An encampment was the resting-place for a longer or shorter period of an army or company of travellers ( Exodus 13:20 ; 14:19 ; Joshua 10:5 ; 11:5 ).

The manner in which the Israelites encamped during their march through the wilderness is described in Numbers 2 and 3. The order of the encampment (see CAMP) was preserved in the march ( Numbers 2:17 ), the signal for which was the blast of two silver trumpets. Detailed regulations affecting the camp for sanitary purposes are given ( Leviticus 4:11 Leviticus 4:12 ; 6:11 ; 8:17 ; Leviticus 10:4 Leviticus 10:5 ; 13:46 ; 14:3 ; Numbers 12:14 Numbers 12:15 ; 31:19 ; Deuteronomy 23:10 Deuteronomy 23:12 ).

Criminals were executed without the camp ( Leviticus 4:12 ; Compare John 19:17 John 19:20 ), and there also the young bullock for a sin-offering was burnt ( Leviticus 24:14 ; Compare Hebrews 13:12 ).

In the subsequent history of Israel frequent mention is made of their encampments in the time of war ( Judges 7:18 ; 1 Samuel 13:2 1 Samuel 13:3 1 Samuel 13:16 1 Samuel 13:23 ; 17:3 ; 29:1 ; 1 Samuel 30:9 1 Samuel 30:24 ). The temple was sometimes called "the camp of the Lord" ( 2 Chronicles 31:2 , RSV; Compare Psalms 78:28 ). The multitudes who flocked to David are styled "a great host (i.e., "camp;" Heb. mahaneh), like the host of God" ( 1 Chronicles 12:22 ).

These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.