Numeri 1:16

16 Das waren die Berufenen der Gemeinde, die Fürsten der Stämme ihrer Väter; sie waren die Häupter der Tausende Israels.

Numeri 1:16 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 1:16

These [were] the renowned of the congregation
The most famous and eminent among the people, for their birth and pedigree, or for their excellent qualities of wisdom, courage, and the like; or "the called of the congregation" ^F4, whom God had called by name and selected from the rest of the congregation to the above service, whereby great honour was done them: Aben Ezra says, the sense is, that the congregation did nothing until they had called them; with which agrees the note of Jarchi,

``who were called to every business of importance in the congregation:''

princes of the tribes of their fathers;
as Elizur was prince of the children of Reuben, ( Numbers 7:30 ) ; the same is there said of the rest in their respective tribes:

heads of thousands in Israel;
the congregation of Israel being divided into thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, by the advice of Jethro, ( Exodus 18:21 ) ; each of these divisions had a ruler over them, and thousands being the highest number, these princes were chiliarchs, rulers or heads of thousands.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 (hdeh yayrq) "convocati coetus", Montanus, Drusius; "convocati e coetu", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Numeri 1:16 In-Context

14 für Gad: Eljasaph, der Sohn Deghuels;

15 für Naphtali: Achira, der Sohn Enans.

16 Das waren die Berufenen der Gemeinde, die Fürsten der Stämme ihrer Väter; sie waren die Häupter der Tausende Israels.

17 Und Mose und Aaron nahmen diese mit Namen bezeichneten Männer,

18 und sie versammelten die ganze Gemeinde am ersten des zweiten Monats. Und sie ließen sich in die Geburtsverzeichnisse eintragen nach ihren Geschlechtern, nach ihren Vaterhäusern, nach der Zahl der Namen, von zwanzig Jahren und darüber, nach ihren Köpfen;