Numbers 1:3

3 from the twentieth year and above, of all the strong men of Israel (from twenty years of age and older, of all the strong men in Israel); and thou and Aaron shall number them by their companies.

Numbers 1:3 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 1:3

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 Song of Solomon 3:8 ) ;

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 1:3 In-Context

1 And the Lord spake to Moses in the desert of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the bond of peace , in the first day of the second month, in the tother year of their going out of Egypt, and said, (And the Lord spoke to Moses in the Sinai Desert, in the Tabernacle of the Covenant, that is, the Tabernacle of the Witnessing, on the first day of the second month, in the second year of their going out of Egypt, and said,)

2 Take ye the sum, or the number, of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, by their kindreds, and families, and all their names each by themselves, whatever thing of male kind, (Take ye the sum, or the number, of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by their kindreds, and families, and list, or register, all their names, whoever is a male,)

3 from the twentieth year and above, of all the strong men of Israel (from twenty years of age and older, of all the strong men in Israel); and thou and Aaron shall number them by their companies.

4 And the princes of the lineages (And the leaders of the tribes), and of the families, in their kindreds, shall be with you,

5 of which princes, these be the names (of which leaders, these be the names); of Reuben, Elizur, the son of Shedeur;