Numeri 1:40-50

40 Der Kinder Asser nach ihrer Geburt und Geschlecht, ihren Vaterhäusern und Namen, von zwanzig Jahren und darüber, was ins Heer zu ziehen taugte, {~}

41 wurden gezählt zum Stamm Asser einundvierzigtausend und fünfhundert.

42 Der Kinder Naphthali nach ihrer Geburt und Geschlecht, ihren Vaterhäusern und Namen, von zwanzig Jahren und darüber, was ins Heer zu ziehen taugte, {~}

43 wurden zum Stamm Naphthali gezählt dreiundfünfzigtausend und vierhundert.

44 Dies sind, die Mose und Aaron zählten samt den zwölf Fürsten Israels, deren je einer über ein Vaterhaus war.

45 Und die Summe der Kinder Israel nach ihrer Geburt und Geschlecht, ihren Vaterhäusern und Namen, von zwanzig Jahren und darüber, was ins Heer zu ziehen taugte in Israel,

46 war sechsmal hunderttausend und dreitausend fünfhundertundfünfzig. {~}

47 Aber die Leviten nach ihrer Väter Stamm wurden nicht mit darunter gezählt.

48 Und der HERR redete mit Mose und sprach:

49 Den Stamm Levi sollst du nicht zählen noch ihre Summe nehmen unter den Kindern Israel,

50 sondern du sollst sie ordnen zur Wohnung des Zeugnisses und zu allem Geräte und allem, was dazu gehört. Und sie sollen die Wohnung tragen und alles Gerät und sollen sein pflegen und um die Wohnung her sich lagern.

Numeri 1:40-50 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS

This book has its name from the account it gives of the "numbers" of the children of Israel, twice taken particularly; which name it has with this Greeks and Latins, and so with the Syriac and Arabic versions; but with the Jews it is called sometimes "Vajedabber", from the first word of it, "and the Lord spake"; and sometimes "Bemidbar", from the fifth word of the first verse, "in the wilderness", and sometimes "Sepher Pikkudim"; or, as with Origen {a}, "Ammesphkodim", the book of musters or surveys. That it was written by Moses is not to be doubted; and is indeed suggested by our Lord himself, Joh 5:46 compared with Nu 3:14, and the references to it, in the New Testament, fully ascertain to us Christians the authenticity of it, as that of our Lord hinted at, and those of the apostle in 1Co 10:4, Heb 9:13,14. It contains an history of the affairs of the Israelites, and of their travel in the wilderness for the space of thirty eight years; though the principal facts it relates were done in the second year of their coming out of Egypt, and in the last of their being in the wilderness; and it is not merely historical, but gives a particular account of several laws, ceremonial and judicial, to be observed by the people of Israel, as well as has many things in it very instructive, both of a moral and evangelical nature.

\\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, Nu 1:1-3; and the men that were to assist in this work, one of each tribe are mentioned by name, Nu 1:4-16; all which was accordingly done, Nu 1:17-19; and the particular numbers of each tribe are recorded, as they were taken, Nu 1:20-44; and the sum total is given, Nu 1:45,46; the Levites being excepted, who were employed about the tabernacle, and so not to be employed in military service, Nu 1:47-51; they encamped about that, while the Israelites pitched their tents every man by his own camp and standard, Nu 1:52-54.

{a} Apud Euseb. Hist. Ecclesiast. l. 6. c. 25.