Numbers 1

1 locutusque est Dominus ad Mosen in deserto Sinai in tabernaculo foederis prima die mensis secundi anno altero egressionis eorum ex Aegypto dicens

2 tollite summam universae congregationis filiorum Israhel per cognationes et domos suas et nomina singulorum quicquid sexus est masculini

3 a vicesimo anno et supra omnium virorum fortium ex Israhel et numerabitis eos per turmas suas tu et Aaron

4 eruntque vobiscum principes tribuum ac domorum in cognationibus suis

5 quorum ista sunt nomina de Ruben Elisur filius Sedeur

6 de Symeon Salamihel filius Surisaddai

7 de Iuda Naasson filius Aminadab

8 de Isachar Nathanahel filius Suar

9 de Zabulon Heliab filius Helon

10 filiorum autem Ioseph de Ephraim Helisama filius Ammiud de Manasse Gamalihel filius Phadassur

11 de Beniamin Abidan filius Gedeonis

12 de Dan Ahiezer filius Amisaddai

13 de Aser Phegihel filius Ochran

14 de Gad Heliasaph filius Duhel

15 de Nepthali Ahira filius Henan

16 hii nobilissimi principes multitudinis per tribus et cognationes suas et capita exercitus Israhel

17 quos tulerunt Moses et Aaron cum omni vulgi multitudine

18 et congregaverunt primo die mensis secundi recensentes eos per cognationes et domos ac familias et capita et nomina singulorum a vicesimo anno et supra

19 sicut praeceperat Dominus Mosi numeratique sunt in deserto Sinai

20 de Ruben primogenito Israhelis per generationes et familias ac domos suas et nomina capitum singulorum omne quod sexus est masculini a vicesimo anno et supra procedentium ad bellum

21 quadraginta sex milia quingenti

22 de filiis Symeon per generationes et familias ac domos cognationum suarum recensiti sunt per nomina et capita singulorum omne quod sexus est masculini a vicesimo anno et supra procedentium ad bellum

23 quinquaginta novem milia trecenti

24 de filiis Gad per generationes et familias ac domos cognationum suarum recensiti sunt per nomina singulorum a viginti annis et supra omnes qui ad bella procederent

25 quadraginta quinque milia sescenti quinquaginta

26 de filiis Iuda per generationes et familias ac domos cognationum suarum per nomina singulorum a vicesimo anno et supra omnes qui poterant ad bella procedere

27 recensiti sunt septuaginta quattuor milia sescenti

28 de filiis Isachar per generationes et familias ac domos cognationum suarum per nomina singulorum a vicesimo anno et supra omnes qui ad bella procederent

29 recensiti sunt quinquaginta quattuor milia quadringenti

30 de filiis Zabulon per generationes et familias ac domos cognationum suarum recensiti sunt per nomina singulorum a vicesimo anno et supra omnes qui poterant ad bella procedere

31 quinquaginta septem milia quadringenti

32 de filiis Ioseph filiorum Ephraim per generationes et familias ac domos cognationum suarum recensiti sunt per nomina singulorum a vicesimo anno et supra omnes qui poterant ad bella procedere

33 quadraginta milia quingenti

34 porro filiorum Manasse per generationes et familias ac domos cognationum suarum recensiti sunt per nomina singulorum a viginti annis et supra omnes qui poterant ad bella procedere

35 triginta duo milia ducenti

36 de filiis Beniamin per generationes et familias ac domos cognationum suarum recensiti sunt nominibus singulorum a vicesimo anno et supra omnes qui poterant ad bella procedere

37 triginta quinque milia quadringenti

38 de filiis Dan per generationes et familias ac domos cognationum suarum recensiti sunt nominibus singulorum a vicesimo anno et supra omnes qui poterant ad bella procedere

39 sexaginta duo milia septingenti

40 de filiis Aser per generationes et familias ac domos cognationum suarum recensiti sunt per nomina singulorum a vicesimo anno et supra omnes qui poterant ad bella procedere

41 quadraginta milia et mille quingenti

42 de filiis Nepthali per generationes et familias ac domos cognationum suarum recensiti sunt nominibus singulorum a vicesimo anno et supra omnes qui poterant ad bella procedere

43 quinquaginta tria milia quadringenti

44 hii sunt quos numeraverunt Moses et Aaron et duodecim principes Israhel singulos per domos cognationum suarum

45 fueruntque omnes filiorum Israhel per domos et familias suas a vicesimo anno et supra qui poterant ad bella procedere

46 sescenta tria milia virorum quingenti quinquaginta

47 Levitae autem in tribu familiarum suarum non sunt numerati cum eis

48 locutusque est Dominus ad Mosen dicens

49 tribum Levi noli numerare neque ponas summam eorum cum filiis Israhel

50 sed constitue eos super tabernaculum testimonii cuncta vasa eius et quicquid ad caerimonias pertinet ipsi portabunt tabernaculum et omnia utensilia eius et erunt in ministerio ac per gyrum tabernaculi metabuntur

51 cum proficiscendum fuerit deponent Levitae tabernaculum cum castra metanda erigent quisquis externorum accesserit occidetur

52 metabuntur autem castra filii Israhel unusquisque per turmas et cuneos atque exercitum suum

53 porro Levitae per gyrum tabernaculi figent tentoria ne fiat indignatio super multitudinem filiorum Israhel et excubabunt in custodiis tabernaculi testimonii

54 fecerunt ergo filii Israhel iuxta omnia quae praeceperat Dominus Mosi

Numbers 1 Commentary

Chapter 1

This book is called NUMBERS from the several numberings of the people contained in it. It extends from the giving of the law at Sinai, till their arrival in the plains of Jordan. An account is given of their murmuring and unbelief, for which they were sentenced to wander in the wilderness nearly forty years; also some laws, both, moral and ceremonial. Their trials greatly tended to distinguish the wicked and hypocrites from the faithful and true servants of God, who served him with a pure heart.

The numbering of the Israelites. (1-43) The number of the people. (44-46) The Levites not numbered with the rest. (47-54)

Verses 1-43 The people were numbered to show God's faithfulness in thus increasing the seed of Jacob, that they might be the better trained for the wars and conquest of Canaan, and to ascertain their families in order to the division of the land. It is said of each tribe, that those were numbered who were able to go forth to war; they had wars before them, though now they met with no opposition. Let the believer be prepared to withstand the enemies of his soul, though all may appear to be peace.

Verses 44-46 We have here the sum total. How much was required to maintain all these in the wilderness! They were all provided for by God every day. When we observe the faithfulness of God, however unlikely the performance of his promise may appear, we may take courage as to those which yet remain to be fulfilled to the church of God.

Verses 47-54 Care is here taken to distinguish the tribe of Levi, which, in the matter of the golden calf, had distinguished itself. Singular services shall be recompensed by singular honours. It was to the honour of the Levites, that to them was committed the care of the tabernacle and its treasures, in their camps and in their marches. It was for the honour of the holy things that none should see them, or touch them, but those who were called of God to the service. We all are unfit and unworthy to have fellowship with God, till called by his grace into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and so, being the spiritual seed of that great High Priest, we are made priests to our God. Great care must be taken to prevent sin, for preventing sin is preventing wrath. Being a holy tribe, they were not reckoned among other Israelites. They that minister about holy things, should neither entangle themselves, nor be entangled, in worldly affairs. And let every believer seek to do what the Lord has commanded.

Chapter Summary

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.