King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And they assembled all the congregation together on the first [day] of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.
Complete Jewish Bible:
and, on the first day of the second month, they gathered the whole assembly to state their genealogies by families and clans and recorded the names of all those twenty years old and over, as well as their total numbers.
Berean Standard Bible:
and on the first day of the second month they assembled the whole congregation and recorded their ancestry by clans and families, counting one by one the names of those twenty years of age or older,
American Standard Version:
and they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month; and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And they assembled{H6950} all the congregation{H5712} together{H6950} on the first{H259} day of the second{H8145} month{H2320}, and they declared their pedigrees{H3205} after their families{H4940}, by the house{H1004} of their fathers{H1}, according to the number{H4557} of the names{H8034}, from twenty{H6242} years{H8141} old{H1121} and upward{H4605}, by their polls{H1538}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Ezra 2:59
- And these [were] they which went up from Telmelah, Telharsa, Cherub, Addan, [and] Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, and their seed, whether they [were] of Israel:
Hebrews 7:3
- Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
Nehemiah 7:61
- And these [were] they which went up [also] from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, nor their seed, whether they [were] of Israel.
Hebrews 7:6
- But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
Numbers 1:1
- ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first [day] of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 1:18
**Themes:**
1. **Census and Organization:** The verse reflects the theme of order and structure within the Israelite community. God commands Moses and Aaron to take a census, which is a method of organizing the people for both military service and the division of the land.
2. **Identity and Lineage:** Emphasis on pedigrees and lineage highlights the importance of tribal identity and heritage in ancient Israelite society. This lineage was crucial for determining one's place in the community and inheritance rights.
3. **Divine Mandate:** The census is not merely an administrative task but is carried out according to God's command, underscoring the theme that the Israelites' actions, even administrative ones, were to be done in accordance with divine will.
4. **Preparation for the Future:** The counting of males twenty years old and upward for military service shows preparation for the challenges ahead, including the conquest of Canaan.
**Historical Context:**
- **Time Period:** The events described in Numbers occur during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, approximately one month after the construction of the Tabernacle, which is detailed at the end of the book of Exodus.
- **Location:** The Israelites are encamped at Mount Sinai, where they received the Law.
- **Purpose of the Census:** The census serves a dual purpose: to organize the tribes for marching order and military service, and to determine the number of men available for war. This is important for the apportionment of the Promised Land as well as for understanding the demographics of the Israelite population at this stage in their history.
- **Military Service:** In the ancient Near Eastern context, men from the age of twenty were considered eligible for military service. This age threshold is consistent with the practice of other contemporary societies.
- **Divine Command:** The census is conducted in response to a directive from God, illustrating the theocratic nature of Israelite society, where religious and political authority were intertwined.
In summary, Numbers 1:18 is part of a larger passage where God commands a census to be taken of the Israelite fighting force, emphasizing the themes of divine guidance, communal organization, and the significance of ancestral lineage in the historical context of the Israelites' preparation to enter the Promised Land.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H6950
There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָהַל
Transliteration: qâhal
Pronunciation: 'kaw-hal'
Description: a primitive root; to convoke; assemble (selves) (together), gather (selves) (together). - Strong's Number: H5712
There are 140 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵדָה
Transliteration: ʻêdâh
Pronunciation: ay-daw'
Description: feminine of עֵד in the original sense of fixture; a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd); assembly, company, congregation, multitude, people, swarm. Compare עֵדָה. - Strong's Number: H259
There are 801 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶחָד
Transliteration: ʼechâd
Pronunciation: ekh-awd'
Description: a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together, - Strong's Number: H8145
There are 151 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֵׁנִי
Transliteration: shênîy
Pronunciation: shay-nee'
Description: from שָׁנָה; properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially, again; again, either (of them), (an-) other, second (time). - Strong's Number: H2320
There are 224 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֹדֶשׁ
Transliteration: chôdesh
Pronunciation: kho'-desh
Description: from חָדַשׁ; the new moon; by implication, a month; month(-ly), new moon. - Strong's Number: H3205
There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָלַד
Transliteration: yâlad
Pronunciation: yaw-lad'
Description: a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage; bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman). - Strong's Number: H4940
There are 224 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִשְׁפָּחָה
Transliteration: mishpâchâh
Pronunciation: mish-paw-khaw'
Description: from שָׁפָה (compare שִׁפְחָה); a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people; family, kind(-red). - Strong's Number: H1004
There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּיִת
Transliteration: bayith
Pronunciation: bah'-yith
Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). - Strong's Number: H1
There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָב
Transliteration: ʼâb
Pronunciation: awb
Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'. - Strong's Number: H4557
There are 129 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִסְפָּר
Transliteration: miçpâr
Pronunciation: mis-pawr'
Description: from סָפַר; a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also (abstractly) narration; [phrase] abundance, account, [idiom] all, [idiom] few, (in-) finite, (certain) number(-ed), tale, telling, [phrase] time. - Strong's Number: H8034
There are 771 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֵׁם
Transliteration: shêm
Pronunciation: shame
Description: a primitive word (perhaps rather from through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare שָׁמַיִם); an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character; [phrase] base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report. - Strong's Number: H6242
There are 281 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֶשְׂרִים
Transliteration: ʻesrîym
Pronunciation: es-reem'
Description: from עֶשֶׂר; twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth; (six-) score, twenty(-ieth). - Strong's Number: H8141
There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁנֶה
Transliteration: shâneh
Pronunciation: shaw-neh'
Description: (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה; from שָׁנָה; a year (as a revolution of time); [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly). - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H4605
There are 134 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַעַל
Transliteration: maʻal
Pronunciation: mah'al
Description: from עָלָה; properly, the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc.; above, exceeding(-ly), forward, on ([idiom] very) high, over, up(-on, -ward), very. - Strong's Number: H1538
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גֻּלְגֹּלֶת
Transliteration: gulgôleth
Pronunciation: gul-go'-leth
Description: by reduplication from גָּלַל; a skull (as round); by implication, a head (in enumeration of persons); head, every man, poll, skull.