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New American Standard Bible
Numbers 1:1
Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying,
Numbers 1:2
“Take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, every male, head by head
Numbers 1:3
from twenty years old and upward, whoever is able to go out to war in Israel, you and Aaron shall number them by their armies.
Numbers 1:4
With you, moreover, there shall be a man of each tribe, each one head of his father’s household.
Numbers 1:5
These then are the names of the men who shall stand with you: of Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur;
Numbers 1:6
of Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai;
Numbers 1:7
of Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab;
Numbers 1:8
of Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zuar;
Numbers 1:9
of Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon;
Numbers 1:10
of the sons of Joseph: of Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud; of Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur;
Numbers 1:11
of Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni;
Numbers 1:12
of Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai;
Numbers 1:13
of Asher, Pagiel the son of Ochran;
Numbers 1:14
of Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel;
Numbers 1:15
of Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan.
Numbers 1:16
These are they who were called of the congregation, the leaders of their fathers’ tribes; they were the heads of divisions of Israel.”
Numbers 1:17
So Moses and Aaron took these men who had been designated by name,
Numbers 1:18
and they assembled all the congregation together on the first of the second month. Then they registered by ancestry in their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, head by head,
Numbers 1:19
just as the LORD had commanded Moses. So he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.
Numbers 1:20
Now the sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war,
Numbers 1:21
their numbered men of the tribe of Reuben were 46,500.
Numbers 1:22
Of the sons of Simeon, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, their numbered men, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war,
Numbers 1:23
their numbered men of the tribe of Simeon were 59,300.
Numbers 1:24
Of the sons of Gad, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war,
Numbers 1:25
their numbered men of the tribe of Gad were 45,650.
Numbers 1:26
Of the sons of Judah, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war,
Numbers 1:27
their numbered men of the tribe of Judah were 74,600.
Numbers 1:28
Of the sons of Issachar, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war,
Numbers 1:29
their numbered men of the tribe of Issachar were 54,400.
Numbers 1:30
Of the sons of Zebulun, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war,
Numbers 1:31
their numbered men of the tribe of Zebulun were 57,400.
Numbers 1:32
Of the sons of Joseph, namely, of the sons of Ephraim, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war,
Numbers 1:33
their numbered men of the tribe of Ephraim were 40,500.
Numbers 1:34
Of the sons of Manasseh, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war,
Numbers 1:35
their numbered men of the tribe of Manasseh were 32,200.
Numbers 1:36
Of the sons of Benjamin, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war,
Numbers 1:37
their numbered men of the tribe of Benjamin were 35,400.
Numbers 1:38
Of the sons of Dan, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war,
Numbers 1:39
their numbered men of the tribe of Dan were 62,700.
Numbers 1:40
Of the sons of Asher, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war,
Numbers 1:41
their numbered men of the tribe of Asher were 41,500.
Numbers 1:42
Of the sons of Naphtali, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war,
Numbers 1:43
their numbered men of the tribe of Naphtali were 53,400.
Numbers 1:44
These are the ones who were numbered, whom Moses and Aaron numbered, with the leaders of Israel, twelve men, each of whom was of his father’s household.
Numbers 1:45
So all the numbered men of the sons of Israel by their fathers’ households, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war in Israel,
Numbers 1:46
even all the numbered men were 603,550.
Numbers 1:47
The Levites, however, were not numbered among them by their fathers’ tribe.
Numbers 1:48
For the LORD had spoken to Moses, saying,
Numbers 1:49
“Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, nor shall you take their census among the sons of Israel.
Numbers 1:50
But you shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its furnishings and over all that belongs to it. They shall carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it; they shall also camp around the tabernacle.
Numbers 1:51
So when the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle encamps, the Levites shall set it up. But the layman who comes near shall be put to death.
Numbers 1:52
The sons of Israel shall camp, each man by his own camp, and each man by his own standard, according to their armies.
Numbers 1:53
But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there will be no wrath on the congregation of the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.”
Numbers 1:54
Thus the sons of Israel did; according to all which the LORD had commanded Moses, so they did.
