Chapter 1
Chapter 1 in summary: On
the first day of the second month of the second year after the departure from
Egypt, the tabernacle being erected, and it and the priests consecrated, Moses
is commanded to make a census or enumeration of the people, the Levites excepted,
who were appointed to watch over, guard, pitch, and carry the tabernacle and
its holy furniture.
Num
1:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the
tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the
second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,
The Lord - H3068 yehôvâh (the) self Existent or eternal;
Jehovah, Jewish national name of God: - Jehovah, the Lord. (Strong’s) English
translators followed the Septuagint, and adopted the appellative Lord for the
proper name Jehovah, the one eternal and immutable Being.
And the Lord spake unto
Moses — The Almighty orders a general
census to be taken of all the Israelite men, from twenty years old and upwards,
the Levites excepted; and a careful distinction to be observed in the tribes,
families, and households; for these reasons:
1st, That every one might
know, and deliver to his posterity, a clear account from what tribe he
descended, and to what family he belonged:
2nd, That the Israelites
might see how fully he had made good his promise to Abraham, of multiplying his
seed:
3rdly, That they might
know what strength they had for war, in case of any attack from their enemies:
4thly, That they might
better dispose of their camp about the tabernacle, now that it was erected, and
march more regularly when they removed from mount Sinai: and,
5thly, That hereby the
genealogy of the Messiah, who was to be born of this nation, might be fully
ascertained.
And the LORD spake unto
Moses – The phrase “the LORD spoke to
Moses” occurs between 80-150 times in the Book of Numbers, depending on the
commentator, in multiple ways (such as “the Lord commanded”).
the first day of the second
month - A month had passed away since
the setting up of the tabernacle Exodus 40:2 On the first day of the first month shalt
thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. Exodus
40:17 And it came to pass in the first
month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle
was reared up.
the first day of the
second month - As the tabernacle was
erected upon the first day of the first month, in the second year after their
coming out of Egypt, Exo_40:17; and this muster of the people was made on the
first day of the second month, in the same year; it is evident that the
transactions related in the preceding book (Leviticus) must all have taken
place in the space of one month, and during the time the Israelites were
encamped at Mount Sinai, before they had begun their Journey to the promised
land.
the wilderness of Sinai
- Which is different from the
wilderness of Sin, Exodus
16:1 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of
the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim
and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out
of the land of Egypt. and had
its name from the mountain so called, on which God gave the law of the
decalogue, and where the Israelites had been encamped eleven months, Exodus 19:1 In the third month, when the children of
Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into
the wilderness of Sinai.
in the tabernacle of
the congregation - which had now been
set up a whole month, and out of which the Lord had delivered to Moses the
several laws recorded in the preceding book in that space of time.
Tabernacle of the
congregation - Literally, the tent of
appointment, or stated meeting. The Septuagint calls it “the tent of witness,”
and the Vulgate “the tent of the covenant.” The book of the Law, the witness of
the covenant, was kept here. It was constructed by Bezaleel and Aholiab after
the model shown to Moses on the mount. Exodus 26:30. It was a portable
mansion-house and temple, the miniature of the great temple of Solomon. Its
position was significant and commanding. On the east, between it and the camp
under the lead of Judah, were the tents of the priests; southward, between it
and the camp of Reuben, were the Kohathites placed; on the west, between it and
the camp of Ephraim, the Gershonites had their abodes; and on the north,
between it and the camp of Dan, was the station of the Merarites.
Numbered for war; set
apart for worship
The people were numbered
to show God's faithfulness in thus increasing the seed of Jacob, that they
might be the better trained for the wars and conquest of Canaan, and to
ascertain their families in order to the division of the land. It is said of
each tribe, that those were numbered who were able to go forth to war; they had
wars before them, though now they met with no opposition.
Num
1:2 Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel,
after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their
names, every male by their polls;
Take ye the sum - God, having established the commonwealth of Israel by
just and equitable laws, ordained everything relative to the due performance of
his own worship, erected his tabernacle, which was his throne, and the place of
his residence among the people, and consecrated his priests who were to
minister before him; he now orders his subjects to be mustered,
1. That they might see he
had not forgotten his promise to Abraham, but was multiplying his posterity.
2. That they might observe
due order in their march toward the promised land.
3. That the tribes and
families might be properly distinguished; that all litigations concerning
property, inheritance, etc., might, in all future times, be prevented.
