Lux Domini

Numbers 1

Chapter context

What is happening in Numbers 1?

pilgrimagerebellionjudgmentmercy

Numbers 1 belongs to the opening movement of the book, especially the section often described as ordering and numbering the camp at Sinai. Numbers combines census lists, camp order, priestly concerns, wilderness rebellion, judgment, mercy, and renewed preparation for entering the promised land. Read this chapter with the wider themes of pilgrimage, rebellion, and judgment in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,   2 Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls;   3 From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies.   4 And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers.   5 And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur.   6 Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.   7 Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab.   8 Of Issachar; Nethaneel the son of Zuar.   9 Of Zebulun; Eliab the son of Helon.   10 Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.   11 Of Benjamin; Abidan the son of Gideoni.   12 Of Dan; Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.   13 Of Asher; Pagiel the son of Ocran.   14 Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel.   15 Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan.   16 These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.   17 And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names:   18 And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.   19 As the LORD commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.   20 And the children of Reuben, Israel’s eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;   21 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.   22 Of the children of Simeon, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, those that were numbered of them, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;   23 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.   24 Of the children of Gad, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;   25 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty.   26 Of the children of Judah, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;   27 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.   28 Of the children of Issachar, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;   29 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.   30 Of the children of Zebulun, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;   31 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.   32 Of the children of Joseph, namely, of the children of Ephraim, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;   33 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred.   34 Of the children of Manasseh, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;   35 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.   36 Of the children of Benjamin, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;   37 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.   38 Of the children of Dan, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;   39 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Dan, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.   40 Of the children of Asher, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;   41 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.   42 Of the children of Naphtali, throughout their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;   43 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.   44 These are those that were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men: each one was for the house of his fathers.   45 So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel;   46 Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.   47 But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.   48 For the LORD had spoken unto Moses, saying,   49 Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:   50 But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.   51 And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.   52 And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts.   53 But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.   54 And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.  

Study helps

Glossary

Egypt Place v. 1

The land of the Nile and the pyramids, the oldest kingdom of which we have any record, holds a place of great significance in Scripture. Modern identification: Ain Shams.

Tabernacle Object v. 1, 50-51, 53

(1. ) A house or dwelling-place ( Job 5:24 ; 18:6 , etc. ). (2. ) A portable shrine (comp. Acts 19:24 ) containing the image of Moloch ( Amos 5:26 ; marg. and R. V., “Siccuth”). (3. ) The human body.

Wilderness of Sinai Place v. 1, 19

Biblical region. Modern identification: Jebel Musa.

Reuben Person v. 5, 20-21

Behold a son!, the eldest son of Jacob and Leah ( Gen. 29:32 ). His sinful conduct, referred to in Gen. 35:22 , brought down upon him his dying father’s malediction (48:4).

Simeon Person v. 6, 22-23

Hearing. (1. ) The second son of Jacob by Leah ( Gen. 29:33 ). He was associated with Levi in the terrible act of vengeance against Hamor and the Shechemites (34:25, 26).

Zurishaddai Tribe v. 6

Rock of the Almighty, the father of Shelumiel, who was chief of the tribe of Simeon when Israel was encamped at Sinai ( Num. 1:6 ; 2:12 ).

Amminadab Tribe v. 7

Kindred of the prince. (1. ) The father of Nahshon, who was chief of the tribe of Judah ( Num. 1:7 ; 2:3 ; 7:12 , 17; 10:14). His daughter Elisheba was married to Aaron ( Ex. 6:23 ).

Nahshon Person v. 7

Sorcerer, the son of Aminadab, and prince of the children of Judah at the time of the first numbering of the tribes in the wilderness ( Ex. 6:23 ). His sister Elisheba was the wife of Aaron. He died in the wilderness.

Nethaneel Person v. 8

Given of God. (1. ) The son of Zuar, chief of the tribe of Issachar at the Exodus ( Num. 1:8 ; 2:5 ). (2. ) One of David’s brothers ( 1 Chr. 2:14 ).

Eliab Tribe v. 9

To whom God is father. (1. ) A Reubenite, son of Pallu ( Num. 16:1 , 12; 26:8, 9; Deut. 11:6 ). (2. ) A son of Helon, and chief of the tribe of Zebulun at the time of the census in the wilderness ( Num. 1:9 ; 2:7 ).

Helon Person v. 9

Strong, father of Eliab, who was “captain of the children of Zebulun” ( Num. 1:9 ; 2:7 ).

Zebulun Person v. 9, 30-31

Dwelling, the sixth and youngest son of Jacob and Leah ( Gen. 30:20 ). Little is known of his personal history. He had three sons (46:14).

Ammihud Person v. 10

People of glory; i. e., “renowned. ” (1. ) The father of the Ephraimite chief Elishama, at the time of the Exodus ( Num. 1:10 ; 2:18 ; 7:48 , 53). (2. ) Num. 34:20 . (3. ) Num. 34:28 .

Elishama Person v. 10

Whom God hears. (1. ) A prince of Benjamin, grandfather of Joshua ( Num. 1:10 ; 1 Chr. 7:26 ). (2. ) One of David’s sons ( 2 Sam. 5:16 ). (3. ) Another of David’s sons ( 1 Chr. 3:6 ).

Gamaliel Tribe v. 10

Reward of God. (1. ) A chief of the tribe of Manasseh at the census at Sinai ( Num. 1:10 ; 2:20 ; 7:54 , 59). (2. ) The son of rabbi Simeon, and grandson of the famous rabbi Hillel.

Pedahzur Person v. 10

Rock of redemption, the father of Gamaliel and prince of Manasseh at the time of the Exodus ( Num. 1:10 ; 2:20 ).

Abidan Tribe v. 11

Father of judgment; judge, head of the tribe of Benjamin at the Exodus ( Num. 1:11 ; 2:22 ).

Benjamin Person v. 11, 36-37

Son of my right hand. (1. ) The younger son of Jacob by Rachel ( Gen. 35:18 ). His birth took place at Ephrath, on the road between Bethel and Bethlehem, at a short distance from the latter place.

Ahiezer Tribe v. 12

Brother of help; i. e., “helpful. ” (1. ) The chief of the tribe of Dan at the time of the Exodus ( Num. 1:12 ; 2:25 ; 10:25 ). (2. ) The chief of the Benjamite slingers that repaired to David at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:3 ).

Ammishaddai Person v. 12

People of the Almighty, the father of Ahiezer, who was chief of the Danites at the time of the Exodus ( Num. 1:12 ; 2:25 ). This is one of the few names compounded with the name of God, Shaddai, “Almighty. ”.

Pagiel Tribe v. 13

God allots, a prince of the tribe of Asher ( Num. 1:13 ), in the wilderness.

Gad Person v. 14, 24-25

Fortune; luck. (1. ) Jacob’s seventh son, by Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid, and the brother of Asher ( Gen. 30:11-13 ; 46:16 , 18). In the Authorized Version of 30:11 the words, “A troop cometh: and she called,” etc.

Ahira Tribe v. 15

Brother of evil = unlucky, or my brother is friend, chief of the tribe of Naphtali at the Exodus ( Num. 1:15 ; 2:29 ).

Naphtali Person v. 15, 42-43

My wrestling, the fifth son of Jacob. His mother was Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid ( Gen. 30:8 ). When Jacob went down into Egypt, Naphtali had four sons ( Gen. 46:24 ). Little is known of him as an individual.

Levi Person v. 49

Adhesion. (1. ) The third son of Jacob by Leah. The origin of the name is found in Leah’s words ( Gen. 29:34 ).