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Numbers Chapter
One
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 1
In
this chapter orders are given to Moses to take the number of the children of
Israel, from twenty years old and upwards, Numbers 1:1; and
the men that were to assist in this work, one of each tribe are mentioned by
name, Numbers 1:4; all
which was accordingly done, Numbers 1:17; and
the particular numbers of each tribe are recorded, as they were taken, Numbers 1:20; and
the sum total is given, Numbers 1:45; the
Levites being excepted, who were employed about the tabernacle, and so not to
be employed in military service, Numbers 1:47; they
encamped about that, while the Israelites pitched their tents every man by his
own camp and standard, Numbers 1:52.
Numbers 1:1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness
of Sinai, in the tabernacle of meeting, on the first day of the second
month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying:
YLT
1And Jehovah speaketh unto
Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first of the
second month, in the second year of their going out of the land of Egypt,
saying:
And the Lord spake unto
Moses in the wilderness of Sinai,.... Which is different
from the wilderness of Sin, Exodus 16:1; 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 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, Exodus 40:17,
on the first day of the second month; the month
Ijar, as the Targum of Jonathan, which answers to part of our April, and part
of May, and was the second month of the ecclesiastical year, which began with
Abib or Nisan:
in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt; that is, the
children of Israel, who had now been a year and half a month out of it:
saying, as follows.
Numbers 1:2 2 “Take a census of all the congregation of the children
of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number
of names, every male individually,
YLT
2`Take ye up the sum of all
the company of the sons of Israel by their families, by the house of their
fathers, in the number of names -- every male by their polls;
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, only of them; and 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 chiefly, as Aben Ezra observes, this sum
was now taken to fix their standards, and for their better and more orderly
journeying and encampment; for on the twentieth of this month they set forward
on their journey from hence, Numbers 10:11; the
word for the order is in the plural number, take ye, being given both to Moses
and Aaron, who were to take the number, and did, Numbers 1:3,
after their families; into which their tribes
were divided:
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, as Jarchi notes, a mother's family being never called a family, as
Aben Ezra observes:
with the number of their names; of every
particular person, whose name was inserted in a list or register:
every male by their poll; or headF2לגלגל־תאם "per capita sua", Pagninus, &c, ;
for none but males were numbered: the Lord's spiritual Israel are a numbered
people, written in the book of life, 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 airs of their heads,
Numbers 1:3 3 from twenty years old and above—all who are able to
go to war in Israel. You and Aaron shall number them by their armies.
YLT
3from a son of twenty years
and upward, every one going out to the host in Israel, ye do number them by
their hosts, thou and Aaron;
From twenty years old and
upwards,.... All that had entered into their twentieth year, or, as it
should rather seem, who were full twenty years of age, and all that were above
it without any limitation; though some limit it to fifty, and others to sixty
years, when men may be reasonably excused going to war; for to know who were
fit for it seems to be a principal design of this order, as follows:
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: Aben Ezra observes, that the
phrase "in Israel" excepts the mixed multitude; those were not of
Israel, and so not numbered, and perhaps not to be trusted or depended upon in
war; nor were they mustered and marshalled by the standards of the several
tribes; in a mystical sense, those numbered may signify the valiant of Israel,
the same as the young men in 1 John 2:14; see Song of Solomon 3:7,
thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies; each tribe
making a considerable army; see Gill on Exodus 7:4; these
people were now typical of the church of God in its militant state in the
wilderness, for which they are provided, and prepared, and accoutred.
Numbers 1:4 4 And with you there shall be a man from every tribe,
each one the head of his father’s house.
YLT
4and with you there is a man
for a tribe, each is a head to the house of his fathers.
And with you there shall
be a man of every tribe,.... Excepting Levi, of which Moses and Aaron were, to assist in
taking the account, and to see that it was an exact and perfect one:
everyone head of the house of his fathers; and prince of
the tribe he belonged to, as appears from Numbers 1:16 and Numbers 7:2, where
an account is given of the same persons as princes of the tribes that offered
at the dedication of the altar, who here assisted in the taking this account;
the Targum of Jonathan calls them each a prince, as Prince Elizur, &c.
Numbers 1:5 5 “These are the names of the men who shall stand with
you: from Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur;
YLT
5`And these [are] the names
of the men who stand with you: `For Reuben -- Elizur son of Shedeur.
