17So Moses and Aaron took these men who had been designated by name, 18and 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, 19just as the LORD had commanded Moses. So he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.

      20Now 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, 21their numbered men of the tribe of Reuben were 46,500.

      22Of 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, 23their numbered men of the tribe of Simeon were 59,300.

      24Of 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, 25their numbered men of the tribe of Gad were 45,650.

      26Of 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, 27their numbered men of the tribe of Judah were 74,600.

      28Of 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, 29their numbered men of the tribe of Issachar were 54,400.

      30Of 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, 31their numbered men of the tribe of Zebulun were 57,400.

      32Of 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, 33their numbered men of the tribe of Ephraim were 40,500.

      34Of 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, 35their numbered men of the tribe of Manasseh were 32,200.

      36Of 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, 37their numbered men of the tribe of Benjamin were 35,400.

      38Of 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, 39their numbered men of the tribe of Dan were 62,700.

      40Of 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, 41their numbered men of the tribe of Asher were 41,500.

      42Of 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, 43their numbered men of the tribe of Naphtali were 53,400.

      44These 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. 45So 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, 46even all the numbered men were 603,550.

Levites Exempted

      47The Levites, however, were not numbered among them by their fathers’ tribe. 48For the LORD had spoken to Moses, saying, 49“Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, nor shall you take their census among the sons of Israel. 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. 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. 52“The sons of Israel shall camp, each man by his own camp, and each man by his own standard, according to their armies. 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.” 54Thus the sons of Israel did; according to all which the LORD had commanded Moses, so they did.

Parallel Verses

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
of Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel;

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Eliasaph, son of Deuel, from the tribe of Gad;

King James Bible
Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Of Gad, Eliasaph the son of Duel.

Darby Bible Translation
for Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel;

English Revised Version
Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

Webster's Bible Translation
Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

World English Bible
Of Gad: Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

Young's Literal Translation
'For Gad -- Eliasaph son of Deuel.

Cross References

Numbers 1:13 of Asher, Pagiel the son of Ochran;

Numbers 1:15 of Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan.

Numbers 2:14 "Then comes the tribe of Gad, and the leader of the sons of Gad: Eliasaph the son of Deuel,

Numbers 7:42 On the sixth day it was Eliasaph the son of Deuel, leader of the sons of Gad;

Commentary

Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary

An Exposition, With Practical Observations, of The Fourth Book of Moses, Called Numbers

The titles of the five books of Moses, which we use in our Bibles, are all borrowed from the Greek translation of the Seventy, the most ancient version of the Old Testament that we know of. But the title of this book only we turn into English; in all the rest we retain the Greek word itself, for which difference I know no reason but that the Latin translators have generally done the same. Otherwise this book might as well have been called Arithmoi, the Greek title, as the first Genesis, and the second Exodus; or these might as well have been translated, and called, the first the Generation, or Original, the second the Out-let, or Escape, as this Numbers.-This book was thus entitled because of the numbers of the children of Israel, so often mentioned in this book, and so well worthy to give a title to it, because it was the remarkable accomplishment of God's promise to Abraham that his seed should be as the stars of heaven for multitude. It also relates to two numberings of them, one at mount Sinai (ch. 1), the other in the plains of Moab, thirty-nine years after (ch. 26). And not three men the same in the last account that were in the first. The book is almost equally divided between histories and laws, intermixed.

We have here, I. The histories of the numbering and marshalling of the tribes (ch. 1-4), the dedication of the altar and Levites (ch. 7, 8), their march (ch. 9, 10), their murmuring and unbelief, for which they were sentenced to wander forty years in the wilderness (ch. 11-14), the rebellion of Korah (ch. 16, 17), the history of the last year of the forty (ch. 20-26), the conquest of Midian, and the settlement of the two tribes (ch. 31, 32), with an account of their journeys (ch. 33), II. Divers laws about the Nazarites, etc. (ch. 5, 6); and again about the priests' charge, etc. (ch. 18, 19), feasts (ch. 28, 29), and vows (ch. 30), and relating to their settlement in Canaan (ch. 27, 34, 35, 36). An abstract of much of this book we have in a few words in Ps. 95:10, Forty years long was I grieved with this generation; and an application of it to ourselves in Heb. 4:1, Let us fear lest we seem to come short. Many considerable nations there were now in being, that dwelt in cities and fortified towns, of which no notice is taken, no account kept, by the sacred history: but very exact records are kept of the affairs of a handful of people, that dwelt in tents, and wandered strangely in a wilderness, because they were the children of the covenant. For the Lord's portion is his people, Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.

