Numbers 1:1-46

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 1:1-16

I. We have here a commission issued out for the numbering of the people of Israel; and David, long after, paid dearly for doing it without a commission. Here is, 1. The date of this commission, Num. 1:1. (1.) The place: it is given at God's court in the wilderness of Sinai, from his royal palace, the tabernacle of the congregation. (2.) The time: In the second year after they came up out of Egypt; we may call it the second year of that reign. The laws in Leviticus were given in the first month... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 1:17-43

We have here the speedy execution of the orders given for the numbering of the people. It was begun the same day that the orders were given, The first day of the second month; compare Num. 1:1; 18. Note, When any work is to be done for God it is good to set about it quickly, while the sense of duty is strong and pressing. And, for aught that appears, it was but one day's work, for many other things were done between this and the twentieth day of this month, when they removed their camp, Num.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 1:44-46

We have here the sum total at the foot of the account; they were in all 600,000 fighting men, and 3550 over. Some think that when this was their number some months before (Exod. 38:26) the Levites were reckoned with them, but now that tribe was separated for the service of God, yet so many more had by this time attained to the age of twenty years as that still they were the same number, to show that whatever we part with for the honour and service of God it shall certainly be made up to us one... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 1:1

And the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai ,.... Which is different from the wilderness of Sin, Exodus 16:1 ; and had its name from the mountain so called, on which God gave the law of the decalogue, and where the Israelites had been encamped eleven months, Exodus 19:1 , in the tabernacle of the congregation ; which had now been set up a whole month, and out of which the Lord had delivered to Moses the several laws recorded in the preceding book in that space of time, ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 1:2

Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel ,.... Excepting the Levites; nor were any account taken of the mixed multitude that came out of Egypt with the children of Israel, only of them; and this account was taken, partly to observe the fulfilment of the divine promise to Abraham concerning the multiplication of his seed, and partly that it might be observed, that at the end of thirty eight years from hence, when they were numbered again, there were but three left of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 1:4

And with you there shall be a man of every tribe ,.... Excepting Levi, of which Moses and Aaron were, to assist in taking the account, and to see that it was an exact and perfect one: everyone head of the house of his fathers ; and prince of the tribe he belonged to, as appears from Numbers 1:16 and Numbers 7:2 , where an account is given of the same persons as princes of the tribes that offered at the dedication of the altar, who here assisted in the taking this account; the Targum... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 1:5

And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you ,.... Be present with Moses and Aaron when numbering the people; not merely as spectators of the affair, and inspectors of the accounts, but as assistants in the work; each man in his tribe, being best acquainted with the families and houses in it; and these men were not pitched upon by Moses and Aaron, nor chosen by their respective tribes, but were appointed and named by the Lord himself, which was doing them great honour: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 1:6

Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai . See Gill on Numbers 1:5 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 1:7

Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab . See Gill on Numbers 1:5 . read more

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