4. That the promise
concerning the Messiah might be known to have its due accomplishment, when in
the fullness of time God should send him from the seed of Abraham. And,
5. That they might know
their strength for war; for although they should ever consider God as their
protector and defense, yet it was necessary that they should be assured of
their own fitness, naturally speaking, to cope with any ordinary enemy, or to
surmount any common difficulties.
Take ye the sum of all
the congregation of the children of Israel - Excepting the Levites; nor were any account taken of the mixed
multitude that came out of Egypt with the children of Israel; this account was
taken, partly to observe the fulfilment of the divine promise to Abraham
concerning the multiplication of his seed, and partly that it might be
observed, that at the end of thirty eight years from hence, when they were
numbered again, there were but three left of this large number, their carcasses
falling in the wilderness because of their sins; and this sum was now taken to prepare
them to preserve due order in their march; and to distinguish the tribes and
families. Numbers 10:11 And it came to pass
on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud
was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony.
Take the sum — The census here and in Exodus were for different
ends; the first was to tax them for the charges of the tabernacle; but this was
for other ends, partly that the great number of the people might be known to
the praise of God's faithfulness, in making good his promises of multiplying
them, and to their own encouragement: partly for the better ordering their camp
and march, for they were now beginning their journey; and partly that this
account might he compared with the other in the close of the book, where we
read that not one of all this vast number, except Caleb and Joshua were left
alive; a fair warning to all future generations to take heed of rebelling
against the Lord.
by the house of their
fathers - for if the mother was of
one tribe, and the father of another, the family was according to the tribe of
the father.
every male by their
poll - or head; for none but males
were numbered. Christians, both male and female, Galatians
3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free,
there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians
3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs
according to the promise. are a numbered people, written in heaven,
in the book of life, Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this
rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because
your names are written in heaven. placed
into the hand of Christ, and exactly known by him, even by name; yea, all that
belong to him are numbered, and the very hairs of their heads Luke 12:7 But even the very hairs
of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than
many sparrows.
After their families - This census was more than an individual
enumeration: it was a tribal and family registration, and was necessary for the
efficient organization of the army. An incidental but very important result of
this family registration was the documentary provision which it afforded for
tracing the lineage of the Messiah. The formation of family surnames is seen in
Numbers 26. For example, Numbers 26:5
Reuben, the eldest son of Israel: the children of Reuben; Hanoch, of whom
cometh the family of the Hanochites: of Pallu, the family of the
Palluites:
With the number of
their names — There is no
corresponding clause in the account of the later numbering in Numbers 26:2 Take the sum of all the congregation of the
children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their fathers'
house, all that are able to go to war in Israel.
Note that the command was
given to Moses, Numbers
1:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the
tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the
second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, but that Aaron was also to be involved in the matter
in his new position as the High Priest. Numbers
1:3 From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to
war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies.
Num
1:3 From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to
war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies.
From twenty years old
and upward - In this census no women
were reckoned, nor children, nor strangers, nor the Levites, which,
collectively, must have formed an immense multitude; the Levites alone amounted
to 22,300. Numbers 3:39 All that were
numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of
the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward,
were twenty and two thousand. True-born Israelites only are
reckoned; such as were able to carry arms, and were expert for war.
all that are able to go
forth to war in Israel - who being
about to journey, might expect to meet with enemies, with whom they would be
obliged to engage in battle; and therefore it was proper to know their strength,
and whom to call out upon occasion:
That are able to go
forth to war - It would seem from
this that none of the aged and infirm were numbered, as being unable to go to
war.
thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies - each tribe making a considerable army; these people
were now typical of the church of God in its militant state in the wilderness,
for which they are provided for, and prepared.
shall number them by
their armies - 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
was seen to be fulfilled in the extraordinary increase of his posterity, and
provision made for tracing the regular descent of the Messiah.
Notice that Moses and
Aaron count together. They form a type depiction, a prophetic picture of Jesus,
who is called “the Apostle and High Priest” Hebrews
3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider
the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Jesus
is our advocate before God and He is the High Priest on the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews
7:17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of
Melchisedec.
Zechariah
6:13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the
glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon
his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
Num
1:4 And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of
the house of his fathers.
And with you there
shall be a man of every tribe - Furthermore
twelve men were to be called on to assist, one from each of the twelve tribes,
each to be the head of his father’s house, the prince of the tribe. Each would
be responsible for the ‘numbering’ his tribe.