Chapter 1

Israel was now to be formed into a commonwealth, or rather a kingdom; for "the Lord was their King" (1 Sa. 12:12), their government a theocracy, and Moses under him was king in Jeshurun, Deu. 33:5. Now, for the right settlement of this holy state, next to the institution of good laws was necessary the institution of good order; and account therefore must be taken of the subjects of this kingdom, which is done in this chapter, where we have, I. Orders given to Moses to number the people (v. 1-4). II. Persons nominated to assist him herein (v. 5-16). III. The particular number of each tribe, as it was given in to Moses (v. 17-43). IV. The sum total of all together (v. 44-46). V. An exception of the Levites (v. 47, etc.).

Verses 1-16

I. We have here a commission issued out for the numbering of the people of Israel; and David, long after, paid dearly for doing it without a commission. Here is,

1. The date of this commission, v. 1. (1.) The place: it is given at God's court in the wilderness of Sinai, from his royal palace, the tabernacle of the congregation. (2.) The time: In the second year after they came up out of Egypt; we may call it the second year of that reign. The laws in Leviticus were given in the first month of that year; these orders were given in the beginning of the second month.

2. The directions given for the execution of it, v. 2, 3. (1.) None were to be numbered but the males, and those only such as were fit for war. None under twenty years old; for, though some such might have bulk and strength enough for military service, yet, in compassion to their tender years, God would not have them put upon it to bear arms. (2.) Nor were any to be numbered who through age, or bodily infirmity, blindness, lameness, or chronical diseases, were unfit for war. The church being militant, those only are reputed the true members of it that have enlisted themselves soldiers of Jesus Christ; for our life, our Christian life, is a warfare. (3.) The account was to be taken according to their families, that it might not only be known how many they were, and what were their names, but of what tribe and family, or clan, nay, of what particular house every person was; or, reckoning it the muster of an army, to what regiment every man belonged, that he might know his place himself and the government might know where to find him. They were numbered a little before this, when their poll-money was paid for the service of the tabernacle, Ex. 38:25, 26. But it should seem they were not then registered by the house of their fathers, as now they were. Their number was the same then that it was now: 603,550 men; for as many as had died since then, and were lost in the account, so many had arrived to be twenty years old, and were added to the account. Note, As one generation passeth away another generation cometh. As vacancies are daily made, so recruits are daily raised to fill up the vacancies, and Providence takes care that, one time or other, in one place or other, the births shall balance the burials, that the race of mankind and the holy seed may not be cut off and become extinct.

3. Commissioners are named for the doing of this work. Moses and Aaron were to preside (v. 3), and one man of every tribe, that was renowned in his tribe, and was presumed to know it well, was to assist in it-the princes of the tribes, v. 16. Note, Those that are honourable should study to be serviceable; he that is great, let him be your minister, and show, by his knowing the public, that he deserves to be publicly known. The charge of this muster was committed to him who was the lord-lieutenant of that tribe. Now,