And these are the
names of the men that shall stand with you,.... Be present with
Moses and Aaron when numbering the people; not merely as spectators of the
affair, and inspectors of the accounts, but as assistants in the work; each man
in his tribe, being best acquainted with the families and houses in it; and
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 honour:
of the tribe of Reuben: or "for
Reuben"F3לראובן "pro
Ruben", Samar. vers. "ipsi Reuben", Montanus. , for the taking
the number of men in this tribe; and so of all the rest, see Numbers 1:44,
Elizur the son of Shedeur; from Numbers 1:5 the
names of those several men are given, which were very proper for Moses and
Aaron to know, though of little importance to us; nor the signification of
their several names, given by Ainsworth and others; only, as Bishop Patrick
observes, most of them 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, as
Elizur, signifying "my God the rock"; and Shelumiel may be rendered,
"God my peace"; and Zurishaddai, "my rock the Almighty", or
"all-sufficient"; and Pedazhur, "the rock redeemeth": nor
is there anything of any moment to be remarked, unless the order in which the
several tribes are placed; and first the children of Leah, beginning with
Reuben, the firstborn; and the rest, Simeon and Judah, are ranked according to
their birth; Levi being omitted, because that tribe was not now numbered, and
besides, Moses and Aaron were of it; and then Issachar and Zebulun; after those
the children of Rachel, because of her honour and glory above the handmaids, as
Aben Ezra remarks; who further observes, that it begins with Ephraim, following
Jacob our father, that is, because of the blessing of Jacob, who preferred
Ephraim the younger to Manasseh the elder; and here Ephraim and Manasseh are
set before Benjamin, because they were in the place of Joseph; and after that
the account goes on with Dan, because, he was the firstborn of the handmaids;
and after him Asher, though the second son of Zilpah, is placed before Gad, the
first son, because, says the same Aben Ezra, the Lord knew that he would be the
head of those that encamped by the standard of Dan, and so is placed next to
him; and after him Gad, who was the firstborn of Leah's handmaid; and Naphtali
last of all, the second son of Bilhah: this order seems to be designed to suit
with their encampments, and the form of them.
Numbers 1:6 6 from Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai;
YLT
6`For Simeon -- Shelumiel
son of Zurishaddai.
Of Simeon; Shelumiel the
son of Zurishaddai. See Gill on Numbers 1:5.
Numbers 1:7 7 from Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab;
YLT
7`For Judah -- Nahshon son
of Amminadab.
Of Judah; Nahshon the son
of Amminadab. See Gill on Numbers 1:5.
Numbers 1:8 8 from Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zuar;
YLT
8`For Issachar -- Nathaneel
son of Zuar.
Of Issachar; Nethaneel the
son of Zuar. See Gill on Numbers 1:5.
Numbers 1:9 9 from Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon;
YLT
9`For Zebulun -- Eliab son
of Helon.
Of Zebulun; Eliab the son
of Helon. See Gill on Numbers 1:5.
Numbers 1:10 10 from the sons of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama the
son of Ammihud; from Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur;
YLT
10`For the sons of Joseph --
for Ephraim: Elishama son of Ammihud: for Manasseh -- Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.
Of the children of Joseph:
of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of
Pedahzur. See Gill on Numbers 1:5.
Numbers 1:11 11 from Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni;
YLT
11`For Benjamin -- Abidan son
of Gideoni.
Of Benjamin; Abidan the
son of Gideoni. See Gill on Numbers 1:5.
Numbers 1:12 12 from Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai;
YLT
12`For Dan -- Ahiezer son of
Ammishaddai.
Of Dan; Ahiezer the son of
Ammishaddai. See Gill on Numbers 1:5.
Numbers 1:13 13 from Asher, Pagiel the son of Ocran;
YLT
13`For Asher -- Pagiel son of
Ocran.
Of Asher; Pagiel the son
of Ocran. See Gill on Numbers 1:5.
Numbers 1:14 14 from Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel;[a]
YLT
14`For Gad -- Eliasaph son of
Deuel.
Of Gad; Eliasaph the son
of Deuel. See Gill on Numbers 1:5.
Numbers 1:15 15 from Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan.”
YLT
15`For Naphtali -- Ahira son
of Enan.'
