1. \En*camp"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Encamped} (?; 215); p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Encamping}.]
   To form and occupy a camp; to prepare and settle in temporary
   habitations, as tents or huts; to halt on a march, pitch
   tents, or form huts, and remain for the night or for a longer
   time, as an army or a company traveling.
         The host of the Philistines encamped in the valley of
         Rephaim.                                 --1 Chron. xi.
                                                  15.
   

2. \En*camp"\, v. t.
   To form into a camp; to place in a temporary habitation, or
   quarters.
         Bid him encamp his soldiers.             --Shak.
   

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

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

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

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