Every one head of the
house of his fathers – The Hebrew
word is nasiy, a noun meaning something that is lifted up, a prince, a leader
or ruler. Here it refers to a leader of the people of the tribe he belonged to,
as appears from Num_1:16 and Num_7:2, where an account is given of the same
persons that offered at the dedication of the altar, who here assisted in the
taking this account; The Israelites being divided into twelve tribes, there were
twelve chiefs appointed to assist in taking the census of the people.
Please note in the
following verses the names of the men chosen by God. Most of their names contain
a reference to God: ‘El’ means ‘God’ etc. Despite a stay in Egypt, all any of
them have ever known, the Israelites did not forget their God. Many of these men were seen earlier in
Exo_18:21-26.
Num
1:5 And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of the
tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur.
these are the names of
the men that shall stand - Be present
with Moses and Aaron when numbering the people; not merely as spectators of the
affair, but as assistants in the work; each man in his tribe, being best
acquainted with the families and houses in it;
these are the names of
the men that shall stand - these men
were not pitched upon by Moses and Aaron, nor chosen by their respective
tribes, but were appointed and named by the Lord himself, which was doing them
great honor:
Elizur – signifying "my God the rock" or “my God is
a rock”. Most of their names show how much God was in the thoughts of those
who, imposed these names on their children, several of them having in them
"El" or "Eli", "God" or "my God", and
"Shaddai", "Almighty" or "all-sufficient": to
which may be added, that in some of them they seem to respect the Messiah
of the tribe of Reuben - The tribes are here placed not in the order of their
birth, but of their mothers; first the children of Leah, then of Rachel, and
then of the two handmaids.
The son of Shedeur – The name means ‘the Almighty is a flame’ or ‘Shaddai
is my light’.
Num
1:6 Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
Shelumiel - "at peace with God" or "God my peace."
One commentator states it means ‘God is my friend.’
Zurishaddai – ‘my God all-sufficient’; One commentator translates
it as ‘my rock is the Almighty’ or ‘Shaddai is my rock’.
Num
1:7 Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
Nahshon the son of
Amminadab – Not much is known about these 2 men except that they are in the line of Jesus. Matthew 1:2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and
Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
Matthew 1:3
And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom
begat Aram; Matthew 1:4 And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat
Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; Nashon’s name was also spelled Naasson. His name means
“diviner or prophet”. Amminadab, or Aminadab means ‘people of the willing Giver.’
Nahshon’s brother in law was Aaron. Exodus
6:23 And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of
Naashon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
Num
1:8 Of Issachar; Nethaneel the son of Zuar.
Nethaneel - means “the gift of God”
the son of Zuar - means ‘small’.
Num
1:9 Of Zebulun; Eliab the son of Helon.
Eliab - "my God is Father."
Num
1:10 Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud:
of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
Elishama - means "my God has heard." Elishama was grandfather of Joshua 1 Chronicles
7:26-27.
the son of Ammihud – means ‘the people of Majesty’.
Gamaliel – means “God is my reward” or "my God is a rewarder."
the son of Pedahzur – means ‘the rock that redeems’
of the children of
Joseph - who were divided into two
sections, or tribes, one division taking the place of the Levites, who were not
numbered with the tribes.
Num
1:11 Of Benjamin; Abidan the son of Gideoni.
Abidan - means, "my Father is judge."
the son of Gideoni – means ‘cutter down’ or ”warlike”.
Num
1:12 Of Dan; Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
Ahiezer – means ‘brother of help’
the son of Ammishaddai
– means ‘the
people of the Almighty’.
Num
1:13 Of Asher; Pagiel the son of Ocran.
Pagiel – believed by some scholars to mean "event of
God" or ‘God has met me’
the son of Ocran - means ‘tormented’ or
‘muddler’
Num
1:14 Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
Eliasaph - means ‘God has added’
the son of Deuel - ‘known by God.’ This person is called Reuel, Numbers 2:14 Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain
of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel. As the ד daleth is very like the ר resh, it was easy to mistake the one for the
other. The majority of MSS. Concur with the use of Deuel in this verse; and
this reading is supported by Num_10:20; we may safely conclude therefore that דעואל Deuel, not רעואל Reuel, was the original reading.
Num
1:15 Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan.
Ahira - Means ‘brother of evil’ or “brother of wrong”
the son of Enan - Means ‘seeing’ or “having eyes”.
