B¹ 5:1-9:32. Laws and Events.
A² 10:1-36. Journeyings and Order. March.
B² 11:1-25:18. Events and Laws.
A³ 26:1-27:11. Numeration and Order. Inheritance.
B³ 27:12-31:54. Events and Laws.
A4 32:1-36:12. Journeyings and Order. Division of Land.
NUMBERS. Translation of Greek name in Septuagint given by man according to his idea of contents.
Hebrew Title = Bemidbar = "In the wilderness", because it records what took place there; the numbering (chs. 1-3 and 26) being only two of the events. It is the book of the sojourneyings, the fourth Book of the Pentateuch (#4 denotes creative work, 3 + 1, and pertains to the things of the earth. See also Deut.1:1).
Four is the number of the earth: hence the types of Numbers, the fourth Book, are wilderness types (cp. the 4th Book of Psalms, Ps.90-106.). Its types of Christ, the Son of Man on earth, are four:-
1) Bread of life, 11:7-9. (John 6:57,58).
2) Water of life, 20:11.(1 Cor.10:4).
3) Lifted up, 21:9. (John 3:14,15).
4) The coming Star out of Jacob, 24:17. (Luke 1:78. 2 Pet.1:19. Rev.2:28; 22:16)>
The Book may be said to contain generaly the history of the Israelites from their time of leaving Sinai, in the second year after the exodus, til their arrival at the borders of the promised land, in the 40th year of their sojournings.
INTEGRITY. This, like the other Books of the Petateuch, is supposed by many critics to consist of a compilation from two or three or more earlier documents; but the grounds on which this distinction of documents rest are in every resect most unsatisfactory, and it may, in common with the preceeding Books and Deuteronomy, be regarded as the works of Moses. The Book of Numbers is rich in fragments of ancient poetry, some of them of great beauty and all throwing an interesting light on the character of the times in which they were composed. Such, for instance, is the blessing of the high priest, 6:24-26. Such too are chants which were the signal for the ark to move when the people journeyed, and for it to rest when they were about to encamp. In Ch. 21 we have a passage cited from a book called the "Book of the Wars of Yehovah". This was probably a collection of ballads and songs composed on different occasions by the watch-fires of the camp, and for the most part, though perhaps not exclusively, in commemoration of the victories of the Israelites over their enemies.
A¹ A 1:1-54. Numeration. The Nation. B 2:1-34. Order of its encampment. A 3:1-51. Numeration. The Levites. B 4:1-49. Order of their service.
A a c 1-16. Command. Nation. d 17-46. Obedience. b 47. Exception. a c 48-53. Command. Levites. d Obedience.
1490 B.C.
20-21st April, 1490 B.C.
2: "Take you all (cp. Ex.30:11,12; 38:25. In Exodus, moral law, prophet; Leviticus, ritual law, priests; Numbers, commonwealth law, king) the sum (3 numberings. Ex.30:11,12 [cp.38:25,26], here; and 28:3) of all the congregation (see Gen.28:3) of the sons (Heb. bånîm, from bånåh, to build, because the family thus built up. Cp. Gen.30:3. Ruth 4:11. So throughout) of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls (Fig., skull or head put for person);
3: From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: you and Aaron shall number them by their armies. (In second numbering it is Moses and Eleazar)
4: And with you there shall be a man of every tribe (Hence 12, and, with Moses and Aaron, 14. So the 12 Apostles, with Paul and Barnabas. #14 = deliverance, or salvation); every one head of the house of his fathers.
5: And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you (the order here = 5 sons of Leah, 3 of Rachel, 1 of Bilhah, 2 of Zilpah, 1 of Bilhah. See also v.20): of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur (=God is the Rock) the son of Shedeur.
6: Of Simeon; Shelumiel (=friend of God) the son of Zurishaddai.
7: Of Judah; Nahshon (enchanter. In the line of the promised Seed, the father of Salmon, husband of Rahab of Jerico, progenitor of Boaz of Bethlehem, husband of Ruth. Cp. Ruth 4:18-22. Matt.1:4,5. Luke 3:32) the son of Amminadab.
8: Of Issachar; Nethaneel (=given of God) the son of Zuar.
9: Of Zebulun; Eliab (=God is my father) the son of Helon.
10: Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama (=whom God hears) the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel (=recompense of God) the son of Pedahzur.
11: Of Benjamin; Abidan (father of the judge) the son of Gideoni.
12: Of Dan; Ahiezer (=brother of help) the son of Ammishaddai.
13: Of Asher; Pagiel (=God allots) the son of Ocran.
14: Of Gad; Eliasaph (=God is the gatherer) the son of Deuel.
15: Of Naphtali; Ahira (=brother of evil, unlucky) 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 person.
