Which tribes were stationed around the tabernacle, and who was left out?
The tribes stationed around the tabernacle were the twelve tribes, with Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh counted as two half-tribes taking Joseph’s place. Joseph was left out because the two half-tribes took his share, and Levi was left out because Levi was the priestly tribe and had no inheritance.
Les explains that the 12 tribes around the perimeter did not include Levi. Joseph was originally one of the 12, but by the time the tribes were stationed around the tabernacle, Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, are the two half-tribes that take Joseph’s place. So Joseph is left out, and Levi is left out because Levi was the priestly tribe. Later, even as they went into the Promised Land, Levi did not have an inheritance; they had a central area around Jerusalem for the priests to live. They were entitled to what came in from all the other tribes, much like God’s servants today depend on offerings, tithes, and gifts of believer friends.