Num
1:16 These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes
of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.
These were the renowned
of the congregation - Literally, the
called of the congregation - whom God had called by name and selected from the
rest of the congregation to the above service, whereby great honor was done
them. The order of the tribes In the above enumeration may be viewed thus: -
Sons of Leah
1. Reuben
2. Simeon
3. Judah
4. Issachar
5. Zebulun
Sons of Rachel
6. Ephraim
7. Manasseh
8. Benjamin
1st son of Bilhah,
Rachel’s maid
9. Dan
2d son of Zilpah, Leah’s
maid
10. Asher
1st son of Zilpah.
11. Gad
2d son of Bilhah.
12. Naphtali
princes of the tribes
of their fathers - as Elizur was
prince of the children of Reuben, Num_7:30; the same is there said of the rest
in their respective tribes:
heads of thousands in
Israel - the congregation of Israel
being divided into thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, Exodus 18:25 And Moses chose able men out of all
Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of
hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. by the advice of Jethro, Exodus 18:21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all
the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and
place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers
of fifties, and rulers of tens: each of these divisions had
princes as rulers or heads of thousands.
Num
1:17 And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their
names:
Moses and Aaron took
these men which are expressed by their names - distinguished by being selected by the Lord Himself; They
doubtless sent for them, and acquainted them with the nomination of them, by
the Lord himself, for such a service; and they took them with them to the place
where the number of the people was to be taken:
Num 1:18
And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second
month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of
their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and
upward, by their polls.
Declared their
pedigrees — More literally, announced
themselves as having been born—i.e., caused themselves to be enrolled. Pedigrees,
families, and house of their fathers indicate more than four generations in
Egypt. The people appear to have been enrolled by their polls, i.e.,
individually, under three heads—(1) according to the tribe to which they
belonged; (2) according to the mishpahah, or family; and (3) according to their
father’s house. The importance of this enrolment, as affording the means of
tracing the genealogy of Christ, must not be overlooked.
they declared their
pedigrees - the people declared their
pedigrees, of what tribe, family, and house they were, who their parents, when
born, and so, of course, how old they were;
they assembled all the
congregation together on the first day of the second month - The month Ijar, as the Targum of Jonathan writes,
answering to part of April and May: this was done on the selfsame day the Lord
spoke to Moses about this affair, Numbers 1:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness
of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second
month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt,
saying, so expeditious were he
and Aaron in doing the will of God: True obedience is always prompt and
unquestioning.
after their famines - that is, every tribe gave an account of the families
in it, every family what houses were in it, and every house what number of
males were in it, and of what age; and such were numbered who were twenty years
old and upward.
by their polls — individually, one by one. The census is to be
individual as well as family and tribal. In this census no women were reckoned,
nor children, nor minors, nor strangers, nor Levites, nor old men; which,
collectively, must have formed an immense multitude; the Levites alone amounted
to 22,300 men.
Num
1:19 As the LORD commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness
of Sinai.
As the Lord commanded - 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 2 Samuel 24 and 1Ch_21:17.
he numbered them in the
wilderness of Sinai - where they now were
when this order was given, Num_1:1; and from whence they removed the twentieth
day of this month, Num_10:11; so that in less than three weeks time, perhaps
much sooner, this affair was finished.
Num
1:20 And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their
generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to
the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and
upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
By their generations —The toledoth, or generations, included the whole of
the descendants of the head of the tribe. The persons begotten of Reuben’s
immediate children, who are here subdivided into families, and they into
houses, and they into particular persons.
And the children of
Reuben - they were numbered according
to the order in which they were to be encamped; for under Reuben's standard
were Simeon and Gad, and under Judah's Issachar and Zebulun, and under
Ephraim's Manasseh and Benjamin, and under Dan's Asher and Naphtali; and according
to their order were the tribes numbered:
And the children of
Reuben - Reuben, the firstborn, did
not excel in number, six of the tribes having more in number than he: Judah had
by far the greatest increase of them all, from whom the chief ruler, Messiah, was
to come; Ephraim, the younger son of Joseph, was much more fruitful than
Manasseh, his elder, more than eight thousand being numbered of the former than
of the latter, all which agree with Jacob's prophecies, Genesis 49:3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my
might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the
excellency of power: Genesis 49:4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not
excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he
went up to my couch.; nor had they always the greatest number who
had the most sons at their going down into Egypt; for though Simeon, who had
then more sons than Reuben, had at this time a larger posterity; yet Gad, who
had more than Simeon, had now fewer descendants; and Dan, who had but one son
at that time, had now almost double the number of Benjamin, who then had ten
sons: and it may be observed of other tribes, that their increase was not in
proportion to the number of the sons of the patriarchs then;
Reuben, Israel's eldest
son - We note here that Reuben is
named first, and declared to be ‘the firstborn of Israel’, distinguishing his
status (see also Numbers 26:5). Thus the sons of Rachel and the concubines were
not seen as including ‘firstborns’. There was only one firstborn in the family,
the firstborn of the father.