II. Why was this account ordered to be taken and kept? For several reasons. 1. To prove the accomplishment of the promise made to Abraham, that God would multiply his seed exceedingly, which promise was renewed to Jacob (Gen. 28:14), that his seed should be as the dust of the earth. Now it appears that there did not fail one tittle of that good promise, which was an encouragement to them to hope that the other promise of the land of Canaan for an inheritance should also be fulfilled in its season. When the number of a body of men is only guessed at, upon the view, it is easy for one that is disposed to cavil to surmise that the conjecture is mistaken, and that, if they were to be counted, they would not be found half so many; therefore God would have Israel numbered, that it might be upon record how vastly they were increased in a little time, that the power of God's providence and the truth of his promise may be seen and acknowledged by all. It could not have been expected, in any ordinary course of nature, that seventy-five souls (which was the number of Jacob's family when he went down into Egypt) should in 215 years (and it was no longer) multiply into so many hundred thousands. It is therefore to be attributed to an extraordinary virtue in the divine promise and blessing. 2. It was to intimate the particular care which God himself would take of his Israel, and which Moses and the inferior rulers were expected to take of them. God is called the Shepherd of Israel, Ps. 80:1. Now the shepherds always kept count of their flocks, and delivered them by number to their under-shepherds, that they might know if any were missing; in like manner God numbers his flock, that of all which he took into his fold he might lose none but upon a valuable consideration, even those that were sacrificed to his justice. 3. It was to put a difference between the true born Israelites and the mixed multitude that were among them; none were numbered but Israelites: all the world is but lumber in comparison with those jewels. Little account is made of others, but the saints God has a particular property in and concern for. The Lord knows those that are his (2 Tim. 2:19), knows them by name, Phil, 4:3. The hairs of their head are numbered ; but he will say to others, "I never knew you, never made any account of you." 4. It was in order to their being marshalled into several districts, for the more easy administration of justice, and their more regular march through the wilderness. It is a rout and a rabble, not an army, that is not mustered and put in order.

Calvin's Commentary

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,

1. Loquutus est autem Jehova ad Mosen in deserto Sinai, in tabernaculo conventionis, in primo mensis secundi, anno secundo ex quo egressi sunt e terra AEgypti, dicendo:

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;

2. Capite summam totius coetus filiorum Israel per familias eorum, per domos patrum eorum, juxta numerum nominum, onmem masculum per capita eorum.

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.

3. A filio viginti armorum et supra, Omnem egredientem ad bellum in Israele numerabitis eos per excreitus suos tu et Aharon.

4. And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers.

4. Sintque vobiseum viri de singulis tribubus, quorum quilibet caput domus sit patrum suorum.

5. And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: Of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur.

5. Haec sunt autem nomima virorum qui stabunt vobiscum: de Ruben, Elisur, filius Sedeur.

6. Of Simeon; Shehmiel the son of Zurishaddai.

6. De Simeon, Selumiel filius Surisaddai.

7. Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

7. De Jehudah, Nahason filius Amminadab.

8. Of Issachar; Nethaneel the son of Zuar.

8. De Issachar, Nethanel filius Suar.

9. Of Zebulun; Eliab the son of Helon.

9. De Zebulon, Eliab filius Helon.

10. Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishame the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedabzur.

10. De filiis Joseph, de Ephraim, Elisamama filius Ammihud: de Manasses, Gamliel illius Pedahsur.

11. Of Benjamin; Abidan the son of Gideoni.

11. De Benjamin, Abidan filius Gidoni.

12. Of Dan; Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

12. De Dan, Ahiezer filius Ammisaddai.

13. Of Asher; Pagiel the son of Ocran.

13. De Aser, Pagiel filius Ochran.

14. Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

14. De Gad, Eliasaph filius Deuel.

15. Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan.

15. De Nephthali, Ahira filius Ellan.

16. These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.

16. Hi sunt nobilissimi synagogae, principes tribuum patrum suorum: capita millium Israelis erant.

17. And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names:

17. Accepit igitur Moses et Aharon viros istos qui expositi sunt per nomina.

18. And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month; and they declared their pedigrees after their fanlilies, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.

18. Et universam synagogam congregaverunt primo mensis secundi, et secundum genealogiam recensiti sunt per familias suas: per domos patrum suorum, juxta numerum numerum per capita sua, omnis masculus a filio viginti armorum et supra, onmis egrediens ad pugnam.

19. As the Lord commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.

19. Quemadmodum praeceperat Jehova ipsi Mosi, numeravit eos in deserto 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;

20. Fuerunt itaque filii Ruben primogeniti lsrael per generationes suas, per familias suas, per domes patrum suorum, juxta numerura nominum per capita sua, omnis masculus a filio viginti annorum et supra, omnis egrediens ad pugham,

21. Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.

