King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Complete Jewish Bible:
The men twenty years old and over who were subject to military service were recorded by name, family and clan, starting with the descendants of Re'uven, Isra'el's firstborn. Here are the totals:
Berean Standard Bible:
From the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, according to the records of their clans and families, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,
American Standard Version:
And the children of Reuben, Israel’s first-born, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And the children{H1121} of Reuben{H7205}, Israel's{H3478} eldest son{H1060}, by their generations{H8435}, after their families{H4940}, by the house{H1004} of their fathers{H1}, according to the number{H4557} of the names{H8034}, by their polls{H1538}, every male{H2145} from twenty{H6242} years{H8141} old{H1121} and upward{H4605}, all that were able to go forth{H3318} to war{H6635};
Cross-References (KJV):
Numbers 26:5
- ¶ Reuben, the eldest son of Israel: the children of Reuben; Hanoch, [of whom cometh] the family of the Hanochites: of Pallu, the family of the Palluites:
Numbers 26:7
- These [are] the families of the Reubenites: and they that were numbered of them were forty and three thousand and seven hundred and thirty.
Numbers 2:10
- On the south side [shall be] the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben [shall be] Elizur the son of Shedeur.
Numbers 2:11
- And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, [were] forty and six thousand and five hundred.
Genesis 29:32
- And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
Genesis 49:3
- Reuben, thou [art] my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
Genesis 49:4
- Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou [it]: he went up to my couch.
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Commentary for Numbers 1:20
Numbers 1:20 is a verse from the first book of the Bible, which in the Jewish tradition is called Bamidbar (In the Wilderness) and in the Christian tradition is known as Numbers. This verse is part of the census conducted at the command of God through Moses, as the Israelites were encamped in the wilderness of Sinai. The book is set approximately one year after the Exodus from Egypt, during the second month of the second year.
In this verse, the focus is on the tribe of Reuben, which was the firstborn of Jacob (also known as Israel). The verse meticulously details the method of counting the Reubenites: by their generations, families, and fathers' houses, according to the number of names, individually (by their polls), and limited to males twenty years old and upward who were fit for military service. This census was not merely for headcount but was a means to organize the people for the purposes of tribal order and military readiness as they prepared to enter and potentially fight for the Promised Land.
The historical context of Numbers 1:20 reflects the period of transition and organization for the Israelites as they moved from a loose collection of tribes into a more structured nation. The detailed census was a step towards military and social organization, with the tribe of Reuben being the first mentioned, possibly due to the traditional birthright privileges of the firstborn, although these privileges were later transferred to the tribe of Judah. The verse underscores the importance of lineage and military capability in the ancient Israelite society, as they prepared to establish themselves in Canaan.
*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: 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: H7205
There are 68 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רְאוּבֵן
Transliteration: Rᵉʼûwbên
Pronunciation: reh-oo-bane'
Description: from the imperative of רָאָה and בֵּן; see ye a son; Reuben, a son of Jacob; Reuben. - Strong's Number: H3478
There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel. - Strong's Number: H1060
There are 96 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּכוֹר
Transliteration: bᵉkôwr
Pronunciation: bek-ore'
Description: from בָּכַר; firstborn; hence, chief; eldest (son), firstborn(-ling). - Strong's Number: H8435
There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תּוֹלְדָה
Transliteration: tôwlᵉdâh
Pronunciation: to-led-aw'
Description: or תֹּלְדָה; from יָלַד; (plural only) descent, i.e. family; (figuratively) history; birth, generations. - 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: 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. - Strong's Number: H2145
There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זָכָר
Transliteration: zâkâr
Pronunciation: zaw-kawr'
Description: from זָכַר; properly, remembered, i.e. a male (of man or animals, as being the most noteworthy sex); [idiom] him, male, man(child, -kind). - 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: 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: H3318
There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָצָא
Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter. - Strong's Number: H6635
There are 463 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צָבָא
Transliteration: tsâbâʼ
Pronunciation: tsaw-baw'
Description: or (feminine) צְבָאָה; from צָבָא; a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship); appointed time, ([phrase]) army, ([phrase]) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war(-fare).