The tribes were now
assessed tribe by tribe in order to give a total picture, (L=sons of Leah,
R=sons of Rachel, B=sons of Bilhah, Z=sons of Zilpah), commencing with Jacob’s
firstborn, Reuben. The order is slightly unusual. Reuben (L), Simeon (L), Gad
(Z), Judah (L), Issachar (L), Zebulun (L), Ephraim (R), Manasseh (R), Benjamin
(R), Dan (B), Asher (Z), Naphtali (B). While on the whole the sons of the full
wives are mentioned first, Gad (born of Zilpah) replaces Levi among the sons of
Leah (L) for no obvious reason except that one of the concubine tribes had to
join the Leah tribes in order to make up the ‘threes’ once Levi dropped out,
and Gad were noted for their resilience, fierceness and righteousness for the
Lord Genesis 49:19 Gad, a troop shall overcome
him: but he shall overcome at the last.
Deuteronomy 33:20 And of Gad he said, Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad:
he dwelleth as a lion, and teareth the arm with the crown of the head. Deuteronomy 33:21 And he
provided the first part for himself, because there, in a portion of the
lawgiver, was he seated; and he came with the heads of the people, he executed
the justice of the LORD, and his judgments with Israel. The
‘sons’ of Rachel (R) then follow. After them come the other sons of the
concubines Bilhah (B) and Zilpah (Z), not in sequence but seen as combined
Num
1:21 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were
forty and six thousand and five hundred.
About thirty-eight years
after this census another was taken on the table-lands of Moab, east of the
Jordan, just before entering into Canaan. The difference between the two
censuses eloquently portray the hardships of that wilderness life during more
than a third of a century in which the people actually decreased instead of
doubling their number:
Tribal census – Numbers 1
- Numbers 26
1. Judah - 74,600 - 76,500
2. Dan - 62,700 - 64,400
3. Simeon - 59,300 - 22,200
4. Zebulun - 57,400 -
60,500
5. Issachar - 54,400 -
64,300
6. Naphtali - 53,400 - 45,400
7. Reuben - 46,500 -
43,730
8. Gad - 45,650 - 40,500
9. Asher - 41,500 - 53,400
10. Ephraim - 40,500 -
32,500
11. Benjamin - 35,400 - 45,600
12. Manasseh - 32,200 -
52,700
Total - 603,550 - 601,730
The sons of Joseph Ephraim
and Manasseh though each less than the average of the other tribes, because a
generation later, yet, counted as one, rank second in the first census and
first in the second census. Hence the prediction, Joseph shall be a fruitful
bough, is fulfilled.
Num
1:22 Of the children of Simeon, by their generations, after their
families, by the house of their fathers, those that were numbered of them,
according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty
years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
A similar mobilization
took place for the tribe of Simeon,
Num
1:23 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were
fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.
Num
1:24 Of the children of Gad, by their generations, after their families,
by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from
twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
The tribe of Gad marched,
along with that of Simeon, under the standard of Reuben (Numbers 2); and it
seems, on that account, to have been introduced in this order. The other tribes
also, are here classed together according to their encampments, and the order
of their subsequent march.
Num
1:25 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Gad, were
forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty.
Num
1:26 Of the children of Judah, by their generations, after their
families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names,
from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
In this registration the
tribe of Judah appears the most numerous; and accordingly, as the pre-eminence
had been assigned to it by Jacob, it got the precedence in all the encampments
of Israel.
Num
1:27 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Judah, were
threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.
Threescore and fourteen
thousand - Far more than any other
tribe.
Num
1:28 Of the children of Issachar, by their generations, after their
families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names,
from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Num
1:29 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar,
were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.
Num
1:30 Of the children of Zebulun, by their generations, after their
families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names,
from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Num
1:31 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Zebulun, were
fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.