21. Numerati eorum de tribu Ruben, sex et quadraginta millia, atque quingenti.

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;

22. De filiis Simeon per generationes suas, per familias suas, per domos patrum suorum, munerati ejus, juxta humerum niminum, per capita sua, omnis masculus a filio viginti armorum et supra, omnis; egrediens ad pugnam:

23. Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.

23. Numerati inquam eorum de tribu Simeon, novera et quinquaginta millia, atque trecenti.

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;

24. De filiis Gad per generationes suas, per familias suas, per domus patrum suorum, juxta numerum nominum, a filio viginti annorum et supra, omnis egrediens ad pugnam.

25. Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty.

25. Numerati eorum de tribu Gad, quinque et quadraginta milliae, atque sexcenti et quinquaginta.

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;

26. De filiis Jehudah per generationes suas, per familias suas, per domus patrum suorum, juxta numerum nominum, a filio viginti annorum et supra, omnis egrediens ad pugnam:

27. Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.

27. Numerati eorum de tribu Jehudah, quatuor et septuaginta millia, atque sexcenti.

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;

28. De filiis Issachar per generationes suas, per familias suas, per domum patrum suorum, juxta nuroerum nominum, a filio viginti annorum et supra, omnis egrediens ad putnam:

29. Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.

29. Numerati eorum de tribu Issachar, quatuor et quinquaginta millia, atque quadringenti.

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;

30. De filiis Zebulon, per generationes sues, per familias suas, per domos patrum suorum, juxta numerum niminum a filio Viginti annorum et supra, omnis egrediens ad pugnam:

31. Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.

31. Numerati corum de tribu Zebulon, septem et quinquaginta millia, atque quadringenti.

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;

32. De filiis Joseph, de filiis Ephraim, per generationes suas, per familias suas, per domos patrum suorum, juxta numerum nominum, a filio viginti annorum et supra, omnis egrediens ad pugnam:

33. Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred.

33. Numerati eorum de tribu Ephraim, quadraginta millius atque quingenti.

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;

34. De filiis Manasse, per generationes suas, per domos patrum suorum, juxta numerum nominum, a filio viginti annorum et supra, omnis egrediens ad pugnam:

35. Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.

35. Numerati corum de tribu Manasse, duo et triginta raillid, atque ducenti.

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;

36. De filiis Benjamin, per generationes suas, per familias suam, per domum patrum suorum, juxta numerum nominum, a filio viginti annorum et supra, omnis egrediens ad pugnam:

37. Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Benamin, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.

37. Numerati eorum de tribu Benjamin, quinque et triginta millie, et quadringenti.

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;

38. De filiis Dan, per generationes suas, per familias suas, per domos patrum suorum, juxta numerum nominum, a filio viginti annorum et supra, omnis egrediens ad pugnam:

39. Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Dan, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.

39. Numerati eorum de tribu Dan, duo et sexaginta millia, atque septingenti.

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;

40. De filiis Aser per generationes suas, per familias suas, per domos patrum suorum, juxta humerum nominum, a filio viginti armorum et supra, omnis egrediens ad pugnam:

41. Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.

41. Numerati eorum de tribu Aser, unum et quadraginta millia, atque quingenti.

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;

42. De filiis Nephthali, per generationes suds, per familias suas, per domus patrum suorum, juxta numerum nominum a filio viginti annorum et supra, omnis egrediens ad pugnam:

43. Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.

43. Numerati eorum de tribu Nephthali, tria et quinquaginta millia, atque quadringenti.

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.

44. Isti sunt numerati illi quos numeravit Moses et Aharon atque principes Israelis, duodecim viri: singuli per domos patrum suorum erant.

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;

45. Fueruntque omnes numerati filiorum Israel per domos patrum suorum, a filio viginti annorum et supra, omnis egrediens ad pugnam in Israele.

