26 Of the children H1121 of Judah, H3063 by their generations, H8435 after their families, H4940 by the house H1004 of their fathers, H1 according to the number H4557 of the names, H8034 from twenty H6242 years H8141 old H1121 and upward, H4605 all that were able to go forth H3318 to war; H6635
27 Those that were numbered H6485 of them, even of the tribe H4294 of Judah, H3063 were threescore and fourteen H7657 H702 thousand H505 and six H8337 hundred. H3967
28 Of the children H1121 of Issachar, H3485 by their generations, H8435 after their families, H4940 by the house H1004 of their fathers, H1 according to the number H4557 of the names, H8034 from twenty H6242 years H8141 old H1121 and upward, H4605 all that were able to go forth H3318 to war; H6635
29 Those that were numbered H6485 of them, even of the tribe H4294 of Issachar, H3485 were fifty H2572 and four H702 thousand H505 and four H702 hundred. H3967
30 Of the children H1121 of Zebulun, H2074 by their generations, H8435 after their families, H4940 by the house H1004 of their fathers, H1 according to the number H4557 of the names, H8034 from twenty H6242 years H8141 old H1121 and upward, H4605 all that were able to go forth H3318 to war; H6635
31 Those that were numbered H6485 of them, even of the tribe H4294 of Zebulun, H2074 were fifty H2572 and seven H7651 thousand H505 and four H702 hundred. H3967
32 Of the children H1121 of Joseph, H3130 namely, of the children H1121 of Ephraim, H669 by their generations, H8435 after their families, H4940 by the house H1004 of their fathers, H1 according to the number H4557 of the names, H8034 from twenty H6242 years H8141 old H1121 and upward, H4605 all that were able to go forth H3318 to war; H6635
33 Those that were numbered H6485 of them, even of the tribe H4294 of Ephraim, H669 were forty H705 thousand H505 and five H2568 hundred. H3967
34 Of the children H1121 of Manasseh, H4519 by their generations, H8435 after their families, H4940 by the house H1004 of their fathers, H1 according to the number H4557 of the names, H8034 from twenty H6242 years H8141 old H1121 and upward, H4605 all that were able to go forth H3318 to war; H6635
35 Those that were numbered H6485 of them, even of the tribe H4294 of Manasseh, H4519 were thirty H7970 and two H8147 thousand H505 and two hundred. H3967
36 Of the children H1121 of Benjamin, H1144 by their generations, H8435 after their families, H4940 by the house H1004 of their fathers, H1 according to the number H4557 of the names, H8034 from twenty H6242 years H8141 old H1121 and upward, H4605 all that were able to go forth H3318 to war; H6635
37 Those that were numbered H6485 of them, even of the tribe H4294 of Benjamin, H1144 were thirty H7970 and five H2568 thousand H505 and four H702 hundred. H3967
38 Of the children H1121 of Dan, H1835 by their generations, H8435 after their families, H4940 by the house H1004 of their fathers, H1 according to the number H4557 of the names, H8034 from twenty H6242 years H8141 old H1121 and upward, H4605 all that were able to go forth H3318 to war; H6635
39 Those that were numbered H6485 of them, even of the tribe H4294 of Dan, H1835 were threescore H8346 and two H8147 thousand H505 and seven H7651 hundred. H3967
40 Of the children H1121 of Asher, H836 by their generations, H8435 after their families, H4940 by the house H1004 of their fathers, H1 according to the number H4557 of the names, H8034 from twenty H6242 years H8141 old H1121 and upward, H4605 all that were able to go forth H3318 to war; H6635
41 Those that were numbered H6485 of them, even of the tribe H4294 of Asher, H836 were forty H705 and one H259 thousand H505 and five H2568 hundred. H3967
42 Of the children H1121 of Naphtali, H5321 throughout their generations, H8435 after their families, H4940 by the house H1004 of their fathers, H1 according to the number H4557 of the names, H8034 from twenty H6242 years H8141 old H1121 and upward, H4605 all that were able to go forth H3318 to war; H6635
43 Those that were numbered H6485 of them, even of the tribe H4294 of Naphtali, H5321 were fifty H2572 and three H7969 thousand H505 and four H702 hundred. H3967
44 These are those that were numbered, H6485 which Moses H4872 and Aaron H175 numbered, H6485 and the princes H5387 of Israel, H3478 being twelve H6240 H8147 men: H376 each H376 one H259 was for the house H1004 of his fathers. H1
45 So were all those that were numbered H6485 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 by the house H1004 of their fathers, H1 from twenty H6242 years H8141 old H1121 and upward, H4605 all that were able to go forth H3318 to war H6635 in Israel; H3478
46 Even all they that were numbered H6485 were six H8337 hundred H3967 thousand H505 and three H7969 thousand H505 and five H2568 hundred H3967 and fifty. H2572
