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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)