Num
1:32 Of the children of Joseph, namely, of the children of Ephraim, by
their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers,
according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all
that were able to go forth to war;
Num 1:33
Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty
thousand and five hundred.
The tribe of Ephraim were
forty thousand and five hundred -
Ephraim, as he was blessed beyond his eldest brother Manasseh, Genesis 48:19 And his father refused, and said, I
know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be
great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed
shall become a multitude of nations.
Genesis
48:20 And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless,
saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before
Manasseh. so here he is
increased by thousands more than Manasseh, and more than the whole tribe of
Benjamin, and his blessing continued above his brother, Deuteronomy 33:17
His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the
horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of
the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the
thousands of Manasseh. And thus the prophecy, Gen_48:19, was
fulfilled: His younger brother (Ephraim) shall be greater than he, (Manasseh).
Num
1:34 Of the children of Manasseh, by their generations, after their
families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names,
from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Num
1:35 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Manasseh,
were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
Num
1:36 Of the children of Benjamin, by their generations, after their
families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names,
from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Num
1:37 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Benjamin,
were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.
Thirty-five thousand - The smallest number, except one, though Benjamin had
more immediate children than any of his brethren, Genesis
46:21 And the sons of Benjamin were Belah,
and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim,
and Ard. ; whereas Dan had but one immediate son, Genesis 46:23 And the sons of Dan; Hushim. yet
now his number is the largest but one of all the tribes, and is almost double
to that of Benjamin.
Num
1:38 Of the children of Dan, by their generations, after their families,
by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from
twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Num
1:39 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Dan, were
threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.
threescore and two
thousand and seven hundred - 62,700
men.
Num
1:40 Of the children of Asher, by their generations, after their
families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names,
from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Num
1:41 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Asher, were
forty and one thousand and five hundred.
Num
1:42 Of the children of Naphtali, throughout their generations, after
their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the
names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to
war;
Num
1:43 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Naphtali,
were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.
Num
1:44 These are those that were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered,
and the princes of Israel, being twelve men: each one was for the house of his
fathers.
the princes of Israel,
being twelve men - for though the
tribe of Levi was not numbered, yet Joseph having a double portion, his two
sons are reckoned as distinct tribes; so that one out of each tribe made up the
number twelve:
These are those that were
numbered - We have here the
sum total. How much was required to maintain all these in the wilderness! They
were all provided for by God every day.
Num
1:45 So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by
the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were
able to go forth to war in Israel;
all those that were
numbered of the children of Israel -Of
all the tribes, excepting Levi, that is, all the sums of the number of the
children of Israel; all put together made the sum total given in the next
verse:
Num
1:46 Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three
thousand and five hundred and fifty.
all that were numbered
- What an astonishing increase from
seventy persons Genesis 46:27 And the sons
of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the
house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten. who went down to Egypt four hundred thirty
years before, Exodus 12:40 Now the
sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and
thirty years. and who were subjected to the greatest privations
and hardships! And yet this enumeration was restricted to men from twenty years
and upwards [Num_1:3]. Including women, children, and old men, together with
the Levites, the whole population of Israel, could easily have been over two
million.
Num
1:47 But the Levites after the tribe of their
fathers were not numbered among them.
the Levites were not
numbered among them - The
omission of the Levites from the census was due to the circumstance that the
Levites were a consecrated body, whose duty it was to serve the Lord at the Tabernacle.
The custody of the things devoted, to the divine service was assigned to them
so exclusively that 'no stranger' - i:e., no person, not even an Israelite of
any other tribe-was allowed, under penalty of death, to approach these Numbers 16:40 To be a memorial unto the children of
Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer
incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the
LORD said to him by the hand of Moses. and
hence, they encamped around the tabernacle, that there should be no
manifestation of the divine displeasure among the people. A special census of
Levites will be found in Numbers Numbers
3:15 Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by
their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number
them.
The formal appointment is
only now made, in reward for their zeal, which, in the matter of the golden
calf, the tribe of Levi had distinguished itself. Exodus
32:26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the
LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves
together unto him.
Exodus
32:27 And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every
man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the
camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every
man his neighbour.
Exodus 32:28
And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of
the people that day about three thousand men.
Exodus
32:29 For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even
every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a
blessing this day. though
reference to their future office appears previously in Lev_25:32, and they had
already acted as assistants to the priests.
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 Numbers 3:12 And I, behold, I have taken the Levites
from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the
matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be
mine; Numbers 3:13 Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the
day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all
the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the
LORD.
Care is here taken to
distinguish the tribe of Levi, which, in the matter of
the golden calf, had distinguished itself. It was to the honor of the
Levites, that to them was committed the care of the tabernacle and its
treasures, in their camps and in their marches. It was for the honor of the
holy things that none should see them, or touch them, but those who were called
of God to the service. We all are unfit and unworthy to have fellowship with
God, till called by his grace into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our
Lord; and so, being the spiritual seed of that great High Priest, we are made
priests to our God. Great care must be taken to prevent sin, for preventing sin
is preventing wrath. Being a holy tribe, they were not reckoned among other
Israelites. They that minister about holy things, should neither entangle
themselves, nor be entangled, in worldly affairs. And let every believer seek
to do what the Lord has commanded.
Num
1:48 For the LORD had spoken unto Moses, saying,
Num
1:49 Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum
of them among the children of Israel:
Tribe of Levi - A branch of this family, the house of Aaron, became
the priestly family, and the rest of the tribe, under the technical designation
of Levites, were set apart to the menial services of the tabernacle, such as
pitching, taking down, and transporting the sacred tent and its furniture.
Tribe of Levi - The tribes of Levi and Simeon, because their founders
had perpetrated the treacherous massacre of the Shechemites, Genesis 34:25
And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons
of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came
upon the city boldly, and slew all the males. Genesis 34:26 And they
slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out
of Shechem's house, and went out. were under the curse of Jacob:
“I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.” Genesis 49:7
Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I
will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. Simeon
was greatly reduced in number in the wilderness, and received a small portion
in Canaan adjoining Judah, but was soon scattered in the cities of this
stronger tribe. Levi was forbidden a portion of the Land of Promise except
forty-eight cities in the other tribes, and was appointed to the charge of the
tabernacle instead of the firstborn, The curse of dispersion pronounced on Levi
was thus converted into a blessing, 1,) because of the conspicuous faithfulness
of Moses and Aaron, members of this tribe; and 2,) because of the commendable
zeal for God of the whole tribe in the case of the golden calf. Exodus 32:26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the
camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the
sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.
Tribe of Levi - which confirms what is before observed: now this being
the declared will of God clears Moses from all partiality to his own tribe, he
doing nothing but what he had a command of God for it.
Num
1:50 But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony,
and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they
shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister
unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.
Tabernacle of testimony
- So called from the ark in it, in
which was the law of God, which was a testimony of the will of God to his
people: The two tablets of stone – the 10 commandments - were kept in the
tabernacle. Exodus 31:18 And he gave unto
Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two
tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
the tabernacle of
testimony - The testimony (sometimes
described as the two tables of the testimony (Exodus 31:18; Exodus 34:29)
denotes in the first instance the tables of the law which were directed to be
placed in the ark (Exodus 25:16; Exodus 25:21). Hence the ark is described as
the ark of the testimony (Exodus 25:22; Exodus 26:33), and the tabernacle as
the tabernacle of the testimony (Exodus 38:21), and the tent, including the
outer covering of the mishkan, or wooden building, is called the tent of the
testimony (Numbers 9:15). Also the veil which separated the holy place from the
most holy is called the veil of the testimony (Leviticus 24:3).
They shall bear the
tabernacle - In this service each of
the three Levitical families had its separate department. The Gershonites
carried the hangings and cords. They were allowed two wagons and four oxen to
each. The Kohathites carried on their shoulders the ark, table of show-bread,
candlestick, two altars, and hangings of the holy of holies. The Merarites
transported the frameboards, pillars, bars, etc., with the aid of four wagons
and eight oxen.
encamp round about the
tabernacle - The Gershonites on the
west, the Kohathites on the south, the Merarites on the north, and the priests
on the east or front. Numbers 3:23-38. They were allowed to take no part in the
services of the altar. Numbers 18:2-7.
they shall minister
unto it - by taking care of the
instruments of it and the vessels in it, but not by doing any part of the
priestly office in it, as offering sacrifice, burning incense, and the like:
they shall minister
unto it - The Levites were to be
appointed by divine command to take responsibility for the tabernacle and all
within it. They were to carry it when necessary, generally look after it, and
encamp around it to guard it. But the carrying was only allowable once the
furniture had been covered by the priests. Only the priests could touch the
furniture and cover it. The Levites simply did the carrying. By this its
supreme holiness was emphasised. It was the possessions of God. In the same way
the Levites could not enter the Sanctuary while it was functioning.
