Numbers 5:4

KJV

And the children of Israel did so, and put them out without the camp: as the LORD spake unto Moses, so did the children of Israel.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} did so {H6213}, and put them out {H7971} without {H2351} the camp {H4264}: as the LORD {H3068} spake {H1696} unto Moses {H4872}, so did {H6213} the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The people of Isra'el did this and put them outside the camp - the people of Isra'el did what ADONAI had said to Moshe.

Berean Standard Bible

So the Israelites did this, sending such people outside the camp. They did just as the LORD had instructed Moses.

American Standard Version

And the children of Israel did so, and put them out without the camp; as Jehovah spake unto Moses, so did the children of Israel.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 5:4 serves as a concise yet profound testament to the immediate and complete obedience of the children of Israel to God's specific commands regarding ritual purity within their wilderness camp. This verse highlights their faithful execution of divine instructions, demonstrating a foundational principle of their covenant relationship with Yahweh and underscoring the sanctity required in the presence of a holy God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse provides the immediate response to the divine directives issued in [Numbers 5:1-3](/numbers/5-1 "Numbers 5:1-3 - God's Command for Purity"). In the preceding verses, the LORD meticulously instructs Moses to command the Israelites to remove from the camp anyone afflicted with leprosy, a bodily discharge, or defiled by contact with a dead body. This command is not merely a suggestion but a strict mandate, given the sacred nature of the camp due to the presence of the Tabernacle. Numbers 5:4 confirms that the people did not hesitate or question but acted precisely as commanded, thus closing the loop on this particular set of purity laws and setting the stage for further regulations concerning restitution and the ordeal of the unfaithful wife.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the Israelite wilderness journey, a period of profound spiritual formation and the establishment of the nation's identity as God's covenant people. The camp was not merely a collection of tents but a sacred space, a microcosm of the holy nation, with the Tabernacle—the dwelling place of God's presence—at its very center. Maintaining ritual purity was paramount, as defilement could not coexist with divine holiness. The expulsion of the ritually unclean was not a punishment but a necessary act to preserve the sanctity of the community and prevent the defilement of God's dwelling place among them, as detailed in various purity laws throughout [Leviticus](/leviticus/1 "The Book of Leviticus - Laws of Holiness"). This practice also served practical purposes, such as preventing the spread of disease, but its primary rationale was theological: to ensure the holiness of the people who lived in the immediate presence of a holy God, thereby safeguarding their relationship and avoiding divine judgment.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **did so (Hebrew, _ʿāśû'_):** This verb, derived from the root עָשָׂה (`'asah`), meaning "to do, make, accomplish," appears twice in the verse ("did so" and "so did"). Its repetition emphasizes the immediate, complete, and precise execution of God's command. It signifies not just an action, but a faithful and obedient response, highlighting the Israelites' adherence to the divine will without deviation or delay.
* **spake (Hebrew, _dibber'_):** From the root דָּבַר (`dabar`), meaning "to speak, declare, command," this word refers to the authoritative and direct utterance of the LORD to Moses. It underscores the divine origin and binding nature of the instructions. The Israelites' obedience is directly linked to the fact that it was the LORD Himself who "spake," establishing the divine authority behind the command and the human obligation to respond.
* **without the camp (Hebrew, _michutz lammachaneh'_):** This phrase, מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה, literally means "from outside the camp." It signifies a physical separation that carried profound spiritual and symbolic weight. To be "without the camp" meant to be excluded from the immediate presence of God and the community of His people, underscoring the seriousness of ritual impurity and the absolute necessity of holiness for those who dwell with a holy God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the children of Israel did so,"**: This opening clause immediately establishes the Israelites' response to the divine command given in the preceding verses. The phrase "did so" (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ כֵּן) indicates a direct and positive action, confirming their compliance without any recorded hesitation or resistance. It sets the tone for a narrative of obedience.
* **"and put them out without the camp:"**: This specifies the precise action taken by the Israelites. They physically removed those who were ritually unclean—individuals with leprosy, bodily discharges, or defiled by a dead body—from the communal living space. This act was crucial for maintaining the ritual purity and sanctity of the camp, which was deemed holy due to the presence of the Tabernacle and God's dwelling among them.
* **"as the LORD spake unto Moses, so did the children of Israel."**: This concluding clause powerfully reiterates and confirms the exact nature of their obedience. The repetition of the action ("did so" / "so did") and the explicit comparison ("as... so...") emphasizes that their actions were in perfect alignment with the divine word transmitted through Moses. It highlights the direct correlation between God's command and the people's faithful execution, underscoring the theme of absolute adherence to divine authority.

#### Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs **Repetition** and **Parallelism** to emphasize the central theme of complete obedience. The phrase "And the children of Israel did so" is echoed and reinforced by "so did the children of Israel" at the end of the verse, creating a powerful sense of closure and affirmation. This repetition serves as a rhetorical device to underscore the immediate and exact compliance of the people. Furthermore, the **Parallelism** between "as the LORD spake unto Moses" and "so did the children of Israel" highlights the direct cause-and-effect relationship between divine command and human action. The divine utterance is met with a perfectly corresponding human response, emphasizing the Israelites' faithfulness and the authority of God's word. This structure lends a declarative and authoritative tone to the verse, solidifying the impression of unwavering adherence to God's will.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 5:4 powerfully articulates the foundational theological principle of obedience to God's revealed will. In a covenant relationship, hearing God's word is intrinsically linked to acting upon it, as demonstrated by the Israelites' immediate and precise compliance. This obedience was not merely a legalistic adherence but an act of worship, acknowledging God's holiness and His right to establish order within His people. The act of putting the unclean "without the camp" underscores the vital importance of holiness, both ritual and spiritual, for a community that hosts the divine presence. It teaches that God's dwelling among His people necessitates a separation from anything that defiles, ensuring the integrity of the covenant and the well-being of the nation. This theme resonates throughout Scripture, emphasizing that true faith is always evidenced by faithful action.

* [Leviticus 11:44](/leviticus/11-44 "Leviticus 11:44 - Be Holy, For I Am Holy")
* [Deuteronomy 28:1-2](/deuteronomy/28-1 "Deuteronomy 28:1-2 - Blessings for Obedience")
* [1 Samuel 15:22](/1_samuel/15-22 "1 Samuel 15:22 - Obedience is Better Than Sacrifice")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 5:4 provides a timeless model for our walk of faith: immediate and complete obedience to God's word. Just as the physical camp of Israel needed to be kept pure for the presence of the LORD, so too our lives—our spiritual "camp"—must reflect God's desire for holiness. This means not only hearing His commands but actively and unreservedly putting them into practice. In a world that often values personal autonomy and questions authority, this verse calls us to a radical trust in God's wisdom and goodness, recognizing that His instructions are always for our ultimate good and His glory. It challenges us to examine areas where we might be hesitant or selective in our obedience, encouraging us to respond with the same unwavering commitment shown by the children of Israel, understanding that true devotion is demonstrated through faithful doing.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life am I called to immediate and complete obedience to God's word, and what holds me back?**
* **How does the concept of "holiness" in Numbers 5:4 apply to my personal life and my community of faith today?**
* **What "unclean" things might I need to "put out" of my spiritual "camp" to better honor God's presence?**

### FAQ
**Why was it so important for the Israelites to maintain ritual purity in their camp?**

Answer: Maintaining ritual purity was critically important for several interconnected reasons. Primarily, the Israelite camp was considered a sacred space because the Tabernacle, symbolizing God's direct presence, resided in its midst. A holy God cannot dwell amidst defilement without judgment. Therefore, the purity laws, as seen in [Numbers 5:1-3](/numbers/5-1 "Numbers 5:1-3 - God's Command for Purity") and throughout [Leviticus](/leviticus/1 "The Book of Leviticus - Laws of Holiness"), were designed to protect the sanctity of God's dwelling place and the integrity of the covenant relationship. They ensured that the people were prepared to encounter and live in the presence of a holy God, preventing His wrath and preserving their communal well-being. While these laws also had practical benefits (e.g., hygiene), their primary purpose was theological and spiritual, emphasizing the absolute distinction between the holy and the common, the clean and the unclean.

**What does "without the camp" signify beyond a physical location?**

Answer: "Without the camp" (מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה) signifies more than just a physical exclusion; it carries profound spiritual and symbolic meaning. To be "without the camp" meant to be separated from the immediate presence of God, who dwelt in the Tabernacle at the center of the camp, and from the community of His covenant people. This separation underscored the seriousness of ritual impurity and the absolute necessity of holiness for those who would dwell with a holy God. It symbolized a temporary state of alienation from the blessings and protection of the covenant community until purification rituals were completed. It served as a constant reminder that sin and defilement could not coexist with divine holiness, and that access to God's presence required a state of ritual and spiritual cleanliness.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 5:4, with its emphasis on purity and the expulsion of the unclean "without the camp," finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament purity laws, including those in Numbers, served as shadows pointing to the ultimate reality of spiritual defilement and the need for a perfect sacrifice to cleanse humanity from sin. Jesus, the spotless [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), perfectly fulfilled the requirements of holiness not by being put out of a physical camp due to impurity, but by willingly being "put out" of the city gate of Jerusalem to suffer and die, as described in [Hebrews 13:12-13](/hebrews/13-12 "Hebrews 13:12-13 - Jesus Suffered Outside the Gate"). Just as the unclean were removed from the Israelite camp to preserve its sanctity, Christ, bearing our sin and impurity, was taken "outside the camp" (symbolically, outside the holy city) to become our ultimate purification. Through His perfect obedience and sacrificial death, He cleansed us from all defilement, enabling us to draw near to a holy God, not based on our ritual purity, but on His perfect righteousness. He is the one who makes us truly clean, allowing us to dwell in the presence of God in the new covenant "camp," the Church, which is now made holy by His indwelling Spirit ([1 Corinthians 3:16](/1_corinthians/3-16 "1 Corinthians 3:16 - You Are God's Temple")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.