In the first [place] went the standard of the camp of the
children of Judah
Which tribe had the honour to go foremost and lead the van, the chief ruler, the Messiah being to come of it, as he did; who is King of Israel, and has gone forth at the head of them, fighting their battles for them:
according to their armies:
having, besides the army of the tribe of Judah, the armies of the tribes of Issachar and Zebulun under his standard:
and over his host [was] Nahshon the son of Amminadab;
he was captain general of the army of the tribe of Judah, as Nethaneel was over the host of the tribe of Issachar, ( Numbers 10:15 ) ; and Eliab over the host of the tribe of Zebulun, ( Numbers 10:16 ) ; the same commanders as were fixed at the time of settling the order of their encampment, ( Numbers 2:3 Numbers 2:5 Numbers 2:7 ) .