Cross References
Numbers 1:1: Exodus 40:2, 17; Numbers 1:2: Exodus 12:37; 38:25, 26; Numbers 26:2; Numbers 1:3: Exodus 30:14; 38:26; Numbers 1:4: Exodus 18:21, 25; Numbers 1:16; Deuteronomy 1:15; Numbers 1:5: Genesis 29:32; Exodus 1:2; Deuteronomy 33:6; Revelation 7:5; Numbers 1:7: Ruth 4:20; 1 Chronicles 2:10; Luke 3:32; Numbers 1:14: Numbers 2:14; Numbers 1:16: Exodus 18:21; Numbers 7:2; 16:2; 26:9; Exodus 18:25; Numbers 1:18: Numbers 1:1; Ezra 2:59; Hebrews 7:3; Numbers 1:19: 2 Samuel 24:1; Numbers 1:20: Numbers 26:5-7; Numbers 1:22: Numbers 26:12-14; Psalm 144:1; Numbers 1:24: Genesis 30:11; Numbers 26:15-18; Joshua 4:12; Jeremiah 49:1; Numbers 1:26: Genesis 29:35; Numbers 26:19-22; 2 Samuel 24:9; Psalm 78:68; Matthew 1:2; Numbers 1:28: Numbers 26:23-25; Numbers 1:30: Numbers 26:26, 27; Numbers 1:32: Numbers 26:35-37; Deuteronomy 33:13-17; Jeremiah 7:15; Obad 1:19; Numbers 1:34: Numbers 26:28-34; Numbers 1:36: Genesis 49:27; Numbers 26:38-41; 2 Chronicles 17:17; Revelation 7:8; Numbers 1:38: Genesis 30:6; 46:23; Numbers 2:25; 26:42, 43; Numbers 1:40: Numbers 26:44-47; Numbers 1:42: Numbers 26:48-50; Numbers 1:46: Exodus 12:37; 38:26; Numbers 2:32; 26:51; Numbers 1:47: Numbers 2:33; 3:14-39; 4:49; 26:57-64; Numbers 1:49: Numbers 26:62; Numbers 1:50: Exodus 38:21; Numbers 3:6-8, 25-37; 4:15, 25-27, 31, 32; Numbers 1:51: Numbers 4:1-33; Numbers 3:10, 38; 4:15, 19, 20; Numbers 1:52: Numbers 2:2, 34; Numbers 1:53: Numbers 3:23, 29, 35, 38; Leviticus 10:6; Numbers 16:46; 18:5; Numbers 8:24; 18:2-4; 1 Chronicles 23:32
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Baal
The name appropriated to the principal male god of the Phoenicians. It is found in several places in the plural BAALIM. It was known to the Israelites as Baal and was worshipped until the time of Samuel, and was afterwards the religion of the ten tribes in the time of Ahab. It prevailed also for a time in the kingdom of Judah, until finally put an end to by the severe discipline of the Captivity. The priests of Baal were in great numbers, and of various classes. Their mode of offering sacrifices is described. The sun god, under the general title of Baal, or lord, was the chief object of worship of the Canaanites. Each locality had its special Baal, and the various local Baals were summed up under the name of Baalim, or lords. Each Baal had a wife, who was a colorless reflection of himself.
Camp
During their journeys across the wilderness, the twelve tribes formed encampments at the different places where they halted. The diagram here given shows the position of the different tribes and the form of the encampment during the wanderings. The area of the camp would be in all about three square miles. After the Hebrews entered Palestine, the camps then spoken of were exclusively warlike.
Captivity
The kingdom of the ten tribes was successively invaded by several Assyrian kings. The families thus removed were carried to distant cities, many of them not far from the Caspian Sea, and their place was supplied by colonists from Babylon. This terminated the kingdom of the ten tribes, after a separate duration of 255 years.
Many speculations have been indulged with reference to these ten tribes. But we believe that all, except the number that probably allied themselves with Judah and shared in their restoration under Cyrus, are finally lost. Like the dew on the mountain, Like the foam on the river, Like the bubble on the fountain, They are gone, and for ever. After a brief siege he took that city, and carried away the vessels of the sanctuary to Babylon, and dedicated them in the Temple of Belus. He also carried away the treasures of the king, whom he made his vessel.
At this time, from which is dated the seventy years of captivity, Daniel and his companions were carried to Babylon, there to be brought up at the court and trained in all the learning of the Chaldeans. After this, in the fifth year of Jehoiakim, a great national fast was appointed, during which the king, to show his defiance, cut up the leaves of the book of Jeremiah's prophecies as they were read to him in his winter palace, and threw them into the fire. In the same spirit he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, who again a second time marched against Jerusalem, and put Jehoiakim to death, placing his son Jehoiachin on the throne in his stead.
But Jehoiachin's counsellors displeasing Nebuchadnezzar, he again a third time turned his army against Jerusalem, and carried away to Babylon a second detachment of Jews as captives, to the number of 10,000, among whom were the king, with his mother and all his princes and officers, also Ezekiel, who with many of his companions were settled on the banks of the river Chebar. He also carried away all the remaining treasures of the temple and the palace, and the golden vessels of the sanctuary.
The uncle of Jehoiachin, was now made king over what remained of the kingdom of Judah, under the name of Zedekiah. After a troubled reign of eleven years his kingdom came to an end. Nebuchadnezzar, with a powerful army, besieged Jerusalem, and Zedekiah became a prisoner in Babylon. His eyes were put out, and he was kept in close confinement until his death. The city was spoiled of all that was of value, and then given up to the flames.
The temple and palaces were consumed, and the walls of the city were leveled with the ground, and all that remained of the people, except a number of the poorest class who were left to till the ground and dress the vineyards, were carried away captives to Babylon. This was the third and last deportation of Jewish captives. The land was now utterly desolate, and was abandoned to anarchy.
In the first year of his reign as king of Babylon, Cyrus issued a decree liberating the Jewish captives, and permitting them to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city and the temple. The number of the people forming the first caravan, amounted in all to 42,360, besides 7,337 men servants and maid servants. A considerable number, 12,000 probably, from the ten tribes who had been carried away into Assyria no doubt combined with this band of liberated captives.