46. Even all they that were numbered, were six hundred thousand, and three thousand, and five hundred and fifty.

46. Fuerunt inquam omnes numerati, sexcenta tria millia, et quingenti quinquaginta.

47. But the Levites, after the tribe of their fathers, were not numbered among them.

47. At Levitin per tribum patrum suorum non fuerunt numerati in medio eorum.

48. For the Lord had spoken unto Moses, saying,

48. Loquutus enim erat Jehova, ad Mosen dicendo:

49. Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:

49. Veruntamen (vel, utique, vel, tantummodo) tribum Levi non numerabis, neque summam eorum capies in medio filiorum 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.

50. Sed tu praefice Levitas tabernaculo testimonii, et onmibus vasis ejus, et omnibus qum ad illud pertinent: ipsi portabunt tabernaculum, et omnia vasa ejus, et ipsi ministrabunt illi, et in circuitu tabernaculi castrametabuntur.

5l. 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.

51. Quando autem proficiscetur tabernaculum, deponent illud Levitie: quum consistet tabernaculum, erigent illud Levitae et extraneus qui accesserit, morietur.

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.

52. Et castrametabuntur filil Israel quisque in castris suis, et quisque juxta vexillum suum, et per exercitus suos.

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.

53. Levitae vero castrametabuntur in circuitu tabernaculi testimoni et non erit ira super coetum filliorum Israel: custodientque Levitiae custodiam tabernaculi testimonii.

54. And the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did they.

54. Fecerunt ergo filii Israel juxta omnia quae praeceperat Jehova Most, sic fecerunt.

1. And the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai Although this is the first numbering of the people, of which we have an account, still, inasmuch as God had already imposed a tax upon every person, the amount of which has been recorded, we infer that it was in fact the second. But the reason for thus numbering the people a second time was, because they were very soon about to remove their camp from the wilderness of Sinai to take posession of the promised land. Since, however, their impiety withheld thmn from doing so, there was a third census taken just before their actual entrance into the land, and with this object, that it might be obvious, on comparison, how marvellously the people had been preserved by the springing up of a new generation, in spite of so many plagues and so much slaughter; for although a great proportion of them had been cut off, almost as many persons were found as before.

Further, it must be observed, that the people were not numbered except at God's command, in order that He might thus assert His supreme dominion over them; and also, that the mode of taking the census was so arranged, that there should be no confusion of ranks either through fraud or irregularity; for this was the reason why each tribe had its superintendents, lest any one should slip into a tribe to which he did not belong; and this is expressly mentioned by way of assurance, since otherwise many might suspect that so great a multitude could hardly be distinguished into classes with certainty, so that the whole sum should be calculated without mistake.

20. And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son If any disputatious person should contend that one family could not increase in 250 years to so great an amount, and thus should reject as nebulous what surpasses the ordinary rule of nature, we must bear in mind what I have already stated, that, inasmuch as this increase depended on the power of God, nothing is more absurd than to measure it by ordinary rules. For the intention of the Spirit is to represent to our eyes the incredible power of God in a conspicuous and signal miracle. Meanwhile, if you compared the tribe of Reuben with some of the others, it presents in its numbers some marks of the curse, so that we may gather that Reuben was degraded from the honors of his primogeniture; for the tribes of Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali were more numerous, whilst from Joseph alone, who was one of the youngest, a posterity descended which almost doubled it in numbers. God's blessing, however, is most conspicuous in the tribe of Judah, in correspondence with the prophecy of Jacob; for by this prerogative, as it were, it was already called to the right of primogeniture and to supremacy, inasmuch as it surpassed all the principal ones.

