Numberi 1:3

3 Van twintig jaren oud en daarboven, allen, die ten heire in Israel uittrekken; die zult gij tellen naar hun heiren, gij en Aaron.

Numberi 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.

Numberi 1:3 In-Context

1 Voorts sprak de HEERE tot Mozes, in de woestijn van Sinai, in de tent der samenkomst, op den eersten der tweede maand, in het tweede jaar, nadat zij uit Egypteland uitgetogen ware, zeggende:

2 Neem op de som van de gehele vergadering der kinderen Israels, naar hun geslachten, naar het huis hunner vaderen, in het getal der namen, van al wat mannelijk is, hoofd voor hoofd.

3 Van twintig jaren oud en daarboven, allen, die ten heire in Israel uittrekken; die zult gij tellen naar hun heiren, gij en Aaron.

4 En met ulieden zullen zijn van elken stam een man, die een hoofdman is over het huis zijner vaderen.

5 Deze zijn nu de namen der mannen, die bij u staan zullen: van Ruben, Elizur, de zoon van Sedeur.