At a later period other bands of the Jews returned under Ezra 7:7 and Nehemiah 7:66. But the great mass of the people remained still in the land to which they had been carried, and became a portion of the Jews of the dispersion. The whole number of the exiles that chose to remain was probably about six times the number of those who returned.
Chronology
The arrangement of facts and events in the order of time. The writers of the Bible themselves don't adopt any standard era according to which they date events. Sometimes the years are reckoned from the time of the Exodus, and sometimes from the accession of kings, and sometimes again from the return from Exile. In constructing a system of Biblical chronology, the plan of reckoning the years from the ages of the patriarchs before the birth of their firstborn sons for the period from the Creation to Abraham.
After this period other data are to be taken into account in determining the relative sequence of events. As to the patriarchal period, there are three principal systems of chronology: that of the Hebrew text, that of the Septuagint version, and that of the Samaritan Pentateuch.
The Samaritan and the Septuagint have considerably modified the Hebrew chronology. This modification some regard as having been willfully made, and to be rejected. The same system of variations is observed in the chronology of the period between the Flood and Abraham.
The Septuagint fixes on 70 years as the age of Terah at the birth of Abraham; but a comparison shows that when Terah died, at the age of 125 years, Abraham was 75 years, and hence Terah must have been 130 years when Abraham was born. Thus, including the two years from the Flood to the birth of Arphaxad, the period from the Flood to the birth of Abraham was 352 years. The next period is from the birth of Abraham to the Exodus.
This, according to the Hebrew, extends to 505 years. The difficulty here is as to the 430 years. These years are regarded by some as dating from the covenant with Abraham, which was entered into soon after his sojourn in Egypt; others, with more probability, reckon these years from Jacob's going down into Egypt.
Ensign
A military standard, especially of a single tribe. Each separate tribe had its own sign or ensign. A lofty signal, as a column or high pole; a standard or signal or flag placed on high mountains to point out to the people a place of rendezvous on the irruption of an enemy. This was an occasional signal, and not a military standard. Elevation and conspicuity are implied in the word. Denotes the standard given to each of the four divisions of the host of the Israelites at the Exodus. Also it is rendered banner. We have no definite information as to the nature of these military standards.
Golgotha
The common name of the spot where Jesus was crucified. It is interpreted by the evangelists as meaning the place of a skull. It is identical with the word Calvary. It was a little knoll rounded like a bare skull. It is obvious from the evangelists that it was some well known spot outside the gate, and near the city, containing a garden, and on a thoroughfare leading into the country.
Levite
A descendant of the tribe of Levi. This name is, however, generally used as the title of that portion of the tribe which was set apart for the subordinate offices of the sanctuary service, as assistants to the priests. When the Israelites left Egypt, the ancient manner of worship was still observed by them, the eldest son of each house inheriting the priest's office. At Sinai the first change in this ancient practice was made. A hereditary priesthood in the family of Aaron was then instituted.
But it was not until that terrible scene in connection with the sin of the golden calf that the tribe of Levi stood apart and began to occupy a distinct position. The religious primogeniture was then conferred on this tribe, which was devoted to the service of the sanctuary. They were selected for this purpose because of their zeal for the glory of God, and because, as the tribe to which Moses and Aaron belonged, they would naturally stand by the lawgiver in his work.
The Levitical order consisted of all the descendants of Levi's three sons. The age and qualification for Levitical service. They were not included among the armies of Israel, but were reckoned by themselves. They were the special guardians of the tabernacle. It was their duty to move the tent and carry the parts of the sacred structure from place to place.
They were given to Aaron and his sons the priests to wait upon them and do work for them at the sanctuary services. As being wholly consecrated to the service of the Lord, they had no territorial possessions. Jehovah was their inheritance, and for their support it was ordained that they should receive from the other tribes the tithes of the produce of the land. 48 cities also were assigned to them, 13 of which were for the priests to dwell in, along with their other inhabitants.
Along with their dwellings they had suburbs, commons, for their herds and flocks, and also fields and vineyards. Nine of these cities were in Judah, three in Naphtali, and four in each of the other tribes. Six of the Levitical cities were set apart as cities of refuge. Thus the Levites were scattered among the tribes to keep alive among them the knowledge and service of God.
Manasseh
Who makes to forget. God hath made me forget. The elder of the two sons of Joseph. He and his brother Ephraim were afterwards adopted by Jacob as his own sons. There is an account of his marriage to a Syrian; and the only thing afterwards recorded of him is, that his grandchildren were brought up upon Joseph's knees were from their birth adopted by Joseph as his own children.
The tribe of Manasseh was associated with that of Ephraim and Benjamin during the wanderings in the wilderness. They encamped on the west side of the tabernacle. According to the census taken at Sinai, this tribe then numbered 32,200. 40 years afterwards its numbers had increased to 52,700, and it was at this time the most distinguished of all the tribes.