47. But the Levites, after the tribe of their fathers We shall indeed hereafter see that they also were numbered, but Moses means that they were not included in the general census of the people, because God had chosen them to be His own property, and thus had severed them from the rest of the people. He writes, therefore, that they "were not numbered in the midst of the others," [419] i.e., so as promiscuously to form a part of the multitude. Now, lest any one should object that Moses acted ambitiously in thus bestowing on his own tribe extraordinary distinction, he declares that he did not do this spontaneously, but that it was at God's bidding that the Levites had a separate class assigned to them; for translators render this passage amiss, "And God said to Moses," [420] as if he stated that the tribe of Levi was then first set apart when the sum of the people was taken, since it would have been absurd to omit a part, unless God's will had been already declared. Moses, therefore, shews why he passed over his own tribe, via, because God had consecrated the Levites for the keeping and service of the tabernacle. Now, if it was not lawful for the tabernacle to be carried or set up by all persons indiscriminately, its sanctity was enforced by this symbol; for religion would not have been held in so much reverence, if it had been allowable for all without distinction to meddle with the sacred things. Meanwhile, the Israelites were reminded that all without, exception were unworthy to present themselves before God, when they were forbidden from access to the sanctuary; whereas the dignity which was conferred upon a single tribe was no ground for boasting, since it depended merely on the good pleasure of God. God, then, gave the Levites access to His tabernacle, not because they had deserved that honor by any virtue of their own, but in order to afford a testimony of His gratuitous favor. At the same time, under this image He represented the future priesthood of Christ, in order that believers might be assured that the Mediator, by whom others might have access to God, was to be of the human race; and therefore God declares by Isaiah that He would take the Levites under the kingdom of Christ from the general and dispersed body of the people. (Isaiah 66:21.) As to what relates to their office, let it be sought in its proper place.

Footnotes:

[419] Among them. -- A. V.

[420] So the Vulgate, v. 48.

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The Census of Israel
Thirty-eight years had passed away since the first numbering at Sinai, and the people had come to the borders of the Promised Land; for they were in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. The time had come for another census. The wisdom which commanded the counting of Israel at the beginning of the wilderness journey, also determined to count them at the end of it. This would show that he did not value them less than in former years; it would afford proof that his word of judgment had been fulfilled …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

The Child-Life in Nazareth
THE stay of the Holy Family in Egypt must have been of brief duration. The cup of Herod's misdeeds, but also of his misery, was full. During the whole latter part of his life, the dread of a rival to the throne had haunted him, and he had sacrificed thousands, among them those nearest and dearest to him, to lay that ghost. [1084] And still the tyrant was not at rest. A more terrible scene is not presented in history than that of the closing days of Herod. Tormented by nameless fears; ever and again …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Genealogy According to Luke.
^C Luke III. 23-38. ^c 23 And Jesus himself [Luke has been speaking about John the Baptist, he now turns to speak of Jesus himself], when he began to teach, was about thirty years of age [the age when a Levite entered upon God's service--Num. iv. 46, 47], being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son [this may mean that Jesus was grandson of Heli, or that Joseph was counted as a son of Heli because he was his son-in-law] of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
THE ISRAELITES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN: THE JUDGES--THE PHILISTINES AND THE HEBREW KINGDOM--SAUL, DAVID, SOLOMON, THE DEFECTION OF THE TEN TRIBES--THE XXIst EGYPTIAN DYNASTY--SHESHONQ OR SHISHAK DAMASCUS. The Hebrews in the desert: their families, clans, and tribes--The Amorites and the Hebrews on the left bank of the Jordan--The conquest of Canaan and the native reaction against the Hebrews--The judges, Ehud, Deborah, Jerubbaal or Gideon and the Manassite supremacy; Abimelech, Jephihdh. The Philistines, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6

And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah
"And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall come forth unto Me (one) [Pg 480] to be Ruler in Israel; and His goings forth are the times of old, the days of eternity." The close connection of this verse with what immediately precedes (Caspari is wrong in considering iv. 9-14 as an episode) is evident, not only from the [Hebrew: v] copulative, and from the analogy of the near relation of the announcement of salvation to the prophecy of disaster …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Numbers
Like the last part of Exodus, and the whole of Leviticus, the first part of Numbers, i.-x. 28--so called,[1] rather inappropriately, from the census in i., iii., (iv.), xxvi.--is unmistakably priestly in its interests and language. Beginning with a census of the men of war (i.) and the order of the camp (ii.), it devotes specific attention to the Levites, their numbers and duties (iii., iv.). Then follow laws for the exclusion of the unclean, v. 1-4, for determining the manner and amount of restitution …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament