: 1:14 isn’t clear between MT and LXX on who is Gad’s father. LXX says Ραγουηλ (רעואל) but MT has דעואל. This confusion make sense, but it is interesting that MT has ד in this name everywhere except 2:14 whereas LXX consistently has Ρ capitalized. /4

It’s almost feels like Gad was missed in the appointing order in ch 1, and when Naphtali is the expected end the author realizes there’s one left over and then inserts Gad (somewhat) out of place. /3

Gad is placed in Reuben’s camp (south side of Tabernacle), along with Simeon. Though, Gad’s leader (Eliasaph) isn’t listed with Reuben/Simeon in ch 1, but comes in the group of what will become Dan’s camp: second to last (1:14) just before Naphtali’s leader (Ahira 1:15). /2

At the beginning of במדבר, Moshe and Aaron take a census and appoint heads of tribes. According to the grouping of tribes into camps (ch 2), there is seems to be a misordering in ch 1. (Or perhaps vice versa, but I’m inclined to the former) /1

Good thoughts. I don’t necessarily see this as bad, do you? Sole reliance on MT is misinformed, but it has emerged as the central textual authority for religion and academic communities alike (generally!) Do you suggest this should be changed? Paucity of DSS evidence makes this hard to change.

Precisely! Btw, I’m excited to find your posts. This is the kind of thing I joined the platform for, but ran out of steam myself. Looking forward to engaging further!

Off the cuff I think this is a pretty common confusion/discrepancy in HB/OT texts…. Something that drove me nuts in my earlier years of Hebrew learning as I couldn’t remember which verb was which!

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Torah portion Va'era (וָאֵרָא) tells of Aaron's rod turning into a serpent and the first seven plagues of Egypt: here are the plagues of blood, frogs, and lice. BL Add 27210; the 'Golden Haggadah'; 14th c; Spain, N. E.; ff. 11r-11v