The half of this tribe, along with Reuben and Gad, had their territory assigned them by Moses on the east of the Jordan; but it was left for Joshua to define the limits of each tribe. This territory on the east of Jordan was more valuable and of larger extent than all that was allotted to the nine and a half tribes in the land of Palestine. It is sometimes called the land of Gilead, and is also spoken of as on the other side of Jordan. The portion given to the half tribe of Manasseh was the largest on the east of Jordan.
The whole land of Gilead having been conquered, the two and a half tribes left their wives and families in the fortified cities there, and accompanied the other tribes across the Jordan, and took part with them in the wars of conquest. The allotment of the land having been completed, Joshua dismissed the two and a half tribes, commending them for their heroic service. Thus dismissed, they returned over Jordan to their own inheritance.
Palestine
Originally denoted only the sea coast of the land of Canaan inhabited by the Philistines, and in this sense exclusively occurs in the Old Testament. It is also called the holy land, the land of Jehovah, the land of promise, because promised to Abraham, the land of Canaan, the land of Israel, and the land of Judah. The territory promised as an inheritance to the seed of Abraham was bounded on the east by the river Euphrates, on the west by the Mediterranean and on the south by the river of Egypt.
This extent of territory, about 60,000 square miles, was at length conquered by David, and was ruled over also by his son. This vast empire was the Promised Land; but Palestine was only a part of it, terminating in the north at the southern extremity of the Lebanon range, thus extending in all to about 144 miles in length.
Its average breadth was about 60 miles from the Mediterranean on the west to beyond the Jordan. It has fittingly been designated the least of all lands. Western Palestine, on the south of Gaza, is only about 40 miles in breadth from the Mediterranean to the Dead Sea, narrowing gradually toward the north, where it is only 20 miles from the sea coast to the Jordan.
Palestine, set in the midst of all other lands, is the most remarkable country on the face of the earth. No single country of such an extent has so great a variety of climate, and hence also of plant and animal life. Moses describes it as a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; a land where you shalt not eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you may dig brass.
In the time of Christ the country looked, in all probability, much as now. The whole land consists of rounded limestone hills, fretted into countless stony valleys, offering but rarely level tracts below Nazareth is large enough to be seen on the map.
The original woods had for ages disappeared, though the slopes were dotted, as now, with figs, olives, and other fruit trees where there was any soil. Permanent streams were even then unknown, the passing rush of winter torrents being all that was seen among the hills.
The autumn and spring rains, caught in deep cisterns hewn out like huge underground jars in the soft limestone, with artificial mud banked ponds still found near all villages, furnished water. Hills now bare, or at best rough with stunted growth, were then terraced, so as to grow vines, olives, and grain.
Today almost desolate, the country then teemed with population. Wine presses cut in the rocks, endless terraces, and the ruins of old vineyard towers are now found amidst solitudes overgrown for ages with thorns and thistles, or with wild shrubs and poor gnarled scrub.
From an early period the land was inhabited by the descendants of Canaan, who retained possession of the whole land until the time of the conquest by Joshua, when it was occupied by the twelve tribes. Two tribes and a half had their allotments given them by Moses on the east of the Jordan.
The remaining tribes had their portion on the west of Jordan. From the conquest until the time of Saul, about 400 years, the people were governed by judges. For a period of 125 years the kingdom retained its unity while it was ruled by Saul and David and Solomon. On the death of Solomon, his son Rehoboam ascended the throne; but his conduct was such that ten of the tribes revolted, and formed an independent monarchy, called the kingdom of Israel, or the northern kingdom. This kingdom was destroyed.
The Israelites were carried captive by the king of Assyria, 722 BC, after an independent existence of 253 years. The place of the captives carried away was supplied by tribes brought from the east, and thus was formed the Samaritan nation. Nebuchadnezzar came up against the kingdom of the two tribes, the kingdom of Judah, the capital of which was Jerusalem, 134 years after the overthrow of the kingdom of Israel. He overthrew the city, plundered the temple, and carried the people into captivity to Babylon, where they remained 70 years. At the close of the period of the Captivity, they returned to their own land, under the edict of Cyrus. They rebuilt the city and temple, and restored the old Jewish commonwealth.
Tent
This word is used also of a dwelling or habitation, and of the temple. When used of the tabernacle, as in, it denotes the covering of goat's hair used also of a dwelling, the grave, the temple, and of the tabernacle. It denotes the 12 interior curtains which lay upon the framework of the tabernacle. A dome like tent devoted to the impure worship of Baal. A tent or booth made of green branches. Jubal was the father of such as dwell in tents. The patriarchs were dwellers in tents; and during their wilderness wanderings all Israel dwelt in tents. Tents have always occupied a prominent place in Eastern life. Paul the apostle's occupation was a tentmaker; perhaps a maker of tent cloth.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
The numbering of the Israelites. 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. Let the believer be prepared to withstand the enemies of his soul, though all may appear to be at peace. The number of the people. 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. When we observe the faithfulness of God, however unlikely the performance of his promise may appear, we may take courage as to those which yet remain to be fulfilled to the church of God.
The Levites not numbered with the rest. Care is here taken to distinguish the tribe of Levi, which, in the matter of the golden calf, had distinguished itself. Singular services shall be recompensed by singular honors. 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, until 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.
Numbers 1:1
Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying,
Numbers 1:2
“Take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, every male, head by head
Numbers 1:3
from twenty years old and upward, whoever is able to go out to war in Israel, you and Aaron shall number them by their armies.
Numbers 1:4
With you, moreover, there shall be a man of each tribe, each one head of his father’s household.
Numbers 1:5
These then are the names of the men who shall stand with you: of Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur;
Numbers 1:6
of Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai;
Numbers 1:7
of Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab;
Numbers 1:8
of Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zuar;
Numbers 1:9
of Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon;
Numbers 1:10
of the sons of Joseph: of Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud; of Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur;
Numbers 1:11
of Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni;
Numbers 1:12
of Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai;
Numbers 1:13
of Asher, Pagiel the son of Ochran;
Numbers 1:14
of Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel;
Numbers 1:15
of Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan.
Numbers 1:16
These are they who were called of the congregation, the leaders of their fathers’ tribes; they were the heads of divisions of Israel.”
Numbers 1:17
So Moses and Aaron took these men who had been designated by name,
Numbers 1:18
and they assembled all the congregation together on the first of the second month. Then they registered by ancestry in their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, head by head,
Numbers 1:19
just as the LORD had commanded Moses. So he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.
Numbers 1:20
Now the sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war,
Numbers 1:21
their numbered men of the tribe of Reuben were 46,500.
Numbers 1:22
Of the sons of Simeon, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, their numbered men, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war,
Numbers 1:23
their numbered men of the tribe of Simeon were 59,300.
Numbers 1:24
Of the sons of Gad, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war,
Numbers 1:25
their numbered men of the tribe of Gad were 45,650.
Numbers 1:26
Of the sons of Judah, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war,
Numbers 1:27
their numbered men of the tribe of Judah were 74,600.
Numbers 1:28
Of the sons of Issachar, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war,
Numbers 1:29
their numbered men of the tribe of Issachar were 54,400.
Numbers 1:30
Of the sons of Zebulun, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war,
Numbers 1:31
their numbered men of the tribe of Zebulun were 57,400.
Numbers 1:32
Of the sons of Joseph, namely, of the sons of Ephraim, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war,
Numbers 1:33
their numbered men of the tribe of Ephraim were 40,500.
Numbers 1:34
Of the sons of Manasseh, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war,
Numbers 1:35
their numbered men of the tribe of Manasseh were 32,200.
Numbers 1:36
Of the sons of Benjamin, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war,
Numbers 1:37
their numbered men of the tribe of Benjamin were 35,400.
Numbers 1:38
Of the sons of Dan, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war,
Numbers 1:39
their numbered men of the tribe of Dan were 62,700.
Numbers 1:40
Of the sons of Asher, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war,
Numbers 1:41
their numbered men of the tribe of Asher were 41,500.
Numbers 1:42
Of the sons of Naphtali, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war,
Numbers 1:43
their numbered men of the tribe of Naphtali were 53,400.
Numbers 1:44
These are the ones who were numbered, whom Moses and Aaron numbered, with the leaders of Israel, twelve men, each of whom was of his father’s household.
Numbers 1:45
So all the numbered men of the sons of Israel by their fathers’ households, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war in Israel,
Numbers 1:46
even all the numbered men were 603,550.
Numbers 1:47
The Levites, however, were not numbered among them by their fathers’ tribe.
Numbers 1:48
For the LORD had spoken to Moses, saying,
Numbers 1:49
“Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, nor shall you take their census among the sons of Israel.
Numbers 1:50
But you shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its furnishings and over all that belongs to it. They shall carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it; they shall also camp around the tabernacle.
Numbers 1:51
So when the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle encamps, the Levites shall set it up. But the layman who comes near shall be put to death.
Numbers 1:52
The sons of Israel shall camp, each man by his own camp, and each man by his own standard, according to their armies.
Numbers 1:53
But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there will be no wrath on the congregation of the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.”
Numbers 1:54
Thus the sons of Israel did; according to all which the LORD had commanded Moses, so they did.