Of Naphtali; Ahira the son
of Enan. See Gill on Numbers 1:5.
Numbers 1:16 16 These were chosen from the congregation,
leaders of their fathers’ tribes, heads of the divisions in Israel.
YLT
16These [are] those called of
the company, princes of the tribes of their fathers; they [are] heads of the
thousands of Israel.
These were the
renowned of the congregation,.... The most famous and eminent among the
people, for their birth and pedigree, or for their excellent qualities of
wisdom, courage, and the like; or "the called of the congregation"F4קריאי העדה "convocati
coetus", Montanus, Drusius; "convocati e coetu", Junius &
Tremellius, Piscator. , whom God had called by name and selected from the rest
of the congregation to the above service, whereby great honour was done them:
Aben Ezra says, the sense is, that the congregation did nothing until they had
called them; with which agrees the note of Jarchi,"who were called to
every business of importance in the congregation:"
princes of the tribes of their fathers; as Elizur was
prince of the children of Reuben, Numbers 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, by the advice
of Jethro, Exodus 18:21; each
of these divisions had a ruler over them, and thousands being the highest
number, these princes were chiliarchs, rulers or heads of thousands.
Numbers 1:17 17 Then Moses and Aaron took these men who had been
mentioned by name,
YLT
17And Moses taketh -- Aaron
also -- these men, who were defined by name,
And Moses and Aaron took
these men,.... 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:
which are expressed by their names: in Numbers 1:16, and
that as declared by the mouth of God himself.
Numbers 1:18 18 and they assembled all the congregation together on
the first day of the second month; and they recited their ancestry by
families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, from
twenty years old and above, each one individually.
YLT
18and all the company they
assembled on the first of the second month, and they declare their births, by
their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number of names from a
son of twenty years and upward, by their polls,
And they assembled all the
congregation together on the first day of the second month,.... The month
Ijar, as the Targum of Jonathan, answering to part of April and May: this was
done on the selfsame day the Lord spake unto Moses about this affair, Numbers 1:1; so
expeditious were he and Aaron in doing the will of God:
and they declared their pedigrees; either Moses and Aaron,
according to Aben Ezra, who inquired when they were born, because of the
computation of twenty years; and then their birth was wrote down, as he says;
or rather 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;
Jarchi interprets it, they brought the books of their genealogies, and
witnesses to confirm the birth of everyone of them, to show their genealogy
according to their tribe; nor is it at all unlikely that every family and
house, or master thereof, kept a register of those born to him in it, whereby
their age could be ascertained as well as pedigree:
after their famines, by the house of their fathers, according to
the number of their names, from twenty years old and upwards, by their poll: 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.
Numbers 1:19 19 As the Lord commanded
Moses, so he numbered them in the Wilderness of Sinai.
YLT
19as Jehovah hath commanded
Moses; and he numbereth them in the wilderness of Sinai.
As the Lord commanded
Moses,.... In this Moses and David differed in numbering the people of
Israel; the one did it by an express command from God, and in obedience to it;
the other without one, and against his will, 1 Chronicles 21:17,
so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai; where they
now were when this order was given, Numbers 1:1; and
from whence they removed the twentieth day of this month, Numbers 10:11; so
that in less than three weeks time, perhaps much sooner, this affair was
finished; and it may be, that the place of numbering them at this time is
expressly observed, to distinguish it from another numbering of them, recorded
in this book, which was done in the plains of Moab, Numbers 26:2.
Numbers 1:20 20 Now the children of Reuben, Israel’s oldest son, their
genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number
of names, every male individually, from twenty years old and above, all who were
able to go to war:
YLT
20And the sons of Reuben,
Israel's first-born -- their births, by their families, by the house of their
fathers, in the number of names, by their polls, every male from a son of
twenty years and upward, every one going out to the host –
And the children of
Reuben, Israel's eldest son,.... Were numbered first, and next to them
those of Simeon and Gad, for 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:
by their generations: or "their
generations", the birth, descent, and pedigree of them:
after their families, by the house of their fathers: according to
the families and houses to which they belonged:
according to the number of the names by their polls, every male
from twenty years old and upward; their names were taken
down, the number of them counted by their heads, even all the males that were
above twenty years of age:
all that were able to go forth to war; which phrase,
as it suggests that before this age they were not reckoned able bodied men for
war, in common, though some might; so it seems to except all infirm persons, by
reason of age and otherwise: now in all the other account of the numbering of
the rest of the tribes, the same forms of expression are used as here, only the
tribe of Simeon, which is the next, these words are left out, "by their
polls, every male", which being twice observed, need not be repeated,
since by these instances it might be sufficiently known that the number was
taken by a poll, and only of males; so that in Numbers 1:23, there
is nothing material to observe, or anything different from what is in this
verse, but the particular sums of each tribe numbered, which stand thus: of the
tribe of Reuben 46,500; of the tribe of Simeon, 59,300; of the tribe of Gad,
45,650; of the tribe of Judah, 74,600; of the tribe of Issachar, 54,400; of the
tribe of Zebulun, 57,400; of the tribe of Ephraim, 40,500; of the tribe of
Manasseh, 32,200; of the tribe of Benjamin 35,400; of the tribe of Dan, 62,700;
of the tribe of Asher 41,500; of the tribe of Naphtali, 53,400; in which may be
observed the various increase of the tribes, agreeably to divine predictions,
and according to the sovereign will and infinite wisdom of God: 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 was to come, and even the King Messiah; and in process of time was to
become a kingdom of itself; 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 49:4; 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; see Genesis 46:8.
Numbers 1:21 21 those who were numbered of the tribe of Reuben were
forty-six thousand five hundred.
YLT
21their numbered ones, for
the tribe of Reuben, are six and forty thousand and five hundred.
Those that were numbered
of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand
and five hundred. 46,500 men. See Gill on Numbers 1:20.
Numbers 1:22 22 From the children of Simeon, their genealogies by
their families, by their fathers’ house, of those who were numbered, according
to the number of names, every male individually, from twenty years old and
above, all who were able to go to war:
YLT
22Of the sons of Simeon --
their births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, its numbered
ones in the number of names, by their polls, every male from a son of twenty
years and upward, every one going out to the host –
Of the children of Simeon,
by their generations,.... See Gill on Numbers 1:20.
Numbers 1:23 23 those who were numbered of the tribe of Simeon were
fifty-nine thousand three hundred.
YLT
23their numbered ones, for
the tribe of Simeon, [are] nine and fifty thousand and three hundred.
Those that were numbered
of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine
thousand and three hundred. 59,300 men. See Gill on Numbers 1:20.
Numbers 1:24 24 From the children of Gad, their genealogies by their
families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from
twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:
YLT
24Of the sons of Gad -- their
births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number of
names, from a son of twenty years and upward, every one going out to the host –
Of the children of Gad, by
their generations,.... See Gill on Numbers 1:20.
Numbers 1:25 25 those who were numbered of the tribe of Gad were
forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty.
YLT
25their numbered ones, for
the tribe of Gad, [are] five and forty thousand and six hundred and fifty.
Those that were numbered
of them, even of the tribe of Gad,
were forty and five
thousand six hundred and fifty. 45,650 men. See Gill on Numbers 1:20.
Numbers 1:26 26 From the children of Judah, their genealogies by their
families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from
twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:
YLT
26Of the sons of Judah --
their births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number
of names, from a son of twenty years and upward, every one going out to the
host –
Of the children of Judah,
by their generations,.... See Gill on Numbers 1:20.
Numbers 1:27 27 those who were numbered of the tribe of Judah were
seventy-four thousand six hundred.
YLT
27their numbered ones, for
the tribe of Judah, [are] four and seventy thousand and six hundred.
Those that were numbered
of them, even of the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen
thousand and six hundred. 74,600 men. See Gill on Numbers 1:20.
Numbers 1:28 28 From the children of Issachar, their genealogies by
their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from
twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:
YLT
28Of the sons of Issachar --
their births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number
of names, from a son of twenty years and upward, every one going out to the
host –
Of the children of
Issachar, by their generations,.... See Gill on Numbers 1:20.
Numbers 1:29 29 those who were numbered of the tribe of Issachar were
fifty-four thousand four hundred.
YLT
29their numbered ones, for
the tribe of Issachar, [are] four and fifty thousand and four hundred.
Those that were numbered
of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four
thousand and four hundred. 54,400 men. See Gill on Numbers 1:20.
Numbers 1:30 30 From the children of Zebulun, their genealogies by
their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from
twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:
YLT
30Of the sons of Zebulun --
their births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number
of names, from a son of twenty years and upward, every one going out to the
host –
Of the children of
Zebulun, by their generations,.... See Gill on Numbers 1:20.
Numbers 1:31 31 those who were numbered of the tribe of Zebulun were
fifty-seven thousand four hundred.
YLT
31their numbered ones, for
the tribe of Zebulun, [are] seven and fifty thousand and four hundred.
Those that were numbered
of them, even of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty and seven
thousand and four hundred. 57,400 men. See Gill on Numbers 1:20.
Numbers 1:32 32 From the sons of Joseph, the children of Ephraim,
their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the
number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to
go to war:
YLT
32Of the sons of Joseph -- of
the sons of Ephraim -- their births, by their families, by the house of their fathers,
in the number of names, from a son of twenty years and upward, every one going
out to the host –
Of the children of Joseph,
namely, of the children of Ephraim, by their generations,.... See Gill
on Numbers 1:20.
Numbers 1:33 33 those who were numbered of the tribe of Ephraim were
forty thousand five hundred.
YLT
33their numbered ones, for
the tribe of Ephraim, [are] forty thousand and five hundred.
Those that were numbered
of them, even of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and
five hundred. 40,500 men. See Gill on Numbers 1:20.
Numbers 1:34 34 From the children of Manasseh, their genealogies by
their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from
twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:
YLT
34Of the sons of Manasseh --
their births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number
of names, from a son of twenty years and upward, every one going out to the
host –
Of the children of
Manasseh, by their generations,.... See Gill on Numbers 1:20.
Numbers 1:35 35 those who were numbered of the tribe of Manasseh were
thirty-two thousand two hundred.
YLT
35their numbered ones, for
the tribe of Manasseh, [are] two and thirty thousand and two hundred.
Those that were numbered
of them, even of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two
thousand and two hundred. 32,200 men. See Gill on Numbers 1:20.
Numbers 1:36 36 From the children of Benjamin, their genealogies by
their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from
twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:
YLT
36Of the sons of Benjamin --
their births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number
of names, from a son of twenty years and upward, every one going out to the
host –
Of the children of
Benjamin, by their generations,.... See Gill on Numbers 1:20.
Numbers 1:37 37 those who were numbered of the tribe of Benjamin were
thirty-five thousand four hundred.
YLT
37their numbered ones, for
the tribe of Benjamin, [are] five and thirty thousand and four hundred.
Those that were numbered
of them, even of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty and five
thousand and four hundred. 35,400 men. See Gill on Numbers 1:20.
Numbers 1:38 38 From the children of Dan, their genealogies by their
families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from
twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:
YLT
38Of the sons of Dan -- their
births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number of
names, from a son of twenty years and upward, every one going out to the host –
Of the children of Dan, by
their generations,.... See Gill on Numbers 1:20.
Numbers 1:39 39 those who were numbered of the tribe of Dan were
sixty-two thousand seven hundred.
YLT
39their numbered ones, for
the tribe of Dan, [are] two and sixty thousand and seven hundred.
Those that were numbered
of them, even of the tribe of Dan,
were threescore and
two thousand and seven hundred. 62,700 men. See Gill on Numbers 1:20.
Numbers 1:40 40 From the children of Asher, their genealogies by their
families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from
twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:
YLT
40Of the sons of Asher --
their births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number
of names, from a son of twenty years and upward, every one going out to the
host –
Of the children of Asher, by their generations,.... See Gill
on Numbers 1:20.
Numbers 1:41 41 those who were numbered of the tribe of Asher were
forty-one thousand five hundred.
YLT
41their numbered ones, for
the tribe of Asher, [are] one and forty thousand and five hundred.
Those that were numbered
of them, even of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand
and five hundred. 41,500 men. See Gill on Numbers 1:20.
Numbers 1:42 42 From the children of Naphtali, their genealogies by
their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from
twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:
YLT
42[Of] the sons of Naphtali
-- their births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the
number of names, from a son of twenty years and upward, every one going out to
the host –
Of the children of
Naphtali, throughout their generations,.... See Gill on Numbers 1:20.
Numbers 1:43 43 those who were numbered of the tribe of Naphtali were
fifty-three thousand four hundred.
YLT
43their numbered ones, for
the tribe of Naphtali, [are] three and fifty thousand and four hundred.
Those that were numbered
of them, even of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three
thousand and four hundred. 53,400 men. See Gill on Numbers 1:20.
Numbers 1:44 44 These are the ones who were numbered, whom Moses and
Aaron numbered, with the leaders of Israel, twelve men, each one representing
his father’s house.
YLT
44These [are] those numbered,
whom Moses numbered -- Aaron also, and the princes of Israel, twelve men --
each for the house of his fathers, they have been.
These are those
that were numbered,.... Or, as the Targum of Jonathan, these are the sums of the
numbers; namely, those before given of the several respective tribes:
which Moses and Aaron numbered, and 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:
each one for the house of his fathers; for the tribe
he belonged to, with which it might reasonably be supposed he was best
acquainted, and could more readily take the number of them.
Numbers 1:45 45 So all who were numbered of the children of Israel, by
their fathers’ houses, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to
go to war in Israel—
YLT
45And they are, all those
numbered of the sons of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from a son of twenty
years and upward, every one going out to the host in Israel,
So were 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:
by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward,
all that were able to go forth to war in Israel; all in every tribe,
family, and house, that were above twenty years of age, healthful and strong,
and fit for war.
Numbers 1:46 46 all who were numbered were six hundred and three
thousand five hundred and fifty.
YLT
46yea, all those numbered are
six hundred thousand, and three thousand, and five hundred and fifty.
Even all they that were
numbered,.... Of whom an account was taken, and their names set down in a
book or register: were 603,550; which was exactly the number of them, when
taken about seven months before this, when they were assessed for defraying the
expenses of the tabernacle, Exodus 38:26; so
that it should seem not one person had died during that time; for though there
were three that died a violent death in that compass of time, yet two of them
were of the tribe of Levi, not now numbered; and the other was not an Israelite
by the father's side; see Leviticus 10:1; but
it is not very probable, among such a vast number of people, that not one above
twenty years of age should die in that time: some therefore are of opinion,
that the tribe of Levi was numbered before, though not now; and that there was
such an increase in that time among the other tribes as to equal the number of
males of twenty years and upwards, in that tribe taken into the service of God,
by which they were no losers.
Numbers 1:47 47 But the Levites were not numbered among them by their
fathers’ tribe;
YLT
47And the Levites, for the
tribe of their fathers, have not numbered themselves in their midst,
But the Levites,.... The tribe
of Levi were excepted from this muster, they being employed in a kind of
warfare, and therefore not to be engaged in another:
after the tribe of their fathers, were not numbered among them: the rest of
the tribes; the reason follows.
Numbers 1:48 48 for the Lord had spoken
to Moses, saying:
YLT
48seeing Jehovah speaketh
unto Moses, saying,
For the Lord had spoken
unto Moses,.... Not to number the Levites, when he gave him the orders to
number the rest of the tribes: this is observed, lest it should be thought that
this was what Moses did of himself, out of affection to the tribe he was of,
and to spare it, that it might not be obliged to go forth to war when others
did; not that they were forbid to engage in war, or that it was unlawful for
them so to do, for when necessity required, and they were of themselves willing
to engage in it, they might, as appears in the case of the Maccabees, but they might
not be forced into it; they were, as JosephusF5Antiqu. l. 3. c. 12.
sect. 4. says, exempted from it; and so all concerned in religious service,
both among Heathens and Christians, have always been excused bearing arms:
saying; as follows.
Numbers 1:49 49 “Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, nor take
a census of them among the children of Israel;
YLT
49`Only, the tribe of Levi
thou dost not number, and their sum thou dost not take up in the midst of the
sons of Israel;
Only thou shall not number
the tribe of Levi,.... That is, along with the other tribes, for it might be
numbered by itself, as it afterwards was, Numbers 3:43,
neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel; 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.
Numbers 1:50 50 but you shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle
of the Testimony, over all its furnishings, and over all things that belong to
it; they shall carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they shall attend
to it and camp around the tabernacle.
YLT
50and thou, appoint the
Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its vessels, and
over all that it hath; they bear the tabernacle, and all its vessels, and they
serve it; and round about the tabernacle they encamp.
But thou shalt appoint the
Levites over the 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:
and over all the vessels thereof; the candlestick, table:
and altars, as Aben Ezra notes:
and over all things that belong to it; the vessels
of vessels, as the same writer calls them; for the candlestick, shewbread
table, and the two altars of incense and burnt offering had vessels
appertaining to them:
they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; carry them
from place to place when needful:
and 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:
and shall encamp round about the tabernacle; they were a
sort of camp or army of themselves, and their station was around the
tabernacle, which was a kind of royal palace to God the King of kings; so that
as they were the king's legion, and to be numbered alone, as Jarchi observes,
in Numbers 1:49, so
they were a guard about his palace, and were placed between that and the camp
of Israel.
Numbers 1:51 51 And when the tabernacle is to go forward, the Levites
shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall
set it up. The outsider who comes near shall be put to death.
YLT
51`And in the journeying of
the tabernacle, the Levites take it down, and in the encamping of the
tabernacle, the Levites raise it up; and the stranger who is coming near is put
to death.'
And when the tabernacle
setteth forward,.... Or was about to set forward; that is, the congregation were
about to journey, and take the tabernacle with them, as they always did, when
and wherever they journeyed:
the Levites shall take it down; unpin it, take the
boards and pillars out of their sockets, and the bars out of their places, and
the whole into pieces, in order to be put into wagons prepared to carry them,
of which mention is made in a following chapter:
and when the tabernacle is pitched, the Levites shall set it up; at whatsoever
place the congregation encamped and took up their abode for any time: the
tabernacle was pitched in the manner as tents are, when the Levites put the
several parts together, laid the sockets, put in the boards and the bars, and
also the pillars of the court and elsewhere, and hung the hangings upon them;
and set the candlestick, tables, altars, ark, and all the vessels of the
sanctuary in their proper places:
and the stranger that cometh nigh; to meddle with or touch
the above things, to assist in taking down or setting up the tabernacle, or
bearing any of the vessels of it: by a stranger is meant, not one of another
nation, nor a proselyte, whether of the gate or of righteousness; but, as Aben
Ezra interprets it, one that is a stranger from the sons of Levi, who is not of
that tribe, even though an Israelite:
shall be put to death; either the sanhedrim or
court of judicature shall condemn and put him to death, as the same writer
observes; or he shall die by the hand of heaven, as Jarchi; that is, by the
immediate hand of God, or with flaming fire from before the Lord, as the Targum
of Jonathan; as Uzzah was smote, and died by the ark of God for touching it, 2 Samuel 5:6.
Numbers 1:52 52 The children of Israel shall pitch their tents,
everyone by his own camp, everyone by his own standard, according to their
armies;
YLT
52And the sons of Israel have
encamped, each by his camp, and each by his standard, by their hosts;
And the children of Israel
shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp,.... There
were four, unless every tribe was a camp, and so then there were twelve camps,
besides the camp of the Levites: the Targum of Jonathan is,"by the house
of his troop,'the regiment to which he belonged, every tribe or camp having
various troops or regiments in it:
and every man by his own standard throughout their hosts; there were
four standards, and three tribes to each standard, which were placed east,
west, north, and south of the tabernacle, as is at large described in the following
chapter.
Numbers 1:53 53 but the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of
the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children
of Israel; and the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the
Testimony.”
YLT
53and the Levites encamp
round about the tabernacle of the testimony; and there is no wrath on the
company of the sons of Israel, and the Levites have kept the charge of the
tabernacle of the testimony.
But 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;
where the allusion seems to be to this situation of the Levites:
that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of
Israel; that is, from the Lord, should any of them approach too near, or
meddle with and touch what they had nothing to do with, or go where they should
not; such wrath as came upon Uzzah for his error and transgression before
observed:
and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of
testimony; the several things in it committed to their charge; see Numbers 3:8.
Numbers 1:54 54 Thus the children of Israel did; according to all that
the Lord commanded Moses, so they did.
YLT
54And the sons of Israel do
according to all that Jehovah hath commanded Moses; so they have done.
And the children of Israel did according to all the Lord commanded
Moses,.... Pitched their tents by their own camps and standards; did
not come near the tabernacle but kept at a proper distance from it, and did not
meddle with things they had no concern, with, and which were peculiar to the
Levites:
so they did; which is repeated to show how readily, punctually, and perfectly
they observed the command of God with respect to this affair.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)