Num
1:51 And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it
down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up:
and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
The stranger that
cometh nigh —The word zur (stranger) elsewhere
is one of another nation, here denotes one who was not of the tribe of Levi. Every
non-Levite is prohibited from intrusion upon the sacred precincts. So, also,
with respect to the priestly office, every Levite not an Aaronic priest is a
stranger. The profaned censers used by Korah the Levite, and his host of
princes, were made into plates for the covering of the altar, Numbers 16:40 To be a memorial unto the children of
Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer
incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the
LORD said to him by the hand of Moses. Full
account in Numbers 16:36-40.
shall be put to death - either the Israelites shall condemn and put him to
death; or he shall die by the hand of heaven, that is, by the immediate hand of
God.
Num
1:52 And the children of Israel shall pitch their
tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard,
throughout their hosts.
Israel shall pitch
their tents - All the Israelites were
to pitch their tents in the camps of their tribes, under their tribal standard,
to the north, south, east and west of the Dwelling place, in their military
units. They were not to be a ragbag army, but disciplined and organized.
his own standard - any large camp would certainly require some kind of
indication as to who were sited where, so it quite likely does indicate tribal
standards, and banners. It appears from Numbers 2:3; Numbers 2:10; Numbers
2:18; Numbers 2:25, that there were four standards—those of Judah, Reuben,
Ephraim, and Dan—corresponding to the four camps, each consisting of three
tribes, which pitched round the tent of meeting.
Num
1:53 But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony,
that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the
Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.
That there be no wrath - By the Levites encamped around the sacred
tabernacle a strong guard was established for its protection, and a safeguard
to keep the people from intrusion into the consecrated enclosure, and consequent
destruction by the wrath of God. The spiritual lessons conveyed to us are, the
great solemnity and self-examination with which we should approach the sacred
mysteries of Christianity, the baptismal font and communion, 1 Corinthians 11:28 But let a man examine himself,
and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 1 Corinthians
11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh
damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. and also
the carefulness and scrutiny of motives which should characterize every man who
desires to enter the high vocation of the Christian ministry.
That there be no wrath
— The word qetseph (wrath) is used to
denote some immediate visitation of the hand of God, as, e.g., the plague.
Thus, after the plague which broke out in consequence of the sin of Korah,
Dathan, and Abiram, we read in Numbers 18:5 “that there be no wrath (kezeph)
any more upon the children of Israel.” In Numbers 8:19 the word negeph (plague)
is used in the same sense as kezeph is used here.
the Levites shall pitch
round about the tabernacle of testimony - Between the tabernacle and the camps of Israel, to guard the tabernacle
and preserve the things in it, and to keep persons from going into it that
should not, to pollute or plunder it: these were placed in like manner as the
four living creatures round the throne, Revelation
4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and
in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full
of eyes before and behind. Revelation 4:7 And the first beast was
like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face
as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. where
the allusion seems to be to this situation of the Levites: They standards,
according to the Jewish scholars, were wrought with embroidery, and that of
Judah displayed a lion, Genesis 49:9 Judah
is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he
couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
Reuben, a man; Ephraim, a bull, Deuteronomy 33:17
His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the
horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of
the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the
thousands of Manasseh. and Dan, the picture of the cherubim or
flying eagle. The same symbols are found in Revelation 4:7.
Num
1:54 And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD
commanded Moses, so did they.
the children of Israel
did according to all that the LORD commanded - And so it is doubly stressed that the children of Israel,
fully obedient at this stage, did all that the Lord commanded Moses.
For us the lesson of
Numbers 1 is that we are all soldiers of Christ, set apart to His service, and
must ever be ready immediately to do His will. We are called to warfare 2 Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a
good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians
10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through
God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
and must be disciplined. Ephesians
6:10-18 details the weapons of Christians. We must respond to our being
‘numbered’ by Him. But in the course of that we must ever remember His holiness
and not approach Him lightly. Our approach must be through the blood of Christ,
through the new and living way which He has prepared for us through His flesh
(Hebrews 10:19-25), a constant acknowledgement of His holiness. It is because
many have lost this recognition that faith is often at such a low level.
