I have a challenge for all you mathematicians out there.
I have been doing some research in Exodus and Numbers, and in Numbers 33:49 it says that Israel "camped by the Jordan, from Beth-jeshimoth as far as Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab." The distance from Beth-jeshimoth to Abel-shittim is said to be 12 miles. I am curious as to how many square miles would be required to accommodate a camp of some 3,000,000,000 people plus all the livestock they had with them. Bear in mind that the camp of the Israelites its self was laid out in a square. The mixed multitude that was with them was on outside of the camp parameter and would have always brought up the rear which in this camp meant they would have been camped to the south of the encampment. Beyond that would have been the livestock. If you are able to help with this I would appreciate it.
I have been doing some research in Exodus and Numbers, and in Numbers 33:49 it says that Israel "camped by the Jordan, from Beth-jeshimoth as far as Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab." The distance from Beth-jeshimoth to Abel-shittim is said to be 12 miles. I am curious as to how many square miles would be required to accommodate a camp of some 3,000,000,000 people plus all the livestock they had with them. Bear in mind that the camp of the Israelites its self was laid out in a square. The mixed multitude that was with them was on outside of the camp parameter and would have always brought up the rear which in this camp meant they would have been camped to the south of the encampment. Beyond that would have been the livestock. If you are able to help with this I would appreciate it.