47 But the Levites H3881 after the tribe H4294 of their fathers H1 were not numbered H6485 among H8432 them.
48 For the LORD H3068 had spoken H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559
49 Only thou shalt not number H6485 the tribe H4294 of Levi, H3878 neither take H5375 the sum H7218 of them among H8432 the children H1121 of Israel: H3478
50 But thou shalt appoint H6485 the Levites H3881 over the tabernacle H4908 of testimony, H5715 and over all the vessels H3627 thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear H5375 the tabernacle, H4908 and all the vessels H3627 thereof; and they shall minister H8334 unto it, and shall encamp H2583 round about H5439 the tabernacle. H4908
51 And when the tabernacle H4908 setteth forward, H5265 the Levites H3881 shall take it down: H3381 and when the tabernacle H4908 is to be pitched, H2583 the Levites H3881 shall set it up: H6965 and the stranger H2114 that cometh nigh H7131 shall be put to death. H4191
52 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 shall pitch their tents, H2583 every man H376 by his own camp, H4264 and every man H376 by his own standard, H1714 throughout their hosts. H6635
53 But the Levites H3881 shall pitch H2583 round about H5439 the tabernacle H4908 of testimony, H5715 that there be no wrath H7110 upon the congregation H5712 of the children H1121 of Israel: H3478 and the Levites H3881 shall keep H8104 the charge H4931 of the tabernacle H4908 of testimony. H5715
54 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 did H6213 according to all that the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses, H4872 so did H6213 they.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Numbers 1
Commentary on Numbers 1 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 1
Nu 1:1-54. Moses Numbering the Men of War.
1, 2. on the first day of the second month, &c.—Thirteen months had elapsed since the exodus. About one month had been occupied in the journey; and the rest of the period had been passed in encampment among the recesses of Sinai, where the transactions took place, and the laws, religious and civil, were promulgated, which are contained in the two preceding books. As the tabernacle was erected on the first day of the first month, and the order here mentioned was given on the first day of the second, some think the laws in Leviticus were all given in one month. The Israelites having been formed into a separate nation, under the special government of God as their King, it was necessary, before resuming their march towards the promised land, to put them into good order. And accordingly Moses was commissioned, along with Aaron, to take a census of the people. This census was incidentally noticed (Ex 38:26), in reference to the poll tax for the works of the tabernacle; but it is here described in detail, in order to show the relative increase and military strength of the different tribes. The enumeration was confined to those capable of bearing arms [Nu 1:3], and it was to be made with a careful distinction of the tribe, family, and household to which every individual belonged. By this rule of summation many important advantages were secured: an exact genealogical register was formed, the relative strength of each tribe was ascertained, and the reason found for arranging the order of precedence in march as well as disposing the different tribes in camp around the tabernacle. The promise of God to Abraham [Ge 22:17] was seen to be fulfilled in the extraordinary increase of his posterity, and provision made for tracing the regular descent of the Messiah.
3. Aaron shall number them by their armies—or companies. In their departure from Egypt they were divided into five grand companies (Ex 13:18), but from the sojourn in the wilderness to the passage of the Jordan, they were formed into four great divisions. The latter is here referred to.
4-16. with you there shall be a man of every tribe, &c.—The social condition of the Israelites in the wilderness bore a close resemblance to that of the nomad tribes of the East in the present day. The head of the tribe was a hereditary dignity, vested in the oldest son or some other to whom the right of primogeniture was transferred, and under whom were other inferior heads, also hereditary, among the different branches of the tribe. The Israelites being divided into twelve tribes, there were twelve chiefs appointed to assist in taking the census of the people.
5. these are the names of the men that shall stand with you, &c.—Each is designated by adding the name of the ancestors of his tribe, the people of which were called "Beni-Reuben," "Beni-Levi," sons of Reuben, sons of Levi, according to the custom of the Arabs still, as well as other nations which are divided into clans, as the Macs of Scotland, the Aps of Wales, and the O's and the Fitzes of Ireland [Chalmers].
16-18. These were the renowned—literally, "the called" of the congregation, summoned by name; and they entered upon the survey the very day the order was given.
18. by their polls—individually, one by one.
19. As the Lord commanded Moses, &c.—The numbering of the people was not an act sinful in itself, as Moses did it by divine appointment; but David incurred guilt by doing it without the authority of God. (See on 2Sa 24:10).
20-44. These are those that were numbered—In this registration the tribe of Judah appears the most numerous; and accordingly, as the pre-eminence had been assigned to it by Jacob [Ge 49:8-12], it got the precedence in all the encampments of Israel. Of the two half-tribes of Joseph, who is seen to be "a fruitful bough" [Ge 49:22], that of Ephraim was the larger, as had been predicted. The relative increase of all, as in the two just mentioned, was owing to the special blessing of God, conformably to the prophetic declaration of the dying patriarch. But the divine blessing is usually conveyed through the influence of secondary causes; and there is reason to believe that the relative populousness of the tribes would, under God, depend upon the productiveness of the respective localities assigned to them. [For tabular chart, see on Nu 26:64.]
45, 46. all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand, &c.—What an astonishing increase from seventy-five persons who went down to Egypt about two hundred fifteen years before [see on Ge 46:8], and who were subjected to the greatest privations and hardships! And yet this enumeration was restricted to men from twenty years and upwards [Nu 1:3]. Including women, children, and old men, together with the Levites, the whole population of Israel, on the ordinary principles of computation, amounted to about 2,400,000.
47-54. But the Levites … were not numbered among them—They were obliged to keep a register of their own. They were consecrated to the priestly office, which in all countries has been exempted customarily, and in Israel by the express authority of God, from military service. The custody of the things devoted to the divine service was assigned to them so exclusively, that "no stranger"—that is, no person, not even an Israelite of any other tribe, was allowed, under penalty of death, to approach these [Nu 16:40]. Hence they encamped round the tabernacle in order that there should be no manifestation of the divine displeasure among the people. Thus the numbering of the people was subservient to the separation of the Levites from those Israelites who were fit for military service, and to the practical introduction of the law respecting the first-born, for whom the tribe of Levi became a substitute [Ex 13:2; Nu 3:12].