19: According as the Lord (Yehovah) commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai. ([V.1], to distinguish it from the second, which was in the plains of Moab)
20: And the sons of Reuben, Israel's eldest son (lost his dignity in Gen.49:3,4; not many in number here. Levi not included here), by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their person, 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 sons of Simeon (greatly diminished by sin in Num.26:4, and Moses did not mention him in Deut.33), 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 persons, 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 sons of Gad (takes the place of Levi here), 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. (Gad is the only one who has "tens", all others "hundreds". In the case of the firstborn [3:43], we have not only tens but units)
26: Of the sons of Judah (his is the greatest [Gen.49:8]), 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 sons 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 sons of Joseph (="the fruitful vine", Gen.49:22 has 2 tribes, not merely "families". Thus Joseph has "the double portion", 1 Chron.5:1,2), namely, of the sons of Ephraim (blessed first, Gen.48:19,20, is here named first, and is increased more than Manasseh, Deut.33:17. But in sojournings his numbers were diminished by 8,000. See 26:37, and cp. 1 Chron.7:20-22), 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 sons of Manasseh (the lowest number. See Gen.48:19. Increased by 20,500 in journeying, 26:34,37. Cp. Job 12:23), 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 sons of Naphtali (some Jewish commentators explain it as being only "sons", because Naphtali had more daughters than sons, and in Gen.49:51 is likened to a female [hind]. Hence in 26:64 it is said, the "men" died, but the women multilied), 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 (one man for each tribe, v.4): 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 (#20 = redemption), 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. (The number in Ex.12:37 is not "exaggerated", as the number here had increased since then; moreover, the numbers here coinsde with the number of the half-shekels, which had been contributed by them in Ex.30:14 and 38:25 with 40:17)
47: But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them. (Not numbered here with the nation, but seperately in 3:14-29)
48: For the Lord (Yehovah) had spoken to Moses, saying, (see 1:1)
49: "Only you shall not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the sons of Israel:
50: But you shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle (dwelling place, or habitation of Yehovah) of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the dwelling place, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister to it, and shall encamp round about the dwelling place.
51: And when the dwelling place sets forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the dwelling place is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that comes near shall be put to death. (See 1 Chron.13:10)
52: And the sons of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp (to be set forward in Chapter 2), and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts.
53: But the Levites shall encamp round about the dwelling place of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel (i.e. in judgemnt from od. "Wrath" put by Fig. for the judgement inflicted. Heb. kazaph. First occ.): and the Levites shall keep the charge of the dwelling place of testimony."
54: And the sons of Israel did according to all that the Lord (Yehovah) commanded Moses, so did they.
B e 1,2. Command. f¹ 3,4. Judah. East. 5,6. Issachar. " 7,8. Zebulon. " g¹ 9. Total. f² 10,11. Rueben. South. 12,13. Simeon. " 14,15. Gad. " g² 16. Total.
h¹ 17. Levites. CENTER.
f³ 18,19. Ephraim. West. 20,21. Manasseh. " 22,23. Benjamin. " g³ 24. Total. f4 25,26. Dan. North. 27,28. Asher. " 29-31. Naphtali. " g4 32. Total. h² 33. Levites. e 34. Obedience.
3: And on the east side toward the rising of the sun (the order proceeds according to the course of the sun: east, south, west, north) shall they of the standard of the camp (each camp comprised of three tribes. cp. vv.3,10,17,18,25,32) of Judah (the sign, a lion, Gen.49:9. Esek.1:10. Rev.4:7. The standard, the colors of the 3 stones of the second row, Ex.28:18. This is the only order which occurs 3 times. Levi mentioned in v.17 after Gad. The order is that of importance) pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the sons of Judah."
4: And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.
5: "And those that do pitch next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar (brother of Judah, same mother Leah, Gen.35:23. Sign of standard = Cancer): and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the sons of Issachar."
6: And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.
7: Then the tribe of Zebulun (brother of Judah, same mother Leah, Gen.35:23. Sign of standard = Virgo): and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the sons of Zebulun."
8: And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.
9: All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies. "These shall first set forth.
10: On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies (the center of the south side, with standard in the colors of stones in fist row of Ex.28:17; and sign, a man, Gen.30:14. Sign = Aquarious): and the captain of the sons of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur."
11: And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.
12: "And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon (the brother of Rueben, same mother Leah, Gen.35:23. Sign = Pisces): and the captain of the sons of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai."
13: And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.
14: "Then the tribe of Gad (brother of Rueben, same mother Leah, Gen.35:23. Sign = Aries): and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel (or Deuel).
15: And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty.
16: All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben were an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies. "And they shall set forth in the second rank.
17: Then the tent of the congregation (see v.2. This was in the center. So is the tent of the chief of the tribe to this day. The manner of its being carried is shown in 10:17 &c.) shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp (the order of the Levite's camping is shown in Chapter 3, their marching in Chapter 10. Their sign was Libra, or more anciently the "altar"): as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards.
18: On the west side (Heb. = sea, that being west) shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies (the center of the west side. The colors of the stones in fourth rwo of Ex.28:20. The sign, an ox., Deut.33:17. Ezek.1:10. Rev.4:7. In the Zodiac, Ephraim and Manasseh are the two horns of Taurus the bull. Ephraim, the younger, bears the standard, according to the blessing in Gen.48:14-20): and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud."
19: And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty thousand and five hundred.
20: "And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh (brother of Ephraim, same mother Asenath, Gen.41:50-52. Sign = Taurus): and the captain of the sons of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur."
21: And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
22: "Then the tribe of Benjamin (sons of Rachel, all on west side. Sign = Gemini): and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni."
23: And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.
24: All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout their armies. "And they shall go forward in the third rank.
25: The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies (The center of the north side. Colors of the standard same as those of the third row of stones in Ex.28:19. Sign, the eagle, substituted for the serpent of Gen.49:17. Cp. Ezek.1:10. Rev.4:7): and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai."
26: And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.
27: "And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher (the son of the other handmaid Zilpah, put with Dan and Naphtali, the sons of Bilhah. His sign was Sagitarious, the Archer): and the captain of the sons of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran."
28: And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.
29: "Then the tribe of Naphtali (his sign was Capricornus, the goat. Cp. Gen.49:21): and the captain of the sons of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan."
30: And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.
31: All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan were an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred. "They shall go hindmost with their standards."
32: These are those which were numbered of the sons of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.
33: But the Levites were not numbered among the sons of Israel; according as the Lord (Yehovah) commanded Moses.
34: And the sons of Israel did according to all that the Lord (Yehovah) commanded Moses: so they encamped by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.