Cross References
Numbers 1:1: Exodus 40:2, 17; Numbers 1:2: Exodus 12:37; 38:25, 26; Numbers 26:2; Numbers 1:3: Exodus 30:14; 38:26; Numbers 1:4: Exodus 18:21, 25; Numbers 1:16; Deuteronomy 1:15; Numbers 1:5: Genesis 29:32; Exodus 1:2; Deuteronomy 33:6; Revelation 7:5; Numbers 1:7: Ruth 4:20; 1 Chronicles 2:10; Luke 3:32; Numbers 1:14: Numbers 2:14; Numbers 1:16: Exodus 18:21; Numbers 7:2; 16:2; 26:9; Exodus 18:25; Numbers 1:18: Numbers 1:1; Ezra 2:59; Hebrews 7:3; Numbers 1:19: 2 Samuel 24:1; Numbers 1:20: Numbers 26:5-7; Numbers 1:22: Numbers 26:12-14; Psalm 144:1; Numbers 1:24: Genesis 30:11; Numbers 26:15-18; Joshua 4:12; Jeremiah 49:1; Numbers 1:26: Genesis 29:35; Numbers 26:19-22; 2 Samuel 24:9; Psalm 78:68; Matthew 1:2; Numbers 1:28: Numbers 26:23-25; Numbers 1:30: Numbers 26:26, 27; Numbers 1:32: Numbers 26:35-37; Deuteronomy 33:13-17; Jeremiah 7:15; Obad 1:19; Numbers 1:34: Numbers 26:28-34; Numbers 1:36: Genesis 49:27; Numbers 26:38-41; 2 Chronicles 17:17; Revelation 7:8; Numbers 1:38: Genesis 30:6; 46:23; Numbers 2:25; 26:42, 43; Numbers 1:40: Numbers 26:44-47; Numbers 1:42: Numbers 26:48-50; Numbers 1:46: Exodus 12:37; 38:26; Numbers 2:32; 26:51; Numbers 1:47: Numbers 2:33; 3:14-39; 4:49; 26:57-64; Numbers 1:49: Numbers 26:62; Numbers 1:50: Exodus 38:21; Numbers 3:6-8, 25-37; 4:15, 25-27, 31, 32; Numbers 1:51: Numbers 4:1-33; Numbers 3:10, 38; 4:15, 19, 20; Numbers 1:52: Numbers 2:2, 34; Numbers 1:53: Numbers 3:23, 29, 35, 38; Leviticus 10:6; Numbers 16:46; 18:5; Numbers 8:24; 18:2-4; 1 Chronicles 23:32
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Baal
The name appropriated to the principal male god of the Phoenicians. It is found in several places in the plural BAALIM. It was known to the Israelites as Baal and was worshipped until the time of Samuel, and was afterwards the religion of the ten tribes in the time of Ahab. It prevailed also for a time in the kingdom of Judah, until finally put an end to by the severe discipline of the Captivity. The priests of Baal were in great numbers, and of various classes. Their mode of offering sacrifices is described. The sun god, under the general title of Baal, or lord, was the chief object of worship of the Canaanites. Each locality had its special Baal, and the various local Baals were summed up under the name of Baalim, or lords. Each Baal had a wife, who was a colorless reflection of himself.
Camp
During their journeys across the wilderness, the twelve tribes formed encampments at the different places where they halted. The diagram here given shows the position of the different tribes and the form of the encampment during the wanderings. The area of the camp would be in all about three square miles. After the Hebrews entered Palestine, the camps then spoken of were exclusively warlike.
Captivity
The kingdom of the ten tribes was successively invaded by several Assyrian kings. The families thus removed were carried to distant cities, many of them not far from the Caspian Sea, and their place was supplied by colonists from Babylon. This terminated the kingdom of the ten tribes, after a separate duration of 255 years.
Many speculations have been indulged with reference to these ten tribes. But we believe that all, except the number that probably allied themselves with Judah and shared in their restoration under Cyrus, are finally lost. Like the dew on the mountain, Like the foam on the river, Like the bubble on the fountain, They are gone, and for ever. After a brief siege he took that city, and carried away the vessels of the sanctuary to Babylon, and dedicated them in the Temple of Belus. He also carried away the treasures of the king, whom he made his vessel.
At this time, from which is dated the seventy years of captivity, Daniel and his companions were carried to Babylon, there to be brought up at the court and trained in all the learning of the Chaldeans. After this, in the fifth year of Jehoiakim, a great national fast was appointed, during which the king, to show his defiance, cut up the leaves of the book of Jeremiah's prophecies as they were read to him in his winter palace, and threw them into the fire. In the same spirit he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, who again a second time marched against Jerusalem, and put Jehoiakim to death, placing his son Jehoiachin on the throne in his stead.
But Jehoiachin's counsellors displeasing Nebuchadnezzar, he again a third time turned his army against Jerusalem, and carried away to Babylon a second detachment of Jews as captives, to the number of 10,000, among whom were the king, with his mother and all his princes and officers, also Ezekiel, who with many of his companions were settled on the banks of the river Chebar. He also carried away all the remaining treasures of the temple and the palace, and the golden vessels of the sanctuary.
The uncle of Jehoiachin, was now made king over what remained of the kingdom of Judah, under the name of Zedekiah. After a troubled reign of eleven years his kingdom came to an end. Nebuchadnezzar, with a powerful army, besieged Jerusalem, and Zedekiah became a prisoner in Babylon. His eyes were put out, and he was kept in close confinement until his death. The city was spoiled of all that was of value, and then given up to the flames.
The temple and palaces were consumed, and the walls of the city were leveled with the ground, and all that remained of the people, except a number of the poorest class who were left to till the ground and dress the vineyards, were carried away captives to Babylon. This was the third and last deportation of Jewish captives. The land was now utterly desolate, and was abandoned to anarchy.
In the first year of his reign as king of Babylon, Cyrus issued a decree liberating the Jewish captives, and permitting them to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city and the temple. The number of the people forming the first caravan, amounted in all to 42,360, besides 7,337 men servants and maid servants. A considerable number, 12,000 probably, from the ten tribes who had been carried away into Assyria no doubt combined with this band of liberated captives.
At a later period other bands of the Jews returned under Ezra 7:7 and Nehemiah 7:66. But the great mass of the people remained still in the land to which they had been carried, and became a portion of the Jews of the dispersion. The whole number of the exiles that chose to remain was probably about six times the number of those who returned.
Chronology
The arrangement of facts and events in the order of time. The writers of the Bible themselves don't adopt any standard era according to which they date events. Sometimes the years are reckoned from the time of the Exodus, and sometimes from the accession of kings, and sometimes again from the return from Exile. In constructing a system of Biblical chronology, the plan of reckoning the years from the ages of the patriarchs before the birth of their firstborn sons for the period from the Creation to Abraham.
After this period other data are to be taken into account in determining the relative sequence of events. As to the patriarchal period, there are three principal systems of chronology: that of the Hebrew text, that of the Septuagint version, and that of the Samaritan Pentateuch.
The Samaritan and the Septuagint have considerably modified the Hebrew chronology. This modification some regard as having been willfully made, and to be rejected. The same system of variations is observed in the chronology of the period between the Flood and Abraham.
The Septuagint fixes on 70 years as the age of Terah at the birth of Abraham; but a comparison shows that when Terah died, at the age of 125 years, Abraham was 75 years, and hence Terah must have been 130 years when Abraham was born. Thus, including the two years from the Flood to the birth of Arphaxad, the period from the Flood to the birth of Abraham was 352 years. The next period is from the birth of Abraham to the Exodus.
This, according to the Hebrew, extends to 505 years. The difficulty here is as to the 430 years. These years are regarded by some as dating from the covenant with Abraham, which was entered into soon after his sojourn in Egypt; others, with more probability, reckon these years from Jacob's going down into Egypt.
Ensign
A military standard, especially of a single tribe. Each separate tribe had its own sign or ensign. A lofty signal, as a column or high pole; a standard or signal or flag placed on high mountains to point out to the people a place of rendezvous on the irruption of an enemy. This was an occasional signal, and not a military standard. Elevation and conspicuity are implied in the word. Denotes the standard given to each of the four divisions of the host of the Israelites at the Exodus. Also it is rendered banner. We have no definite information as to the nature of these military standards.
Golgotha
The common name of the spot where Jesus was crucified. It is interpreted by the evangelists as meaning the place of a skull. It is identical with the word Calvary. It was a little knoll rounded like a bare skull. It is obvious from the evangelists that it was some well known spot outside the gate, and near the city, containing a garden, and on a thoroughfare leading into the country.
Levite
A descendant of the tribe of Levi. This name is, however, generally used as the title of that portion of the tribe which was set apart for the subordinate offices of the sanctuary service, as assistants to the priests. When the Israelites left Egypt, the ancient manner of worship was still observed by them, the eldest son of each house inheriting the priest's office. At Sinai the first change in this ancient practice was made. A hereditary priesthood in the family of Aaron was then instituted.
But it was not until that terrible scene in connection with the sin of the golden calf that the tribe of Levi stood apart and began to occupy a distinct position. The religious primogeniture was then conferred on this tribe, which was devoted to the service of the sanctuary. They were selected for this purpose because of their zeal for the glory of God, and because, as the tribe to which Moses and Aaron belonged, they would naturally stand by the lawgiver in his work.
The Levitical order consisted of all the descendants of Levi's three sons. The age and qualification for Levitical service. They were not included among the armies of Israel, but were reckoned by themselves. They were the special guardians of the tabernacle. It was their duty to move the tent and carry the parts of the sacred structure from place to place.
They were given to Aaron and his sons the priests to wait upon them and do work for them at the sanctuary services. As being wholly consecrated to the service of the Lord, they had no territorial possessions. Jehovah was their inheritance, and for their support it was ordained that they should receive from the other tribes the tithes of the produce of the land. 48 cities also were assigned to them, 13 of which were for the priests to dwell in, along with their other inhabitants.
Along with their dwellings they had suburbs, commons, for their herds and flocks, and also fields and vineyards. Nine of these cities were in Judah, three in Naphtali, and four in each of the other tribes. Six of the Levitical cities were set apart as cities of refuge. Thus the Levites were scattered among the tribes to keep alive among them the knowledge and service of God.
Manasseh
Who makes to forget. God hath made me forget. The elder of the two sons of Joseph. He and his brother Ephraim were afterwards adopted by Jacob as his own sons. There is an account of his marriage to a Syrian; and the only thing afterwards recorded of him is, that his grandchildren were brought up upon Joseph's knees were from their birth adopted by Joseph as his own children.
The tribe of Manasseh was associated with that of Ephraim and Benjamin during the wanderings in the wilderness. They encamped on the west side of the tabernacle. According to the census taken at Sinai, this tribe then numbered 32,200. 40 years afterwards its numbers had increased to 52,700, and it was at this time the most distinguished of all the tribes.
The half of this tribe, along with Reuben and Gad, had their territory assigned them by Moses on the east of the Jordan; but it was left for Joshua to define the limits of each tribe. This territory on the east of Jordan was more valuable and of larger extent than all that was allotted to the nine and a half tribes in the land of Palestine. It is sometimes called the land of Gilead, and is also spoken of as on the other side of Jordan. The portion given to the half tribe of Manasseh was the largest on the east of Jordan.
The whole land of Gilead having been conquered, the two and a half tribes left their wives and families in the fortified cities there, and accompanied the other tribes across the Jordan, and took part with them in the wars of conquest. The allotment of the land having been completed, Joshua dismissed the two and a half tribes, commending them for their heroic service. Thus dismissed, they returned over Jordan to their own inheritance.
Palestine
Originally denoted only the sea coast of the land of Canaan inhabited by the Philistines, and in this sense exclusively occurs in the Old Testament. It is also called the holy land, the land of Jehovah, the land of promise, because promised to Abraham, the land of Canaan, the land of Israel, and the land of Judah. The territory promised as an inheritance to the seed of Abraham was bounded on the east by the river Euphrates, on the west by the Mediterranean and on the south by the river of Egypt.
This extent of territory, about 60,000 square miles, was at length conquered by David, and was ruled over also by his son. This vast empire was the Promised Land; but Palestine was only a part of it, terminating in the north at the southern extremity of the Lebanon range, thus extending in all to about 144 miles in length.
Its average breadth was about 60 miles from the Mediterranean on the west to beyond the Jordan. It has fittingly been designated the least of all lands. Western Palestine, on the south of Gaza, is only about 40 miles in breadth from the Mediterranean to the Dead Sea, narrowing gradually toward the north, where it is only 20 miles from the sea coast to the Jordan.
Palestine, set in the midst of all other lands, is the most remarkable country on the face of the earth. No single country of such an extent has so great a variety of climate, and hence also of plant and animal life. Moses describes it as a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; a land where you shalt not eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you may dig brass.
In the time of Christ the country looked, in all probability, much as now. The whole land consists of rounded limestone hills, fretted into countless stony valleys, offering but rarely level tracts below Nazareth is large enough to be seen on the map.
The original woods had for ages disappeared, though the slopes were dotted, as now, with figs, olives, and other fruit trees where there was any soil. Permanent streams were even then unknown, the passing rush of winter torrents being all that was seen among the hills.
The autumn and spring rains, caught in deep cisterns hewn out like huge underground jars in the soft limestone, with artificial mud banked ponds still found near all villages, furnished water. Hills now bare, or at best rough with stunted growth, were then terraced, so as to grow vines, olives, and grain.
Today almost desolate, the country then teemed with population. Wine presses cut in the rocks, endless terraces, and the ruins of old vineyard towers are now found amidst solitudes overgrown for ages with thorns and thistles, or with wild shrubs and poor gnarled scrub.
From an early period the land was inhabited by the descendants of Canaan, who retained possession of the whole land until the time of the conquest by Joshua, when it was occupied by the twelve tribes. Two tribes and a half had their allotments given them by Moses on the east of the Jordan.
The remaining tribes had their portion on the west of Jordan. From the conquest until the time of Saul, about 400 years, the people were governed by judges. For a period of 125 years the kingdom retained its unity while it was ruled by Saul and David and Solomon. On the death of Solomon, his son Rehoboam ascended the throne; but his conduct was such that ten of the tribes revolted, and formed an independent monarchy, called the kingdom of Israel, or the northern kingdom. This kingdom was destroyed.
The Israelites were carried captive by the king of Assyria, 722 BC, after an independent existence of 253 years. The place of the captives carried away was supplied by tribes brought from the east, and thus was formed the Samaritan nation. Nebuchadnezzar came up against the kingdom of the two tribes, the kingdom of Judah, the capital of which was Jerusalem, 134 years after the overthrow of the kingdom of Israel. He overthrew the city, plundered the temple, and carried the people into captivity to Babylon, where they remained 70 years. At the close of the period of the Captivity, they returned to their own land, under the edict of Cyrus. They rebuilt the city and temple, and restored the old Jewish commonwealth.
Tent
This word is used also of a dwelling or habitation, and of the temple. When used of the tabernacle, as in, it denotes the covering of goat's hair used also of a dwelling, the grave, the temple, and of the tabernacle. It denotes the 12 interior curtains which lay upon the framework of the tabernacle. A dome like tent devoted to the impure worship of Baal. A tent or booth made of green branches. Jubal was the father of such as dwell in tents. The patriarchs were dwellers in tents; and during their wilderness wanderings all Israel dwelt in tents. Tents have always occupied a prominent place in Eastern life. Paul the apostle's occupation was a tentmaker; perhaps a maker of tent cloth.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
The numbering of the Israelites. 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. Let the believer be prepared to withstand the enemies of his soul, though all may appear to be at peace. The number of the people. 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. When we observe the faithfulness of God, however unlikely the performance of his promise may appear, we may take courage as to those which yet remain to be fulfilled to the church of God.
The Levites not numbered with the rest. Care is here taken to distinguish the tribe of Levi, which, in the matter of the golden calf, had distinguished itself. Singular services shall be recompensed by singular honors. 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, until 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.
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